DOCSLIB.ORG

The Virginia Opossum: Our Only Native Marsupial

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
The Virginia Opossum: Our Only Native Marsupial ALABAMA A&M AND AUBURN UNIVERSITIES The Virginia Opossum: Our Only ANR-1414 Native Marsupial he Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana), also known as possum, is an animal that can T be both a benefit and a nuisance to landown- ers. Known widely for playing dead when frightened, the opossum is a creature with a unique place among Alabama’s wildlife. As other animals are vanishing from forests in the United States, opossums appear to be flourishing due to their remarkable ability to adapt. Characteristics The Virginia opossum is a medium-sized mammal, weighing 4 to 13 pounds at adulthood. It has 50 teeth, which is more than most other mammals. Although they may live longer in captivity, opossums live only 1 to 3 years in the wild. The opossum’s face is white with a dark V-shaped marking, and its body is covered with dense gray underfur and long gray or black guard hairs. Opossums appear mostly white, gray, or black, depending on the color and density of these guard hairs. Cinnamon- colored and albino opossums have been documented as well. Opossums’ legs are usually covered with black hairs. The Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana) is the only They have hairless black ears and white, black, or pink marsupial native to the United States. hairless paws. Their tails are mostly naked except for a few bristly hairs. With a prehensile (gripping) tail between her hind legs. Only females have marsupia. and an opposable (grasping) thumb on the hind foot, In females that have not had a litter, the pouch is this animal is well equipped. Although the Virginia small and not fully formed. Once a female is pregnant, opossum has plenty of features that makes it among the pouch enlarges to prepare for the birth of her the strangest of all our native species, the female’s young. The mother can close the pouch to protect her pouch is perhaps the ARCHIVEfeature that has captured our offspring once they have been born. imagination the most. Females usually begin reproducing during their first year of life. Most can produce two litters in that year, What Is a Marsupial? one in winter and one in spring, although some may The opossum is the only marsupial, or pouched produce three. Following a short gestation period mammal, that is native to the United States. Much like of only 13 days, the young are born. At birth, young kangaroos, opossums give birth to relatively undevel- weigh less than a hundredth of an ounce each and oped young that complete development inside the are about the size of a honeybee. The young climb to mother’s marsupium (pouch) located on her underside the marsupium without assistance, using their sense www.aces.edu of smell. Because opossums can give birth to as many Despite their many interesting behaviors, opossums as 20 offspring at once and have an average of only are renowned for one in particular: playing dead when 13 nipples, not all of the young will survive. The only faced with danger. It is unclear at this time as to the ones to survive are those that are able to latch onto a true significance of this behavior. When threatened, milk-producing nipple within the pouch (and not all opossums appear to go into a catatonic-like state. nipples produce milk). On average, only about seven They drool and exude a noxious substance from their young survive. anal glands. This behavior helps keep predators from attacking. Although intriguing, this method of defense After about two months, the young are sufficiently is not the most common method that opossums developed to venture outside of the mother’s pouch. practice. Most often, opossums try to escape when After this, they can be seen hitching a ride on her back, confronted with danger. If cornered, opossums are although they do not hang from her tail suspended likely to gape and hiss or growl, revealing their 50 over her back as is popularly believed. Young opos- teeth, instead of playing possum. sums disperse and are able to fend for themselves at the age of 3 to 4 months. Habitat Behavior The opossum is a common inhabitant of North America. Native to Central America and the southern Opossums are terrestrial, meaning that they are United States, opossums have expanded their range ground-dwelling, but they also spend a significant northward over the past 100 years. Now, their range amount of time in trees. They use their prehensile tails extends as far north as Ontario, Canada. They occur to help them climb. However, in contrast to popular east to the Atlantic coast and west into the Great folklore and cartoons, opossums rarely hang by their Plains, mainly where trees and water occur together to tails, and they do not sleep in this position. Opossums form their natural habitat, or anywhere the presence are solitary creatures but are not territorial. Several of humans can support them. Populations also exist opossums, both male and female, may have overlap- along the Pacific coast from California to Washington, ping home ranges. Males do not seem to tolerate where they have been introduced. From there, opos- other males as much as they do females. Opossums sums expanded their range northward into British are nocturnal, preferring to forage at night rather than Columbia, Canada. Colorado, Idaho, Arizona, and New in the daytime. Opossums do not hibernate and even Mexico also have populations of opossums, although in the northernmost part of their range can be found there is some disagreement about whether or not these searching for food during the warmest part of the day populations were introduced. Their northward expan- during winter. sion is believed to be limited by cold weather because ARCHIVE Young opossums venture outside the pouch at about 2 Opossums may gape and hiss rather than play dead when months of age and disperse at 3 to 4 months of age. faced with danger. 2 Alabama Cooperative Extension System Opossums can live in many types of habitats. in northern parts of their range, opossums suffer from of animals, including crustaceans, reptiles, amphibians, starvation and frostbite on their ears and tails. birds, small mammals, carrion (animals that are already dead), and eggs. Insects, in particular, are a staple Opossums have a home range of 50 to 300 acres and food for opossums. They will also eat gardens and often live in forested areas with brushy cover and avail- crops (particularly corn) on occasion, but they are not able water. Open areas usually are avoided, although considered to be a significant threat to crops. They also opossums may make trips into these places to forage. have been known to raid chicken houses. In urban Opossums can live in rural, urban, and suburban areas, and suburban settings, they scavenge garbage and bird adapting easily to life among humans. Although they seeds, and, not surprisingly, they also enjoy pet food. do not hibernate, they will create sleeping dens in Many people have gone onto the porch to feed their cavities of trees or logs, sheds, barns, piles of building dogs and cats only to find an opossum cleaning out the materials, and crevices in rocks. Sometimes they ARCHIVEpet bowl. attempt to den in attics or under porches. Opossums are also food for many other types of Diet animals. Foxes, coyotes, bobcats, and great-horned Opossums are opportunists. They will eat almost owls are common predators of the opossum. And let’s anything. Their diet includes fruits, such as persim- not forget that humans sometimes eat opossums too. mons, apples, plums, blackberries, hackberries, wild grapes, and various nuts, but most of their diet consists The Virginia Opossum: Our Only Native Marsupial 3 Benefits and Uses Alabama Regulations Relating to Game, Fish and Fur- Bearing Animals, available at the Alabama Department As with many wildlife species that share space with of Conservation and Natural Resources website (www. humans, opossums may be considered as pests, but dcnr.state.al.us/). they do provide some significant benefits. For one, the opossum is an important fur-bearing species. Although Another benefit opossums provide is pest control its pelts are not as high in demand as those of some since two major components of the opossum’s diet are other species, they can be used as a substitute for insects and rodents. Opossum consumption of large more expensive furs. In Alabama, opossums are classi- numbers of insects and rodents therefore may help fied as fur-bearers and game and can be trapped and control damage to gardens and lawns. Because carrion hunted in accordance with state laws and regulations. is also a component of their diet, opossums may play Opossum hunting traditionally has been an enter- an important role in the delicate balance of nature as a taining sport for those who enjoy hunting with hounds. cleanup crew. The ‘possum hunt historically has engaged aristocrats Opossums are also of particular interest in the medical such as Franklin D. Roosevelt. field due to their rapid development, and studying At one time, it was much more common to hunt opos- them may provide insight into the care of premature sums for food than for sport. “Possum and taters” has babies and growth of organs. In addition, opossums been a well-known and inexpensive treat. For regula- have a natural resistance to snake venom due to the tions on trapping and hunting, refer to the current presence of a protein in their blood known as lethal toxin-neutralizing factor (LTNF). This protein has allowed researchers to find a better way to treat human snake-bite victims, and the treatment is now produced synthetically.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • A Dated Phylogeny of Marsupials Using a Molecular Supermatrix and Multiple Fossil Constraints
    Journal of Mammalogy, 89(1):175–189, 2008 A DATED PHYLOGENY OF MARSUPIALS USING A MOLECULAR SUPERMATRIX AND MULTIPLE FOSSIL CONSTRAINTS ROBIN M. D. BECK* School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia Downloaded from https://academic.oup.com/jmammal/article/89/1/175/1020874 by guest on 25 September 2021 Phylogenetic relationships within marsupials were investigated based on a 20.1-kilobase molecular supermatrix comprising 7 nuclear and 15 mitochondrial genes analyzed using both maximum likelihood and Bayesian approaches and 3 different partitioning strategies. The study revealed that base composition bias in the 3rd codon positions of mitochondrial genes misled even the partitioned maximum-likelihood analyses, whereas Bayesian analyses were less affected. After correcting for base composition bias, monophyly of the currently recognized marsupial orders, of Australidelphia, and of a clade comprising Dasyuromorphia, Notoryctes,and Peramelemorphia, were supported strongly by both Bayesian posterior probabilities and maximum-likelihood bootstrap values. Monophyly of the Australasian marsupials, of Notoryctes þ Dasyuromorphia, and of Caenolestes þ Australidelphia were less well supported. Within Diprotodontia, Burramyidae þ Phalangeridae received relatively strong support. Divergence dates calculated using a Bayesian relaxed molecular clock and multiple age constraints suggested at least 3 independent dispersals of marsupials from North to South America during the Late Cretaceous or early Paleocene. Within the Australasian clade, the macropodine radiation, the divergence of phascogaline and dasyurine dasyurids, and the divergence of perameline and peroryctine peramelemorphians all coincided with periods of significant environmental change during the Miocene. An analysis of ‘‘unrepresented basal branch lengths’’ suggests that the fossil record is particularly poor for didelphids and most groups within the Australasian radiation.
    [Show full text]
  • A Phylogeny and Timescale for Marsupial Evolution Based on Sequences for Five Nuclear Genes
    J Mammal Evol DOI 10.1007/s10914-007-9062-6 ORIGINAL PAPER A Phylogeny and Timescale for Marsupial Evolution Based on Sequences for Five Nuclear Genes Robert W. Meredith & Michael Westerman & Judd A. Case & Mark S. Springer # Springer Science + Business Media, LLC 2007 Abstract Even though marsupials are taxonomically less diverse than placentals, they exhibit comparable morphological and ecological diversity. However, much of their fossil record is thought to be missing, particularly for the Australasian groups. The more than 330 living species of marsupials are grouped into three American (Didelphimorphia, Microbiotheria, and Paucituberculata) and four Australasian (Dasyuromorphia, Diprotodontia, Notoryctemorphia, and Peramelemorphia) orders. Interordinal relationships have been investigated using a wide range of methods that have often yielded contradictory results. Much of the controversy has focused on the placement of Dromiciops gliroides (Microbiotheria). Studies either support a sister-taxon relationship to a monophyletic Australasian clade or a nested position within the Australasian radiation. Familial relationships within the Diprotodontia have also proved difficult to resolve. Here, we examine higher-level marsupial relationships using a nuclear multigene molecular data set representing all living orders. Protein-coding portions of ApoB, BRCA1, IRBP, Rag1, and vWF were analyzed using maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood, and Bayesian methods. Two different Bayesian relaxed molecular clock methods were employed to construct a timescale for marsupial evolution and estimate the unrepresented basal branch length (UBBL). Maximum likelihood and Bayesian results suggest that the root of the marsupial tree is between Didelphimorphia and all other marsupials. All methods provide strong support for the monophyly of Australidelphia. Within Australidelphia, Dromiciops is the sister-taxon to a monophyletic Australasian clade.
    [Show full text]
  • Perissodactyla: Tapirus) Hints at Subtle Variations in Locomotor Ecology
    JOURNAL OF MORPHOLOGY 277:1469–1485 (2016) A Three-Dimensional Morphometric Analysis of Upper Forelimb Morphology in the Enigmatic Tapir (Perissodactyla: Tapirus) Hints at Subtle Variations in Locomotor Ecology Jamie A. MacLaren1* and Sandra Nauwelaerts1,2 1Department of Biology, Universiteit Antwerpen, Building D, Campus Drie Eiken, Universiteitsplein, Wilrijk, Antwerp 2610, Belgium 2Centre for Research and Conservation, Koninklijke Maatschappij Voor Dierkunde (KMDA), Koningin Astridplein 26, Antwerp 2018, Belgium ABSTRACT Forelimb morphology is an indicator for order Perissodactyla (odd-toed ungulates). Modern terrestrial locomotor ecology. The limb morphology of the tapirs are widely accepted to belong to a single enigmatic tapir (Perissodactyla: Tapirus) has often been genus (Tapirus), containing four extant species compared to that of basal perissodactyls, despite the lack (Hulbert, 1973; Ruiz-Garcıa et al., 1985) and sev- of quantitative studies comparing forelimb variation in eral regional subspecies (Padilla and Dowler, 1965; modern tapirs. Here, we present a quantitative assess- ment of tapir upper forelimb osteology using three- Wilson and Reeder, 2005): the Baird’s tapir (T. dimensional geometric morphometrics to test whether bairdii), lowland tapir (T. terrestris), mountain the four modern tapir species are monomorphic in their tapir (T. pinchaque), and the Malayan tapir (T. forelimb skeleton. The shape of the upper forelimb bones indicus). Extant tapirs primarily inhabit tropical across four species (T. indicus; T. bairdii; T. terrestris; T. rainforest, with some populations also occupying pinchaque) was investigated. Bones were laser scanned wet grassland and chaparral biomes (Padilla and to capture surface morphology and 3D landmark analysis Dowler, 1965; Padilla et al., 1996). was used to quantify shape.
    [Show full text]
  • A Species-Level Phylogenetic Supertree of Marsupials
    J. Zool., Lond. (2004) 264, 11–31 C 2004 The Zoological Society of London Printed in the United Kingdom DOI:10.1017/S0952836904005539 A species-level phylogenetic supertree of marsupials Marcel Cardillo1,2*, Olaf R. P. Bininda-Emonds3, Elizabeth Boakes1,2 and Andy Purvis1 1 Department of Biological Sciences, Imperial College London, Silwood Park, Ascot SL5 7PY, U.K. 2 Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent’s Park, London NW1 4RY, U.K. 3 Lehrstuhl fur¨ Tierzucht, Technical University of Munich, Alte Akademie 12, 85354 Freising-Weihenstephan, Germany (Accepted 26 January 2004) Abstract Comparative studies require information on phylogenetic relationships, but complete species-level phylogenetic trees of large clades are difficult to produce. One solution is to combine algorithmically many small trees into a single, larger supertree. Here we present a virtually complete, species-level phylogeny of the marsupials (Mammalia: Metatheria), built by combining 158 phylogenetic estimates published since 1980, using matrix representation with parsimony. The supertree is well resolved overall (73.7%), although resolution varies across the tree, indicating variation both in the amount of phylogenetic information available for different taxa, and the degree of conflict among phylogenetic estimates. In particular, the supertree shows poor resolution within the American marsupial taxa, reflecting a relative lack of systematic effort compared to the Australasian taxa. There are also important differences in supertrees based on source phylogenies published before 1995 and those published more recently. The supertree can be viewed as a meta-analysis of marsupial phylogenetic studies, and should be useful as a framework for phylogenetically explicit comparative studies of marsupial evolution and ecology.
    [Show full text]
  • Monodelphis Domestica in the Opossum Λ Conservation Of
    Marsupial Light Chains: Complexity and Conservation of λ in the Opossum Monodelphis domestica This information is current as Julie E. Lucero, George H. Rosenberg and Robert D. Miller of September 29, 2021. J Immunol 1998; 161:6724-6732; ; http://www.jimmunol.org/content/161/12/6724 Downloaded from References This article cites 35 articles, 10 of which you can access for free at: http://www.jimmunol.org/content/161/12/6724.full#ref-list-1 Why The JI? Submit online. http://www.jimmunol.org/ • Rapid Reviews! 30 days* from submission to initial decision • No Triage! Every submission reviewed by practicing scientists • Fast Publication! 4 weeks from acceptance to publication *average by guest on September 29, 2021 Subscription Information about subscribing to The Journal of Immunology is online at: http://jimmunol.org/subscription Permissions Submit copyright permission requests at: http://www.aai.org/About/Publications/JI/copyright.html Email Alerts Receive free email-alerts when new articles cite this article. Sign up at: http://jimmunol.org/alerts The Journal of Immunology is published twice each month by The American Association of Immunologists, Inc., 1451 Rockville Pike, Suite 650, Rockville, MD 20852 Copyright © 1998 by The American Association of Immunologists All rights reserved. Print ISSN: 0022-1767 Online ISSN: 1550-6606. Marsupial Light Chains: Complexity and Conservation of l in the Opossum Monodelphis domestica1,2 Julie E. Lucero, George H. Rosenberg, and Robert D. Miller3 The Igl chains in the South American opossum, Monodelphis domestica, were analyzed at the expressed cDNA and genomic organization level, the first described for a nonplacental mammal.
    [Show full text]
  • OPOSSUM Didelphis Virginiana
    OPOSSUM Didelphis virginiana The Virginia opossum, Didelphis virginiana, is the only marsupial (pouched animal) native to North America. The opossum is not a native species to Vermont, but a population has become established here. The opossum is mostly active at night, being what is referred to as ‘nocturnal.’ They are very good climbers and capable swimmers. These two skills help the opossum avoid predators. It is well known for faking death (also called ‘playing possum’) as another means of outwitting its enemies. The opossum adapts to a wide variety of habitats which has led to its widespread distribution throughout the United States. Vermont Wildlife Fact Sheet Physical Description Opossums breed every other areas near water sources. year, having one litter every They have become very The fur of the Virginia two years. Opossums reach common in urban, suburban, opossum is grayish white in the age of sexual maturity at 6 and farming areas. The color and covers the whole to 7 months. opossum is a wanderer and body except the ears and tail. does not stick to a specific They are about the size of a Food Items territory. The opossum uses large house cat, weighing abandoned burrows, tree between 9 and 13 pounds and The opossum is an cavities, hollow logs, attics, having a body length of 24 to insectivore and an omnivore. garages, or building 40 inches. The opossum has a This means they have a foundations. prehensile tail, one which is varied diet of insects, worms, adapted for grasping and fruits, nuts, and carrion (dead hanging. animals).
    [Show full text]
  • Dominance Relationships in Captive Male Bare-Tailed Woolly Opossum (Caluromys Phiiander, Marsupialia: Didelphidae)
    DOMINANCE RELATIONSHIPS IN CAPTIVE MALE BARE-TAILED WOOLLY OPOSSUM (CALUROMYS PHIIANDER, MARSUPIALIA: DIDELPHIDAE) M.-L. GUILLEMIN*, M. ATRAMENTOWICZ* & P. CHARLES-DOMINIQUE* RÉSUMÉ Au cours de ce travail nous avons voulu tester en captivité l'importance du poids corporel dans l'établissement de relations de dominance chez les mâles Caluromysphilander, chez qui des compétitions inter-mâles ont été étudiées. Les comportements et l'évolution de différents paramètres physiologiques ont été observés durant 18 expérimentations effectuées respectivement sur 6 groupes de deux mâles et sur 12 groupes de deux mâles et une femelle. Des relations de dominance-subordination se mettent en place même en l'absence de femelle, mais la compétition est plus forte dans les groupes comprenant une femelle. Dans ces conditions expérimentales, le rang social est basé principalement sur le poids et l'âge. Lorsque la relation de dominance est mise en place, le rang social des mâles est bien défini et il reste stable jusqu'à la fin de l'expérimentation. Ces relations de dominance stables pourraient profiter aux dominants et aux dominés en minimisant les risques de blessures sérieuses. Les mâles montrent des signes typiques caractérisant un stress social : une baisse du poids et de l'hématocrite, les dominés étant plus stressés que les dominants. Chez les mâles dominants, la baisse de l'hématocrite est plus faible que chez les dominés, et la concentration de testostérone dans le sang diminue plus que chez les dominés. Au niveau comportemental, les dominants effectuent la plupart des interactions agonistiques << offensives » et plus d'investigations olfactives de leur environnement (flairage-léchage) que les dominés.
    [Show full text]
  • Mammals from the Mesozoic of Mongolia
    Mammals from the Mesozoic of Mongolia Introduction and Simpson (1926) dcscrihed these as placental (eutherian) insectivores. 'l'he deltathcroids originally Mongolia produces one of the world's most extraordi- included with the insectivores, more recently have narily preserved assemblages of hlesozoic ma~nmals. t)een assigned to the Metatheria (Kielan-Jaworowska Unlike fossils at most Mesozoic sites, Inany of these and Nesov, 1990). For ahout 40 years these were the remains are skulls, and in some cases these are asso- only Mesozoic ~nanimalsknown from Mongolia. ciated with postcranial skeletons. Ry contrast, 'I'he next discoveries in Mongolia were made by the Mesozoic mammals at well-known sites in North Polish-Mongolian Palaeontological Expeditions America and other continents have produced less (1963-1971) initially led by Naydin Dovchin, then by complete material, usually incomplete jaws with den- Rinchen Barsbold on the Mongolian side, and Zofia titions, or isolated teeth. In addition to the rich Kielan-Jaworowska on the Polish side, Kazi~nierz samples of skulls and skeletons representing Late Koualski led the expedition in 1964. Late Cretaceous Cretaceous mam~nals,certain localities in Mongolia ma~nmalswere collected in three Gohi Desert regions: are also known for less well preserved, but important, Bayan Zag (Djadokhta Formation), Nenlegt and remains of Early Cretaceous mammals. The mammals Khulsan in the Nemegt Valley (Baruungoyot from hoth Early and Late Cretaceous intervals have Formation), and llcrmiin 'ISav, south-\vest of the increased our understanding of diversification and Neniegt Valley, in the Red beds of Hermiin 'rsav, morphologic variation in archaic mammals. which have heen regarded as a stratigraphic ecluivalent Potentially this new information has hearing on the of the Baruungoyot Formation (Gradzinslti r't crl., phylogenetic relationships among major branches of 1977).
    [Show full text]
  • Meet a Marsupial
    Meet a Marsupial Meet a Marsupial by Kate Paixão Kangaroos, koalas, and opossums are marsupials. Marsupials are a special kind of mammal. Marsupials have hair like other mammals. They give birth to live babies. They make milk to feed their young. ReadWorks.org · © 2014 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved. Meet a Marsupial But marsupials have something that makes them different from other mammals. Female marsupials have a pouch. They use this pouch to carry their babies. Marsupial babies are called joeys. A joey stays in its mother's pouch for a long time. When it is old enough, the joey gets out and can move around on its own! ReadWorks.org · © 2014 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved. ReadWorks Vocabulary - mammal mammal mam·mal Definition noun 1. an animal that has hair and feeds its babies with milk from the mother. Dogs, whales, and humans are mammals. Spanish cognate mamífero: The Spanish word mamífero means mammal. These are some examples of how the word or forms of the word are used: 1. Bats are mammals. Mammals are warm-blooded animals that have hair on their bodies. 2. Whales are big ocean mammals. Mammals are animals that drink milk from their mothers. 3. The African elephant is the largest living land mammal, and the ostrich is the largest living bird. 4. The only fish Liza liked were dolphins, except her teacher told her that dolphins were mammals, not fish. 5. Every dog is a mammal. All mammals have hair on their bodies. People, horses, and elephants are also mammals. 6. The Mississippi is home to all kinds of animals.
    [Show full text]
  • Marsupial in Maine: Opossum
    Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands www.parksandlands.com Marsupial in Maine: Opossum (Originally published 7/1/2020) If Australia and kangaroos come to mind when you think of marsupials, you are correct. But Maine has one - the Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginianus). Marsupials are mammals that do not give birth to fully developed young. The young are instead born when they are extremely tiny and must then crawl to the mother’s pouch. There, they will suckle milk and continue to grow for many weeks. Baby opossums, called pups or pinkies at birth, are no bigger than a honeybee. Curled up on their side, they are no larger round than a dime and weigh in at approximately .13 grams. This is less than a dime, which weighs 2.268 grams (0.080 ounces)! After a week in their mother’s pouch, their birth weight will have increased by ten times. Opossum are skilled tree climbers. Photo by Kim Chandler. After two months, they are mouse-size and will begin exploring briefly outside the pouch. In another month, they will spend more time outside the pouch and may be carried on their mother’s back. They cling tightly to her fur with their hand-like feet and grasping tails. The night-active (nocturnal) opossum is not a fussy eater. It prefers to stay close to its den but may roam up to two miles nightly in search of food. While ambling along trails near a wetland or stream, it will look for insects, worms, frogs, plants, and seeds to eat. Roads, also visited during the nighttime, are sources of dead animals that the opossum will eat.
    [Show full text]
  • Controlling Raccoon and Opossum Damage
    G1688 Controlling Raccoon and Opossum Damage Stephen Vantassel, Extension Project Coordinator-Wildlife Damage Management Scott Hygnstrom, Extension Specialist-Wildlife Damage Management Dennis Ferraro, Extension Educator—Douglas-Sarpy County Sam Wilson, Furbearer Biologist—Nebraska Game & Parks Commission a shingled roof to establish a den in an attic. Raccoons usu- This NebGuide provides information about rac- ally need only a 4- to 6-inch diameter hole to enter. Smaller coons and opossums, the damage they cause, and ways openings are often enlarged. Raccoons are very strong and to prevent and control damage problems. have tremendous dexterity in their front paws. Despite their size, raccoons are exceptional climbers, able to scale trees, chimneys, and downspouts. Raccoons and opossums are nocturnal, medium-sized Raccoons are omnivores, enjoying a diet ranging from terrestrial mammals that exist throughout Nebraska. They eggs, carrion, food scraps, corn, crayfish, bird seed, worms, can damage lawns and gardens, scatter trash, invade buildings amphibians, pet food and more. While extremely harsh and injure livestock. weather will cause them to remain in their dens, raccoons do not hibernate. Raccoon Facts Opossum Facts Raccoons, with their black bandit Opossums (Didel­ mask and black- and phis virginiana) have brown-banded tail, white to gray coloration are well known to in their fur, grow to Nebraskans (Figure the size of housecats 1). The word “rac- and weigh around 10 coon” is derived from pounds (Figure 3). Their Native American pointed face and rat-like words “arakum” or tail lead many people “aracoun,” meaning to consider them to be Figure 3. Opossum. Figure 1. Raccoon on shingled roof.
    [Show full text]
  • The Biodynamics of Arboreal Locomotion in the Gray Short
    THE BIODYNAMICS OF ARBOREAL LOCOMOTION IN THE GRAY SHORT- TAILED OPOSSUM (MONODELPHIS DOMESTICA) A dissertation presented to the faculty of the College of Arts and Sciences of Ohio University In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Philosophy Andrew R. Lammers August 2004 This dissertation entitled THE BIODYNAMICS OF ARBOREAL LOCOMOTION IN THE GRAY SHORT- TAILED OPOSSUM (MONODELPHIS DOMESTICA) BY ANDREW R. LAMMERS has been approved for the Department of Biological Sciences and the College of Arts and Sciences by Audrone R. Biknevicius Associate Professor of Biomedical Sciences Leslie A. Flemming Dean, College of Arts and Sciences LAMMERS, ANDREW R. Ph.D. August 2004. Biological Sciences The biodynamics of arboreal locomotion in the gray short-tailed opossum (Monodelphis domestica). (147 pp.) Director of Dissertation: Audrone R. Biknevicius Most studies of animal locomotor biomechanics examine movement on a level, flat trackway. However, small animals must negotiate heterogenerous terrain that includes changes in orientation and diameter. Furthermore, animals which are specialized for arboreal locomotion may solve the biomechanical problems that are inherent in substrates that are sloped and/or narrow differently from animals which are considered terrestrial. Thus I studied the effects of substrate orientation and diameter on locomotor kinetics and kinematics in the gray short-tailed opossum (Monodelphis domestica). The genus Monodelphis is considered the most terrestrially adapted member of the family Didelphidae, but nevertheless these opossums are reasonably skilled at climbing. The first study (Chapter 2) examines the biomechanics of moving up a 30° incline and down a 30° decline. Substrate reaction forces (SRFs), limb kinematics, and required coefficient of friction were measured.
    [Show full text]