North Americas’ Only Marsupial

by Cindy ~ April 7, 2007

While going through some old image files this afternoon, I came across a few that I took last year as we watched a female Opossum carry her young across a trail. I had been walking near the roadside, watching Mourning Warblers and heard a commotion ahead of me near the ditch- walking slowly I discovered at least 7 half-grown opossums in the tall grasses. I backed off so the adult wouldn’t feel threatened and could go about her business, and we were treated to viewing her move them across the road. They were large enough that their tails were dragging on the road. Cracked me up!

The female carries and nurses her young in her marsupium until they are about 2 to 3 months old; then they are carried on her back another 1 to 2 months whenever they are away from the den. Opossums are solitary creatures, usually slow moving; and when frightened and unable to flee may fall into an involuntary shock-like state, “playing ‘possum”.

We have them on our property and I find them to be quite amazing animals to watch, but I doubt if I’ll have the opportunity and good fortune to watch them play ‘possum piggy back’ again. :)