You don’t have to travel “down under” to see a pouched animal. Missouri has the opossum, a tree climbing, baby-on-board carrying, creature of the night.
Known by most folks as just plain “possums”, they are shy and secretive. Opossums are the size of a large cat with a long pointed face and hairless tail.
When bothered, they will feign death by “playing possum”. It isn’t really playing since they go into a brief nervous shock–then soon recover and head to safety.
Newborn opossums are blind and about the size of a jelly bean. They have claws on their feet which they use to climb up their mother’s fur to the security of her pouch, and later to ride on her back. They eat anything from insects to plants to garbage.
Did you know…
- Opossums can throw a hissy fit? Not really, but that is the sound they make when they feel threatened.
- Opossums are immune to the venom of many snakes.
- According to the National Wildlife Federation, opossums may be good for your garden. They can help keep out more damaging pests as well as help keep the tick population down.
Learn more about opossums in MDC’s Field Guide.
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