Momma Opossum the Virginia Opossum
Born: Fall 2020
Arrived at WSWC: May 5, 2021
Sex: Female
In May 2021, an adult opossum arrived at the wildlife center after being hit by a car. During her intake exam, our team discovered a single opossum joey in her pouch. A few days later, we admitted another joey of the same age that needed a mom and were able to successfully introduce the baby into Momma’s pouch. While the babies grew, Momma recovered from a concussion, broken teeth and a jaw fracture. Despite our teams best efforts, there was permanent brain damage that occurred during her original accident that prevented Momma from being released back into the wild. Both of her joeys were successfully released, but Momma will stay with us for the remainder of her life.
Momma Opossum entered retirement in June 2023. After several months of hospice care, geriatric Momma was laid to rest in September 2023.
About Virginia Opossums
Size: Can weigh up to 14 pounds with males usually being larger than females. On average, they weigh about the same as a house cat.
Lifespan: In the wild, Virginia Opossums usually only live one to two years. In captivity, they can live up to five years.
Diet: Virginia Opossums are omnivores, eating just about anything in the wild! Their number one food source is insects, but they also enjoy carrion (decaying flesh of dead animals), fruits, nuts and plants.
Reproduction: Opossum joeys are born only the size of a bumble bee. The joeys make their way into their mother’s pouch where they spend the next several weeks attached to a nipple. As they age, the joeys start exploring outside of the pouch and riding on their mother’s back while she forages. Opossums usually have two litters per year, averaging eight joeys per litter.
Range: Opossums inhabit a variety of habitats from deep forests to inner cities. Virginia Opossums are the only marsupial in the United States and Canada, occupying nearly every state in the U.S. except in the most northern areas as the winters are too cold.
Other Facts: Opossums are nomadic and do not keep nests or dens. An adult opossum may travel two miles every night while foraging. Opossums have opposable thumbs on their hind legs. The prehensile tail of an opossum helps them balance while climbing and carry objects, but an adult opossum is too heavy to hang from their tail.
