Species-Specific Management (SSM)

Eastern Opossum

The Eastern opossum (Didelphis virginiana) is of ecological importance in the nation's wildlife resource. It is the only species of marsupial found in North America. It is valued for hunting, for its fur, and for biological study, but it must be occasionally controlled when causing damage. It has expanded its distribution. The manager needs to recognize both positive and negative influences of the opossum on the environment and to manage populations for the desired effects.

1. Opossums prefer low, damp woods adjacent to water. Small streams and creeks are favored, but small ponds are usually acceptable and can be dug if not present.
2. Crop field edges provide a variety of foods and cover and should be maintained where opossums are desired.
3. Opossums are a denning species. They use old hollow logs, barns, foundations of homes, brush piles, and hay stacks. Nestboxes can also provide additional denning sites. Many dens should be available since opossums rarely den in the same area 2 days in a row. Suitable dens are snags, which also serve as a source of insects as food.
4. The opossum lives approximately 1 to 2 years with a home range of about 40 acres. The species is non-social, non-territorial, and fairly non-nomadic when food is abundant.
5. Opossums eat almost anything available, but up to 80% of the species' diet is insects. Insects, in order of preference, are: ground beetles, grasshoppers, stink bugs, and roaches.
6. Vegetation eaten, in order of preference:
   Winter
   1. corn
   2. hackberry
   3. crabapple
   4. ground cherry

   Others

   1. mulberry
   2. dewberries
   3. cottonwood (bud)
   4. wheat and oats
   5. blackberries
   6. elderberries
   7. persimmons
   8. grapes
   9. grasses

   Other foods eaten: small mammals (voles, shrews, mice),carrion (e.g.,rabbit roadkills), spiders, earthworms, invertebrates (snails), small birds, crustaceans (crayfish), bird and reptile eggs

7. Coyotes, wolves, bobcats, foxes, great horned owls, and domestic dogs pose a threat to the opossum, and should be either controlled where the opossum is desired or maintained where the opossum is regarded a pest.
8. The opossum is one of the most heavily parasitized of American mammals. Flukes, stomach nematodes, fleas, and ticks are the most common parasites associated with the opossum. Livestock should have as limited contact with opossums as possible because parasites are easily transferred.
9. Because opossums are large-scale consumers of insects, insecticides pose a threat, especially those of the chlorinated hydrocarbon type. Aerial spraying of substances potentially toxic to mammals is particularly dangerous and should be avoided where opossums are desired.
10. Build brush, slash, and rock piles near both water and wooded areas, away from heavily-used roads.
11. Dig watering holes and construct farm ponds near wooded areas, away from heavily-used roads.
12. Stock fish in new and existing ponds and small lakes.
13. Encourage farmers to leave corn and other grain fields fallow over winter.
14. Plant fruit-bearing trees, shrubs, and vines such as dewberries, grapes, blackberries, persimmons, apples, pokeberries, etc., near water sources and wooded areas, away from heavily-used roads.
15. Encourage farmers to leave in place abandoned buildings, hay stacks, fence rows, overgrown fields, and other structures that provide diversity in farmland habitat. (Discourage "clean" farming.)
16. Leave existing and create new supplies of snags and down/dead woody materials.
17. Install exclusion fencing along heavily-used roads to prevent vehicle strikes. Garbage cans should be secured to prevent invasion by hungry opossums. Scraps and other edible refuse are sources of food for the opossum, and the species may cause further damage by denning in these areas. Compost pits poorly worked may attract opossums.
18. Fires destroy opossum habitat. The habitat should be protected against fire.
19. Opossums may be hunted for sport. Experienced hunters should use dogs for night hunting, since the opossum is nocturnal.
20. Opossums are valued for their pelts in many regions. Large killtraps should be used. Proper skinning and hide preparation can increase monetary returns significantly.
21. Reduce numbers of predators such as coyotes, wolves, lynx, foxes, and horned owls through shooting, trapping and relocating, etc.
22. Increase control over feral dogs and cats through strong regulations and/or extermination programs.
23. Implement techniques to increase numbers of small mammals such as rabbits, skunks, squirrels, woodchucks, and other nest or den builders.
24. Opossums should be trapped when causing damage. Use large box traps and euthanize the animal. Those that are trapped live for study should also be trapped in large box traps. Trapping is best at night. When trapping, routine trap checks will ensure decreased loss of animals due to temperature-related deaths. Rotting fish has proven to be the ideal bait used in trapping opossums. Dry commercial cat food is easier to handle and is very effective.
25. Opossums are eaten by people in some regions of the country, and many recipes are available.
26. Trap problem animals with live or padded leghold traps and relocate them to reduce negative public attitudes.
27. Begin a hands-on petting program in public schools using orphaned opossums.
28. Use scent-post procedure and roadway counts to monitor changes in the opossum population over the years as it is ffected by the management work and investment.
29. Humans should always take precautions when handling opossums, as they are occasionally vectors of rabies. Rabies vaccinations are recommended.

A contribution of C. Melvin Bass, Jr., Heidi-Kristin Heilman, and Steve E. Hayslette (1992), Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061-0321

This Web site is maintained by R. H. Giles, Jr.
Last revision January 17, 2000.