Virginia Opossum
Didelphis virginiana
Meet North America's only marsupial, a quiet nocturnal wanderer that provides free pest control for your garden. With their prehistoric looks and 'playing dead' theatrics, Virginia Opossums are one of the most misunderstood and fascinating backyard visitors.
Quick Identification
Size
Length: 13–37 in (35–94 cm); Weight: 2–14 lbs (0.8–6.4 kg). Roughly the size of a large house cat.
Colors
Frosted gray or grizzled white fur with a starkly white face; black ears often tipped with pink or white; pink nose and black feet.
Key Features
- Pointed white face with a pink nose
- Hairless, scaly, prehensile tail used for gripping
- Black, leathery ears
- Opposable 'thumb' on hind feet for climbing
When You’ll See Them
Sightings on EverydayEarth
Apr 9, 2026
Under the cover of night, a Virginia Opossum visits the bird feeder. The animal is seen sifting through the seeds with its pointed snout, its white facial fur and dark, rounded ears clearly visible as it feeds directly from the tray.
Apr 9, 2026
A Virginia Opossum is seen visiting the bird feeder at night. It focuses on eating seeds from the tray, occasionally pausing to look up and sniff the air, showing its distinctive pointed snout and dark ears.
Apr 9, 2026
A Virginia Opossum visits the bird feeder during the night. It is seen at very close range, using its dexterous front paws to grasp and eat seeds directly from the tray while its long whiskers twitch.
Mar 29, 2026
A Virginia Opossum forages through the leaf litter on a dark night. It moves purposefully across the forest floor, pausing to sniff the ground and briefly looking toward the camera, which catches the reflection in its eyes.
Mar 25, 2026
A Common Raccoon emerges from the darkness on the left, slowly making its way across the leaf-covered clearing. It stops several times to sniff the ground and forage through the debris before continuing its path toward the right side of the frame.
Mar 25, 2026
A Virginia Opossum quickly scuttles across the leaf-covered forest floor, moving from the left side of the frame toward the right before disappearing into the shadows.
Behavior
The Virginia Opossum is North America’s only marsupial, a fascinating survivor that has remained largely unchanged for millions of years. They are famous for their involuntary defense mechanism known as 'playing possum.' When faced with an overwhelming threat, their body enters a comatose-like state, emitting a foul odor to convince predators that they are already dead and decaying. Beyond this dramatic display, they are peaceful, solitary creatures that prefer to avoid conflict.
In the backyard ecosystem, opossums are incredibly beneficial 'sanitation workers.' They are meticulous groomers and have a voracious appetite for ticks, reportedly consuming up to 5,000 in a single season. They also possess a remarkable immunity to the venom of most local snakes, including copperheads and rattlesnakes. While they are nomadic by nature, a mother with young (called joeys) may stay in an area longer, eventually carrying her growing brood on her back in a display that is a favorite for trail camera enthusiasts.
EverydayEarth exclusive
Camera Tips
To get the best shots of a Virginia Opossum, positioning is everything. Place your camera low—about 10 to 12 inches off the ground—and aim it along 'travel corridors.' Opossums love to hug the edges of structures, so fence lines, the base of retaining walls, or the perimeter of a woodpile are high-traffic zones. Because they are slow-moving foragers, set your camera to take video clips of at least 20 seconds. This allows you to see their unique 'waddling' gait and how they use their prehensile tail for balance or for carrying nesting materials like leaves.
A major challenge with opossums is their bright white face. At night, standard infrared flashes can easily 'blow out' the image, leaving you with a glowing white orb where the face should be. If your camera has adjustable flash settings, set it to 'Medium' or 'Power Save' mode. Alternatively, place the camera at a 45-degree angle to the trail rather than head-on; this reduces the direct bounce-back of light and preserves the detail of their dark eyes and pink noses.
If you want to encourage a visit for the camera, you don't need complex lures. A small smear of jam, a few pieces of overripe banana, or even a handful of cat kibble near a hollow log will stop them long enough for a great sequence. In the late spring, keep your camera active near any brush piles or under-deck cavities. This is when you are most likely to capture the 'holy grail' of opossum footage: a mother carrying her entire litter of joeys on her back. Since they are year-round residents, don't put the camera away in winter; they remain active even in the snow, though they may move more slowly to conserve energy.
Similar Species
Species that look similar or are commonly confused with Virginia Opossum.
Frequently Asked Questions
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