opossum lifespan in captivity

In captivity, they can live twice as long . This is what people call ‘playing possum’. I don’t know if the young are most vulnerable when they are tiny and in the pouch or when older. Due to their appearance and size, the North American Opossum (also called Virginia Opossum) can seriously freak people out looking like an oversized rat. Animal Class: Mammals. I accidentally trapped an opossum in a Havahart trap a few years back. Virginia opossums are solitary, nocturnal and terrestrial; however, they are also very adept climbers and may den in trees. Native Plants of Pennsylvania – Links and Plant Lists, Books about Native Plants and Ecological Gardening, Cavity Nesters: Birds that Use Holes in Trees, A Chipmunk's Winter Sleep (Torpor and Hibernation), Spicebush Swallowtail Butterfly - Life Cycle, A Winter Bird Feeding Guide: Attract Birds to Your Backyard (with Video), Birds of Prey of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey: A Checklist, Virginia Opossum Facts, Lifespan, and Habitat, Keeping a Winter Nature Journal with Writing Prompts, amphibians and reptiles (including poisonous snakes). The captive specimens have a maximum life expectancy of about 4 years. It is extremely difficult to find the right balance in their diet in captivity and an unbalanced diet can result in severe metabolic disease. The most common opossums in the Americas, Argentina, but recently they are actively developing more northern territories. They are the smallest of the possums. Virginia Opossums are found in Eastern North America from southern Maine, Southern Canada, and Michigan to South Dakota; south through Mexico and Central America to Costa Rica. By mammalian standards, this is an unusually full jaw. Opossum Biology, Life … Weight: Up to 14 pounds. Behavioral and nutritional aspects of the Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana). So, that explains why I am often awakened in the middle of the night by the sounds of animals fighting. Even in captivity, opossums live only about four years. Whales for example have not been known to live their natural life span when placed in captivity. Last summer, I found a dead and mutilated opossum in my flower bed. The mother has thirteen teats, of which only seven to ten actually give milk. The opossum has an average lifespan of 1 to 2 years. Being solitary animals, opossums avoid each other. They like hollow trees and branches, crevices, caves under rocks, soil, and leaf litter. It is possibly opossums getting in scraps with other animals. I realized how common this animal is in my neighborhood. After birth, the young must crawl three inches to the mother’s pouch. Still these animals are notable sony, they can sleep up to 19 hours a day. ... For more information on the lifespan of opossums, please read on. Animal Control took the dead body away the next day. Their stomach has a small cecum and like many other marsupials, a forked penis with twin glands is also a physical characteristic of a male opossum. Besides, the suitability of an opossum for a pet is dependent on several factors. Opossums don’t make dens but sleep in abandoned dens of other animals. In this way, they keep an ecosystem clean and healthy. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. The Opossums family is found only in the Americas. Now opossums are actively thriving in the New World. With such a short life span the trend is to get it done early and often, reproduce, that is. Learn about short-tailed opossums as pets including feeding tips, housing, and handling. In the pouch, the young must attach themselves to a teat. An opossum in captivity can live longer. They share their unusually short lifespans with many other marsupials. It isn’t easy to get an older more experienced opossum to faint, but the younger ones may pass out more easily. I’ve seen several dead young opossums in the streets near my home. I don’t know what to say, except don’t try this at home. Most of the information on this website is free for you to read, watch, or listen to. It is a successful opportunist. Range lifespan Status: captivity 10 (high) years; Typical lifespan Status: wild 1.5 to 2 years; Typical lifespan Status: captivity 3 to 4 years; Range lifespan Status: wild 2.5 (high) years AnAge; Behavior. They have to deal with predators and human intrusions. The opossum, I am focusing on here is the Virginia Opossum (Didelphis virginiana). Young opossum may be eaten by adults. She could barely walk! Once born, the young instinctively crawl upward into the mother’s pouch where they will nurse for approximately fifty days. Or both. The average lifespan for the Virginia opossum is between two and four years. Opossums will communicate with hisses, growls, and screeches in hostile encounters with animals and humans. As many of you know, I grew up in a family of fishing-hunting-trapping-gardening-farming-foraging southerners. This post is about the Virginia Opossum (Didelphis virginiana), found in eastern North Amerca and introduced along the Pacific coast. Life span. A note from one of our members … "I hear that you are thinking about trying to keep a wild opossum baby as a pet, and want to share with you my recent heartbreaking experiences. Any ’surplus’ young die from lack of a teat (food). After this, the animal instantly “comes to life” and runs away. They also live in the southeast of Canada and the Lesser Antilles. But most of them still have a tree or land way of life. A possum will normally weigh between three and eight pounds, and the brain case of the animal is so small that the skull has a prominent bone ridge whose sole purpose is to give the possum a large enough cranial surface area for the jaw muscles to attach to. Additionally, it is illegal to keep an opossum without a wildlife rehabilitation license in almost every, U.S. state. oldest opossum in captivity. An individual may live just a few months or a single year. The more I learned, the more I realized, Virginia opossums are some of the weirdest animals I have ever come across. Their scientific name is Didelphimorphia. Didelphis virginiana. Quick note: Apparently, the opossum with an ‘o’ is the North American animal. Now this question really has a lot of variables. They also eat: Some animals will turn to cannibalism in extreme circumstances. We see many cases of Metabolic Bone Disease (nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism) in opossums that have been fed poor diets. Short-Tailed Opossum Behavior and Temperament . Breath. The opossum slowly walked out of the cage, glanced back at me, and disappeared into the underbrush in my garden. They wander most in summer. I’ll spare the mutilation details. The lifespan of opossum in the wild reaches up to 5 years, in captivity with proper care and diet up to 7 years or more. Captive opossums normally live between 3-4 years, however up to 8-10 years has been described. It was calm enough that I felt okay opening the cage and letting it walk out of the cage. They are characterized by a long, naked tail; a long, pointed snout; opposable thumbs in … As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. After three months, the young are weaned and begin to roam away from the mother. How Many Babies Can a Possum Have? They are known to live for three years in th… Possums also have a short lifespan; around three years or less in the wild. Very interesting is the protective mechanism of these animals, it deserves special attention. When my grandfather died, I told people I had eaten my last opossum.  After learning about opossums, boy do I mean it. It’s late autumn/early winter, and I see dead possums. I’m glad that didn’t happen. It also has the ability to faint and appear dead. Lifespan: 2 years in the wild; 4 years in captivity. During mating the male and female fall over on their right sides. It is a mammal and the only indigenous and wild (read: free) marsupial in North America. I do sell inexpensive nature guides in the Book Shop. Opossum Lifespan. If bitten the opossum may have some mild discomfort, but it recovers quickly. During the summer, I sleep with my bedroom window open. Opossums are most active at night (nocturnal).  During the warm months, they are most active in the middle of the night. Opossums are usually called Possums in North America. Opossums will eat possum young or another possum at any time. Learn about short-tailed opossums as pets including feeding tips, housing, and handling. Glaciers and the related cooling of the climate these territories affected less than Europe. In captivity, they may survive for longer, if proper nutrition and care are received from a qualified handler. Please expect that some links are affiliate links which raise a small amount of income to support the hosting of this blog. MBD can progress to cause immobility and death, if not corrected quickly and appropriately! Virginia opossums are solitary, nocturnal and terrestrial; however, they are also very adept climbers and may den in trees. Virginia Opossum. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! The Virginia Opossum has a maximal life span in the wild of only about two years. November 3, 2020 Uncategorized. The individual who designed these animals, must have a great sense of humor? Opossums don’t live long. having the capacity to move from one place to another. Being solitary animals, opossums avoid each other. They are not rodents! Most members of this order have long snouts, a narrow braincase, and a prominent sagittal crest. In captivity, the oldest recorded opossum was four years and five months old. They eat just about anything. A four-year old wild opossum is a rarity. It is a solitary and nocturnal animal about the size of a domestic cat. This is a possum superpower. Few animals prey on opossums. I hear strange screeches and shrieks. Muskrats, about the same size as an opossum, live 3 – 4 years, can have 1 – 4 liters per year averaging 6 – 7 young per liter. In captivity they like all kinds of juices Links To Opossum Pages For some real good information on Opossums, please visit the links listed below. AN OFFENSIVE ODOR SELLS THE PERFORMANCE. But, they don’t move too far from a temporarily available food source, like my ripening strawberries or blueberries. I have had possums in my backyard for decades. By nature, the possum is very shy and at risk he pretends to be dead, lying motionless, and with the help of special glands gives off an unpleasant smell reminiscent of the smell of a … Cold weather kills a number of them. By nature, the possum is very shy and at risk he pretends to be dead, lying motionless, and with the help of special glands gives off an unpleasant smell reminiscent of the smell of a decomposing body. After two weeks, eight or nine young are born. These animals are short-lived in captivity with a record longevity of 3 years . The Virginia opossum is thought to live as long as two years in the natural habitat. Falling over seems to be crucial to conception. There are also some real good photographs of Opossums on those pages also. So, I set out to learn about these quiet, unassuming neighbors of mine. Didelphimorphs are small to medium-sized marsupials that grow to the size of a house cat. The young are so small about twenty could fit in a teaspoon. I must say that such tactics bring great success for the survival of the species. They may snap out of it minutes or hours later. Poor diets can lead to metabolic bone diseases that are expensive to treat and potentially fatal. Gestation lasts just two weeks. These animals cause no harm, only come at night, eat then go back to the woods. They can make a few standard sounds. The Privacy Policy is here. Males, females, and young also make clicking sounds. But, please don’t condemn a healthy orphan to a life in captivity because of YOUR needs, instead of theirs. The dead one in my garden lost a fight. Opossums live in forests of all types, steppes and even semi-deserts. During the breeding season (January to July in the United States), males and females find each other and mate. And how little I knew about them. 6 , 11 , 21 , 29 Opossums are scavengers, cannibalistic, and omnivores. This short lifespan is due in part to the presence of many predators including dogs, cats and people. Diet: Omnivorous, eating a wide range of plants and animals. - The life expectancy of an opossum in captivity has been found to be shorter than that of a wild-living opossum, which shows that they survive better in the wild. Opossums, or possums, are the smallest and the stupidest of American terrier quarry. Possums also have a short lifespan; around three years or less in the wild. Opossums are generally very quiet. Even those in captivity have a lifespan of only four years. Predator, sniffing it, often leaves. Opossums eat many ticks and other insects. More information can be found in the Encyclopedia of Life (links to another website). Wild opossums have a relatively short lifespan of approximately 1.5-2 years. The opossum begins to show the signs of aging such as cataracts, motor coordination problems, and weight loss. An individual may live just a few months or a single year. Sometimes my cat and my neighbor’ cat are lying around out there too and all ignore one another. Opossum’s lifespan can vary in the wild and in captivity. Length: 13-37 inches. They are not good hunters but take advantage of easily obtained meals. During the colder seasons, small vertebrates tend to make up a larger portion of their diet, whereas in the warmer seasons, they consume more invertebrates, plant material, fruits and seeds. Opossum mothers provide very little maternal care. In the United States, the animal is typically referred to simply as a possum. They aren’t built for winter. They like to eat my strawberries. I always think its’ raccoons, possums, and cats, having disagreements. Now and then a skunk joins a possum and they bump into each other while eating but there is never a “discussion”. They share their unusually short lifespans with many other marsupials. Their prepared habitat is wooded or shrubby. I have 2 possums that come onto my patio every night to eat the sunflower seeds I put out for them and drink water from my glass dishes. The incisors are very small, the canines large, and the molars are tricuspid. An opossum in captivity can live longer. The Virginia opossum is North America’s only marsupial. A picture of a possum playing dead … They eat meat the main part of their diet. Habitat: Found throughout Central America and North America. The North American Opossum is the only marsupial living in the north and parts of Center and South America. That animal had apparently been in a fight and lost. Their preferred food is insects, mostly beetles. So, you will find them in forests, woodlands, and urban areas. So, do the skunks. Thanks for visiting. However something like an Virginia Opossum when receiving a proper diet and care have been known to double their life span… The dental formula is: 5.1.3.44.1.3.4 × 2 = 50 teeth. 671 Sample size Small Data quality Acceptable Observations. Look for frostbitten, blackened tips on their tails and ears. Short-tailed opossums can be friendly, social pets. During the breeding season (January to July in the United States), males and females find each other and mate. They tend to be semi-arboreal omnivores, although there are many exceptions. They don’t sleep in the same den regularly. An individual may wander over two miles in a night. Brown four-eyed opossum Lifespan, ageing, and relevant traits Maximum longevity 3 years (captivity) Source ref. However, opossums in the wild have a much lower life expectancy and do not commonly make it past their first year of life. They can occur both in the plains and in the mountainous regions at altitudes of up to 4000 meters. The lifespan of opossum in the wild reaches up to 5 years, in captivity with proper care and diet up to 7 years or more. However, unlike American opossums, Australian possums have fairly longer lifespans. Scientific name: Didelphis virginiana (Virginia opossum), Didelphis marsupialis (Common opossum) Size: 2.5ft (76cm) from head to tail Weight: 8.8 to 13.2lb (4 to 6kg) Lifespan: Two years in the wild; Can reach four years of age in captivity IUCN conservation status: Least Concern Virginia Opossum Courtship and Mating. The average female probably lives through one breeding season in which time she may raise two litters of approximately a dozen young. Opossums are quite nomadic in their home ranges. I’m happy to have them around. fruits, grapes, pokeweed, Pawpaws, berries including strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, etc. The dead opossums I saw around the corner from my house, had been run over by cars. Although their lifespan in captivity may be as long as five years, in their natural habitat opossums don’t generally tend to live past the age of two years. ... Life Expectancy: 4 to 8 years in captivity. They aren’t pretending to be dead, they actually faint from fear. To anyone reading this I ask that you do not harm our wildlife. The mother’s pouch makes the animal a marsupial. The Virginia Opossums are absent from the Plains and arid southwest of the United States.
Ectoparasitic and phoretic arthropods of Virginia opossums (Didelphis virginiana) in central Tennessee. I only recommend products and services that I use and believe to be useful and high quality. But, American southerners often shorten “opossum” to “possum”.  The name opossum is from an Algonquin Indian language which means, ‘white-faced’. The life span of opossums is very short. In winter, opossums are more active during the day. Opossum Feces – Appearance And Health Risks Didelphimorphs are small to medium-sized marsupials that grow to the size of a house cat. They eat carrion. Opossum Life and Habitat. Thanks for your information. Opossums don’t live long. Many possums have frostbitten ears and tails which can lead to gangrene and death. There are 75 species of opossums in North, Central, and South America. Reproduction & Lifespan Because they have few defenses against predators, Virginia opossums only live about two years. They avoid contact with humans, animals, and other opossums. Very interesting is the protective mechanism of these animals, it deserves special attention. If you have opossum encounters or comments you would like to share feel free to add them to the comments below. Lifespan: 2 years in the wild; 4 years in captivity. Opossums have a very short lifespan, usually three years or less in the wild, where they have to contend with predators and cars. Opossums are solitary,  quiet animals. The animal has the ability to excrete a musky greenish fluid from its’ anal glands. Opossums are immune to the poison of snakes of the pit viper family (crotalid) such as rattlesnakes, copperheads, and water mocassins. They bed down in different dens each night. Possum without the “o” refers to an animal in Australia. The Virginia opossum, commonly known as the North American opossum, is the only marsupial found north of Mexico. Opossums, like most marsupials, have unusually short life spans for their size and metabolic rate. It is familiar to many North Americans as they frequently inhabit settled areas due to the associated proximity to food sources, notably trash cans. The term ‘possum’ also refers to refer to … There was a female a couple of months ago loaded down with babies but have not seen her – or she has left the babies somewhere else. The mother will clean the pouch and any young there, but that is it. Thanks! If the couple doesn’t fall over the female doesn’t conceive. Besides humans, cars, dogs, foxes, and owls, the opossum is free from being hunted. The oldest opossum ever captured in the wild was only three years old. When you learn about how opossums, ‘function’, you realize what a wonderful world we live in. According to scientists, in prehistoric times, these animals were very widespread in the whole of modern Europe, this is evidenced by the excavation of paleontologists. I hope you find my website useful. There are species that lead a semi-aquatic life, settling near water bodies, building holes in tree hollows. They like cover and places to hide. TOP SPEED. Learn how your comment data is processed. I hope you have enjoyed your visit here and thanks for taking the time to read about "Andy" and come back whenever you can. It’s tough enough for them without our also being predators. It is not a matter of IF the opossum will become ill, it is a matter of when!. Luckily, I didn’t touch the opossum. Opossums don’t hibernate, they just are less active. I always enjoy seeing these slow, gentle relatives. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. At my grandparents’ home, I’ve eaten a wide variety of unconventional meats. Finally, I could have easily doubled the length of this post with more possum fascination.

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