What Animal Will Eat A Dead Possum

Why Practise Opossums Play Dead?

Published: September 23, 2021

Have y'all e'er heard the phrase playing possum? This refers to a particular behavior of an opossum (not a possum). When an opossum feels threatened past an animal or human, it has an unusual reaction. It plays expressionless. This is much dissimilar from other animals that try to run, freeze in place or even turn aggressive and go on the attack. That's part of what makes this animal so interesting.

So, why do opossums play dead? How long do they stay withal on the ground? Is this a successful tactic against a predator's attack? Read on to go the answers to these questions and uncover more almost this mysterious marsupial.

Why Exercise Opossums Play Dead?

Opossums really don't pose a serious threat to other animals. An adult measures 21 to 36 inches long including its tail and weighs 4 to fifteen pounds. In short, these are small mammals. Furthermore, they move in a tedious, awkward fashion and then they aren't likely to outrun a threat. Playing dead is the most constructive fashion they accept to protect themselves against predators. Well-nigh predators don't want to consume an animal that'southward already dead. And then, they usually move on if they see an opossum'due south lifeless torso on the ground.

Opossums Play Dead - opossum in grass — *Playing dead is an involuntary response on the part of the opossum. The stress of the confrontation facing the opossum causes him to get into shock.*
iStock.com/ScrappinStacy

What Does an Opossum Look Similar When Information technology Plays Dead?

When an opossum plays dead it doesn't simply fall over onto the ground. This mammal actually looks like it's expressionless! Its feet curl up in tiny balls and its body goes rigid. It opens its mouth like it has simply taken its last jiff. This marsupial may fifty-fifty start to drool. Likewise, its eyes turn burnished similar a creature without a sign of life. A predator tin sniff at it, flip its torso over or push it across the ground. An opossum that is playing dead will not move or go upward and try to run.

Along with looking like it's dead, an opossum also smells similar information technology's dead. When they play dead, they release a liquid from glands located near their tail. The mucous gives off a rotting scent. This is even more than reason for a predator to move along down the trail. The advent of being dead combined with the atrocious smell has helped countless opossums escape capture.

Is Playing Expressionless an Opossum's Merely Defense?

No. Though its power to play dead is an effective way to deal with predators, an opossum has a couple of other defenses.

When threatened by a smaller predator an opossum is likely to give a low growl in an effort to affright it away. This long-tailed brute may besides blank its very sharp teeth at the threat. Whether an opossum growls or plays dead depends on how threatened it feels.

Opossums Play Dead — *A Virginia Opossum on a fence at night. The Virginia (or common) opossum is the simply N American marsupial. A marsupial is a mammal that has a pouch where information technology carries its young.*
iStock.com/randimal

What Animals Are Predators of the Opossum?

Opossums live in woods and forests. Some of their predators share this habitat including foxes, coyotes, owls, and hawks. They can exist attacked by domesticated cats and dogs likewise.

Humans are a threat to these animals, besides. Opossums expect for food nearly anywhere including in streams, fields, wooded areas, garbage cans, and well-nigh busy roads. When people throw things out the car window including pieces of fruit or parts of sandwiches they are attractive to opossums. They are active at night and sometimes are not seen by drivers. It'southward not unusual to run into a squashed opossum that has ventured out into the road at the wrong moment. Opossum babies are particularly vulnerable to existence hit by cars on the road.

Are Opossums Able to Command This Playing Dead Behavior?

No, opossums are not able to control whether or not they play expressionless. It's what's called an involuntary response. This response is triggered when an opossum is cornered or is beingness stalked by a predator. Some biologists describe this behavior equally going into shock or falling into a temporary coma.

How Long Does an Opossum Play Expressionless?

Opossums may play dead for a surprisingly long time. Most people assume that an opossum jumps up and runs down the trail the moment a predator or threat is out of sight. On the opposite, a possum can be in the play dead position for up to four hours! Remember, they are in a country of shock, so their body must take a chance to recover.

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FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

Are opossums and possums the same brute?

No, they are not the same animal. This is i of the most common misconceptions about opossums. Opossums live in Due north America specifically in the United States and the southern part of Canada. Alternatively, possums live in Commonwealth of australia, New Zealand, and Red china.

In regard to appearance, an opossum has grayish-white fur while a possum has golden-brown fur. An opossum's fur is wiry and coarse while a possum's pilus is soft. Opossums tin exist heavier than possums. An adult possum weighs up to 9 pounds whereas an opossum can be 15 pounds.

One of the most significant things that prepare these two mammals autonomously is behavior. While an opossum can play dead, a possum doesn't react to stress in that way.

Practise opossums hang upside down by their tail while they slumber?

No. This is a misconception near this animal that probably came from cartoons depicting these animals hanging upside down. Information technology's true they tin can use their tail to grasp food and hold onto branches for balance. In fact, their tail can be considered an boosted limb. If this modest animate being does hang by its tail it's only for a moment when climbing from one branch to another.

What is the habitat of an opossum?

They live in woodlands and forests. They make a nest in underground burrows, woodpiles, or in hollow trees. These are shy, nocturnal animals that like to hibernate.

Is an opossum a rodent?

No. Though opossums look similar to rodents they are not rodents.

They are marsupials like koala bears or kangaroos. Opossums carry their immature in a pouch until the babies or joeys are around two months erstwhile. It is the only marsupial that lives in Northward America. Other marsupials similar koalas, kangaroos, and wombats alive in Commonwealth of australia.

What is the lifespan of an opossum?

You lot may be surprised to acquire the average lifespan of an opossum is just 1 to ii years. An opossum living in captivity may live up to 4 years because it's non under threat from predators.

Are opossums Endangered?

No, they are not Endangered. Despite having such a short lifespan, opossums are listed every bit To the lowest degree Concern with an increasing population. Only how can this be when they live such brusque lives? It all has to practise with their reproductive habits.

The mating flavor of an opossum goes from January to July. The gestation period of a female person is just 12 to xiii days! She tin requite alive birth to a litter of 7 to xiii babies. Some females take upwards to 20 babies, just since a female parent can only provide milk to xiii babies not all of the babies in a litter volition survive. Then, it's the number of babies that opossums have that keeps their population growing!