Description: An opossum is a mammal about the size of a house cat. It has a long pointed face, round hairless ears, short legs and a rat-like tail. They may weigh as much as 14 pounds, but normally weigh 4 to 7 pounds. Its coat color varies from light, almost white, to almost black, but most usually appears an off gray. When confronted, opossums sometimes open their mouths to display their teeth and may even hiss. Although this appears to signal a formidable opponent, these animals are actually shy and inoffensive. When hard pressed, they will slip into a catatonic trance, imitating death, thus the term that has been coined "playing possum."

Habits: The Opossum’s habitat is diverse, ranging from woodlands to open fields.

Hollow trees and logs are preferred sites, but opossums will den in woodpiles, rock piles, crevices in cliffs, and in underground burrows. In urban areas they seek shelter in attics, garages, chimneys, under houses, or in any other place.

Diet: The opossum is more or less solitary and strictly nocturnal, venturing forth to feed shortly after dark. Opossums are omnivores feeding on a variety of plant and animal foods, including rats, mice, young rabbits, birds, insects, crustaceans, frogs, fruits, and vegetables.

Reproduction: Their mating season extends from January or February to June or July. Females, which are in heat for about 30 days, breed the first season following birth. Young opossums have been observed as early as January 24 and as late as August 15. Usually two litters are produced — in February and June. The young, five to 21 in number, are born after a gestation of 11-12 days. Blind, nearly helpless, hardly larger than honey bees, and embryonic in appearance they crawl unaided into the abdominal pouch of the mother, each attaching itself to a nipple. Shortly after a young one begins to nurse, the nipple swells and completely fills its mouth, thereby firmly attaching it to its mother. It remains attached until it is about 7 weeks of age, at which time it has grown large enough to detach itself. This peculiar adaptation compensates in part for the brief period of uterine development. Since the number of teats is seldom more than 13, young born in excess of that number are doomed to die. Mortality is high during the first year of life, and population turnover is relatively rapid. Known predators include foxes, coyotes, horned owls, and barred owls. Opossums are commonly seen killed on highways. The normal lifespan may be as low as 2 years.

Problems: Opossums are undoubtedly more beneficial as scavengers than harmful for any damage they cause. More likely complaints are generated out of mere concern for the presence of these animals rather than for any problems they create.

• Remove attractants such as garbage bags, pet food, and convenient denning sites such as elevated sheds, openings under concrete slabs and decks and access to crawl spaces under houses.
• Evict from under buildings by utilizing bright lights and loud noise (radio).
• Repeatedly refill the den entrance with soil, leaves, straw or other materials. To determine if the opossum has been evicted from under a building, sprinkle a liberal amount of flour in and around the entrance to determine activity. Check for tracks and if absent, secure the entrances and exits with sheet metal or wood to avoid re-entry.
• If they find entry into your home, they can be gently guided out of your home with as little as a broom to gently nudge them along to an open door.
• Trap the opossum by utilizing a live animal trap. Live animal traps are available for purchase at local hardware, feed, and pet stores. Arlington Animal Services also offers live animal traps. For more information on how to reserve a trap, contact Arlington Animal Services at 817-451-3436.

• Place ammonia soaked rags, fox urine, and cayenne pepper at the entrance to the opossums den. These repellants are best applied in the evening to encourage the animal to leave and not return.