What does an opossum den look like?

What does an opossum den look like?

Opossums will den nearly anywhere that is dry, sheltered and safe. This includes burrows dug by other mammals, rock crevices, hollow stumps, wood piles and spaces under buildings. They fill their dens with dried leaves, grass and other insulating materials.

Is a opossum a marsupial?

The most notable is the Virginia opossum or common opossum—the only marsupial (pouched mammal) found in the United States and Canada.

What are possum babies called?

joeys
After a gestation of period of less than two weeks, the jelly-bean-sized opossum babies (called joeys, like their distant kangaroo cousins) make their way to the marsupium, where they live for up to three months.

Are opossum and Possum the same thing?

In North America, opossum and possum describe the same thing, but in Australia the word possum refers to a completely different animal. Among the most well known of their respective types are the Virginia opossum and the brushtail possum.

Are possums dangerous to humans or pets?

Opossums become dangerous with their ability to transmit diseases to pets and people. Known to carry leptospirosis, tuberculosis, coccidiosis, spotted fever, tularemia, and other diseases, the pesky creatures pose serious health threats when they invade urban environments.

Do opossums have any natural predators?

Owls , for example, are one of the natural predators of the opossum, and that is before you even begin to think about coyotes, foxes, large dogs, bobcats and even house pets.

Are opossums dangerous to horses?

Cats and dogs are likely to avoid or even injure opossums in an encounter. Though opossums can bite pets, the larger threat is in the diseases they may carry. Substantial evidence exists that opossums can pass the disease equine protozoal myeloencephalitis to horses, according to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.