Where does the Virginia opossum live?
The Virginia opossum lives from southern Canada to northern Costa Rica: it is the northernmost marsupial in the world, and the only one found north of Mexico. Its ancestors evolved in South America. Since 1900 its range has expanded northward, and it continues to expand at a significant pace. It often inhabits settled areas near food sources such as trash cans, pet food, compost piles and gardens. Its range includes the whole east of the United States and the west coast, up to southern Ontario and Quebec.
What does the Virginia opossum eat?
It is a solitary, nocturnal animal about the size of a domestic cat, and a successful opportunist. Its slow, nocturnal nature and its attraction to roadside carrion make it more likely to become roadkill than other animals. It is the largest species of the opossum family, the Didelphidae.
Is the Virginia opossum endangered?
No: the IUCN lists it as Least Concern. It is hunted for its meat and fur in some regions. It is familiar to many North Americans, who often call it simply the "possum".
