What
"kin" to kangaroos and koalas lives in North Carolina? The Virginia
Opossum, which is the only marsupial found in the United States. Like
other marsupials, when the young are born they crawl through their mothers
fur to her pouch where they find a nipple. After about 80 days they
will begin to leave the pouch briefly. As they become more independent
they alternate between riding in the pouch and clinging to the fur on
their mother's back. This nocturnal mammal averages about 28 inches
long and 4-5 pounds, and has a total of 50 teeth, more than any other
North American land mammal. They have prehensile tails and the first
digit on their foot functions somewhat like a thumb. Opossums can be
found in a wide variety of habitats including wooded areas and suburban
settings. They are shy and secretive and will usually attempt to escape
when attacked. If all else fails they will "play possum" and feign death.
They are eaten by many carnivorous mammals and birds but automobiles
may be their main enemy.
What
"kin" to kangaroos and koalas lives in North Carolina? The Virginia
Opossum, which is the only marsupial found in the United States. Like
other marsupials, when the young are born they crawl through their mothers
fur to her pouch where they find a nipple. After about 80 days they
will begin to leave the pouch briefly. As they become more independent
they alternate between riding in the pouch and clinging to the fur on
their mother's back. This nocturnal mammal averages about 28 inches
long and 4-5 pounds, and has a total of 50 teeth, more than any other
North American land mammal. They have prehensile tails and the first
digit on their foot functions somewhat like a thumb. Opossums can be
found in a wide variety of habitats including wooded areas and suburban
settings. They are shy and secretive and will usually attempt to escape
when attacked. If all else fails they will "play possum" and feign death.
They are eaten by many carnivorous mammals and birds but automobiles
may be their main enemy.