WHY AM I HERE?
I was rescued in August 2022 as a young joey after a bird dropped me from the sky. I was found upside down on a sidewalk with many injuries and partial paralysis. The vet discovered that I saw the world upside down. I needed medicines and physical therapy to heal and walk again. But I don’t see properly to hunt food or run fast enough to escape predators. I could not survive on my own in the wild. I am happy to represent my opossum family as a wildlife ambassador with Fresno Wildlife Rehab, education the public about the importance of my species and our role in the environment.
I AM SPECIAL BECAUSE
I am the only marsupial, with babies developing in mom’s pouch, in North America. I have a prehensile tail, opposable thumbs, 50 teeth, that’s more than any other land mammal in North America. I can play dead (possum) when in danger. I am rabies resistant and I have a natural tolerance for snake venom.
RANGE
The Opossums can be found in North America, Central America, and extending north into lower Canada. They do not hibernate. They live where trees and water occur together to form their natural habitat, or anywhere the presence of humans can support them.
DIET
Opossums are opportunistic omnivores that eat a variety of things, their normal diet consists of carrion, frogs, lizards, snakes, rodents, insects, snails, birds, eggs, fruits and vegetables. If given an opportunity, opossums will eat human food, pet food, and trash. They can adjust their diet based on season and location. They are an important member of the planet cleanup crew.
NESTING
Opossums will den in brushy areas, wood piles, rocky areas, fallen logs, and standing dead trees. They will gather leaves and soft matter for bedding.