Opossums

Possums, which are quite different to opossums, are native to the continent of Australia. They are also found in New Zealand, to which they were introduced in the 1800s, in New Guinea and on some of the islands of Indonesia.

The opposum is a great actor. They put up an award winning bluff. Having 50 teeth they open their mouth very wide and hiss at the threat first. This is enough to make most attackers stop and think and perhaps even leave. Next they stumble around and fall over pretending to be dead. It is believed this is an automatic reaction to the stress. Then they can even emitt an evil smelling substance around the neck that makes them smell dead and sick. As far a protection from snakes they are amune to cottonmouth, rattle shake, and copperhead poisions. .. they also eat snakes along with about anything.. loving fruit, bugs, snales, mice, whatever.

No, an opossum is not a lizard.

An opossum is a marsupial.

It depends on whether the creature in question is a true possum, or an opossum, which is quite different.

True possums are native to Australia (and introduced to New Zealand), and they are entirely unrelated to opossums, except that both creatures are marsupials. The only disease a person or a pet is likely to get if bitten by a possum is tetanus from an untreated wound. Possums can also transmit ticks and fleas to household pets. There are no incidences of the rabies virus in either Australia or New Zealand. However, New Zealand possums are subject to a form of bovine tuberculosis which has so far been shown to be transmissible between cattle, possums and ferrets. This form of TB has not been found in Australian possums.

In North America, however, it is a different situation. The body temperature of an opossum is generally too low to harbour the virus: it is possible, although highly unlikely, for an opossum to carry the rabies virus. However, there is at least one documented case of a rabid opossum biting a child, so it can be presumed that in very unusual situations, opossums might carry rabies.

One way, might be to get a Have-A-Heart trap... A trap that just captures the opossum instead of needlessly killing it... After you catch it, you release it into a wild area far from you or your neighbors! I would suggest using different fruits as baits!

They do so because their predators do not eat animals that are already dead and so they fool the predator into believing that they are dead.

Yes

opossums have a very short gestation period and once born opossums must make their way to their mother's pouch. They will attach to a teat and will remain in the pouch for 70-125 days.

These animals are legal, indeed trainable, and NOT unpredictable. BUT they do belong in the hands of experienced owners. They need a very very strict diet. Not knowing about their diet needs, can lead to metabolic bone disease, and bulging eye syndrome. With that said there is a difference wild caught animals are illegal to own as pets, where as if you bought them from a pet store they are indeed legal. However there are laws more laws, and there is town ordinances or town laws that vary from town to town so you should check on a state and town level before owning such a pet.

Opossums are solitary creatures except for when they have young. You may find a couple opossums living together at a time.

The female has 13 teats.

After birth, most young marsupials, known as joeys, develop in the mother's pouch on her abdomen. Within the pouch, the teat swells in the young joey's mouth to help secure it in place. The joey remains in the pouch for up to nine months, depending on the species of marsupial.

There are some exceptions to this: the numbat, for example, has no pouch. The young remain secured in place by the swollen teat in their mouth, clinging to the mother's underbelly.

Ring tail possums prefer to eat the fresh new growth leaves in trees - common natives such as eucalyptus Malaccas, tea-trees, and greveille's They do like some fruits and flowers also. They rarely drink water - getting enough from the moisture in the leaves.

True possums of Australia do not bite. They may scratch in self-defence or if cornered, but will spend their time avoiding people or domestic pets wherever possible.

Many people call "opossums" by the name "possums". Regarding these animals, if they get the chance and feel the need, they will bite. Circumstances under which they will bite will be only in defence, if they feel threatened. DO NOT approach, annoy, provoke, touch, or otherwise fiddle with a wild possum. They are not cuddly, they are wild animals and will hurt you very badly if you try to pick them up.

There is no concern about rabies in possums. True possums, which are found in Australia, cannot carry rabies, as there is no rabies in that country or in New Zealand, to which the possum has been introduced. There are confirmed cases of North American Opossums infected with rabies, but these incidents are exceedingly rare.

No.

However, like most male marsupials (except for the largest species, the Red Kangaroo, Eastern Grey and Western Grey Kangaroos), possums have a "bifurcated" or two-pronged penis to accommodate the females' two vaginas.

Virginia opossums - weight for males ranges from 1.7 to 14 lb (0.8–6.4 kg) and for females from 11 ounces to 8.2 lb (0.3–3.7 kg).They are one of the world's most variably sized mammals.

not unless you want to get scratched up and bitten

The common opossum has a life span of about 2 years. With some species living up to 4 years.

They do indeed climb, and live, in trees. However, an adult possum lacks the tail strength to hang from its' tail, as reported by some. The young may accomplish this feat for a few seconds, due to a smaller body mass, but to hang upside down and pretend to be batman, it just ain't gonna happen. They do make a resounding "THUD" when they lose their grip, or just fall asleep, and fall out of a tree, almost always landing on their back. This would put you and me in traction, however a possum doesn't seem to worried about it. At least at the moment of impact. Of course the possibility exists they are playing the macho act, and then later go to the possum ER for a workup.

The short answer is NO! However, if we have a very tiny dog which has been injured and is incapable of defence or movement, then an opossum MAY consider it as food. The same MIGHT be true for very young puppies that have been abandoned or lost their mother. Opossums are very opportunistic feeders, and very cautious. While their diet consists of nearly everything, they are not usually hunters. That said, they will often eat small fare such as mice, young birds, frogs, salamanders, crayfish etc. when availanble. They may also eat chickens if they can get into the coop. Opossums are very interesting and largely harmless animals and should not be killed needlessly. Watch and enjoy them.

A baby opposum is called a joey.

The raccoon has a varied diet which consists of insects, plants and other animals. While the raccoon would eat an opossum, it is more likely to opt for an easier meal. The raccoon typically prefers to scavenge.

No, you cannot. Their instincts are stronger than human ability to domesticate. You can nurse one until it is able to survive on it's own, but I wouldn't suggest trying to keep one much longer.