Samantha the Virginia Opossum
Born: March 22, 2022 (approximate)
Arrived at WSWC: June 7, 2022
Sex: Female
Sam arrived at the wildlife center in June 2022 after she was found orphaned and with an eye infection. While she has grown to a young adult and her eye infection cleared, it was discovered during her rehab that Sam suffers from several birth defects. Sam has a shorter face, closer together eyes and slightly off-set jaw compared to most opossums. These changes to her nasal structure have caused her to contract reoccurring sinus infections and some other minor disabilities. Samantha’s easy-going disposition has made her a great addition to our permanent team of educational ambassador animals that call the wildlife center home.
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.
