In Australia, they don’t use the term opossum. They also eat nectar, flowers and fruit. Possums numbers reached their highest point in the 1980s when there were 50-70 million possums in New Zealand. Opossums are omnivores, so they eat a wide range of plants and animals. In today's video we cover some interesting fun facts about them. Your email address will not be published. Pygmy possums are not often heard, although they do produce a high-pitched whistle. The best solution is to provide a nest box in your yard for the possum to move into. 1-5 Opossum Facts 1. Opossums are great at reducing the tick population in a given area. They particularly like young new plant … The average size of this possums body is 26cm, whilst its tail is a much longer 32cm. You can also make a spray from quassia chips that can be sprayed around your plants to keep possums away. They are found from southern Canada in North America to Argentina and Chile in South America. Brushtail Possums are known to be tolerant of many plant toxins and will eat trees that other animals find poisonous. Possums can make all sorts of noises, from grunts and growls to clicks, hisses and screeches. The ringtail possum (Pseudocheirus peregrinus) or a common ringtail possum lives in Australia. Opossums are known for causing big problems for San Diego County property owners. While opossums may seem like vermin, they actually make great neighbors. Opossums are generally nocturnal, foraging throughout the night. There are five species of pygmy possum, all of which are native to Australia, and only the long-tailed pygmy possum is found elsewhere in the world. Possums are iconic Aussie animals. Fact 1 They weigh about 1.4 to 6.4 kg and are between 65 and 95 cm in length. Main predators of opossums are dogs, foxes, coyotes, bobcats, hawks and owls. Adult possums reach an average length of 30 – 35 cm and weigh 550 – 1100 grams. While possums are mainly herbivores, they have also been known to eat insects and birds’ eggs. They sleep during the day in a den in a hollow tree or in an abandoned rodent burrow. Most possums are solitary animals, except when raising their young, but ringtail possums tend to live in family groups of three or more. Sweet potatoes were eaten together with the possum in America’s southern area. Fun Facts about Possums. By 1950 possums were found in over half of New Zealand and they kept spreading. – It is as big as a large cat between 350 to 550 mm in length and its tail almost as long as its body at 250 to 400 mm. It Can Have An Unpleasant Odor. Females are smaller than males. Brushtail possum possums have pretty long tail averaging 24 – 40 inches in length. Are Possums Good to Have Around? They use their sharp claws, tails and mouth to climb trees. Pygmy possums are small possums that are the size of mice, that live in forests amongst trees or shrubs. Here are 13 Interesting Opossum facts. Possums have no control over when they play dead or for how long they do it: The comatose-like state is an involuntary reaction triggered by stress. In rare occasions it can be black, brown or albino colored. A Ringtail possum is a bit like a koala in that it is a folivore. South Carolina cuisine includes opossum eating. Your email address will not be published. Fiordland and Northland were the last areas of New Zealand to be invaded by possums. In North America, some people use the terms opossum and possum interchangeably. In Australia and some of the … They both refer to the Didelphidae family. The Striped Possum Only Occurs in North Queensland & New Guinea In Australia, this tree-dwelling marsupial can be found North of Mount Spec to the tip of the Cape York Peninsula. You can also use light shade cloth or white bird netting to cover plants at night or wrap fruit, or you can enclose your veggie garden with chicken wire. They were present on the Earth at the same time when dinosaurs lived. The good news is that there are some simple things we can do to make sure that everyone loves living with possums! In the tropical Northern Territory where the weather is warm all year round, brushtail possums are light grey-fawn and quite small. Pygmy possums bodies are between 5-12 cm (2 – 4.7 inches) in length, and … Just like a skunk, these little fellas look cute, but can be a little bit on the stinky side! A Ringtail possum is a bit like a koala in that it is a folivore. But it is not at all unusual to see an opossum out during the daytime, especially during cold weather. While opossums are more likely to run away or play dead than interact with humans, there are a few fun facts about opossums which might make them seem more interesting. 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