The lifespan of an opossum is relatively short for a mammal of its size. In Massachusetts for instance, any wild or exotic animal that is not on their exotic animal list or domestic list, can not be owned as pets, including Opossums. . Mexico also has fairly relaxed laws relating to exotic pets, but there are still some circumstances where you may not be allowed to own an opossum as a pet. Opossums reproduce 1 to 3 times a year, depending on their living environment. Opossum mothers have 13 nipples. This will likely not bode well for the opossum. Female opossums, called jills, give birth to up to about 20 tiny live young per litter. If you have ever seen an opossum, you know that it is very recognizable. They can be hit by cars, and are even hunted for food. When they are 75 to 85 days old, they are weaned and rarely return to the pouch. Housing. Answer (1 of 5): One thing to remember about opossums is not only do they have short lifespans, they tend to hit old age all at once. Babies are born just 13 days after mating, and they are tiny and extremely underdeveloped. The snout of an opossum is long and pointy. Captive opossums live slightly longer, with the oldest . They are also one species thats easy to identify and isnt easily confused with other local animals. They dont waste the food that they find. Find out here, NYTimes A Fast Life and Success That Starts in the Pouch, Sciencedirect Miscellaneous small mammal behavior, Cary Institute Opossums: Where Lyme disease goes to die, If you want to know more about why opossums play dead? If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. For an opossum, this is typically known as playing possum. Playing possum is a colloquialism for the opossums involuntary reaction to playing dead when they feel threatened. In addition to their bodies natural biology, opossums are prone to parasites and disease, including leptospirosis, tuberculosis, relapsing fever, tularemia, spotted fever, toxoplasmosis, coccidiosis, and Chagas disease leading to early death. Do you want to learn more about this species that so many of us have unfairly judged? The highly recognizable kangaroo is a likely answer. There are over 100 different opossum species, ranging in size from the pocket-sized pygmy opossum to the domestic cat-sized Virginia opossum. Though it is a common misconception that they hang from their tails, they only use their tails to grab and carry things as well as to balance; they don't hang. The best thing to do upon finding an injured or seemingly dead opossum is to leave it in a quiet place with a clear exit path. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Keeping a Pet Opossum - Exotic Nutrition If all these questions ring a bell in your mind, read on to know more about this marsupial and whether they pose a threat.The American OpossumMost people assume that the American opossum is a type of large rat due to its furry appearance.