A pale, pointy-faced animal with a long bare tail nosing through your yard at night is a Virginia Opossum (Didelphis virginiana). It is the only marsupial in North America, meaning the mother carries her tiny babies in a pouch just like a kangaroo.
What it looks like
About the size of a house cat, with a body around 35 to 50 cm plus a long, scaly, almost hairless tail. The fur is grayish-white and shaggy, the face is white with a pink pointed nose, and the ears are thin, black, and rounded. The feet are pink with opposable thumbs on the back feet for gripping branches. The mouth holds 50 teeth, more than any other land mammal in the region.
When and where
- Season: Active year-round, slowing in the coldest snaps; bare ears can get frostbitten.
- Habitat: Woodland edges, suburban yards, brushy fields, and near water, often denning in hollow logs or under decks.
- Best time: After dark, when they forage for insects, fruit, eggs, and carrion.
Playing possum is real
When an opossum is truly terrified, it does not choose to fake death: its body does it involuntarily. The animal collapses, goes stiff, drools, and even releases a foul green fluid that smells like rot. This can last minutes to hours. The act fools predators that lose interest in prey that seems already dead and spoiled. They also eat huge numbers of ticks, helping keep yards healthier.
Spot one this weekend
Virginia Opossums are Uncommon to catch in the open. Scan yard edges and the base of trees at night with a flashlight and look for eyeshine plus that distinctive long pale tail. They move slowly, so a quiet, patient watch from a porch often pays off.