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Opossum Biology: Opossums are one of North America's more unusual creatures. The official name of the possum is the Virginia Opossum (Didelphis virginiana). They are North America's only marsupials. The mothers
have a pouch in which they raise the newborn young. Inside the pouch are 13 nipples, to which the young attach. As they grow older, thy move out of the pouch and cling to the mother's back. Eventually they drop off
to live on their own. They are primarily scavengers, and will eat almost anything. They seem to prefer meat and carrion. They have 50 teeth, the most of any mammal. Opossums have prehensile tails, from which they
can, but rarely do, hang, and opposable thumbs. They are also known for the behavior of playing dead, or "playing possum" although I believe that this behavior is rare.
Nuisance Concerns: As scavengers, opossums will dig through your trash or steal your pet's food. They also often choose to live inside buildings and attics. When opossums live inside attics, they create a
lot of waste and damage. |
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