With a top speed of about 4 miles per hour, when “running,” opossums appear to be walking quickly, with the tail rotating in circles for balance. Opossums do not hibernate.Īlthough they can climb and are good swimmers, opossums prefer to amble about on the ground. Opossums are solitary animals, and except during breeding season or a female with her young, they are rarely seen together. At night, opossums forage in areas near their current dens, but can travel up to 2 miles in search of food. However, they can be seen at any time of day, especially in winter when food is scarce. Opossums are nocturnal, spending the day in dens or other protected spots. Mammals of the Pacific Northwest: A Pictorial Introduction Some of these animals, or their offspring, later escaped from captivity or were intentionally released. Virginia opossums, also known as “possums,” first arrived in Washington in the early 1900s as pets and novelties. During the 1900s, its range expanded northward and westward. Prior to European settlement of North America, the opossum was found only in Central America and the southeastern United States. Except for higher elevations, opossums now occupy most human-occupied habitats in western Washington. Opossums have adapted well to living close to people in urban and suburban environments. All other mammals are placentals, which means their young develop within a saclike membrane called the placenta inside the mother’s uterus, rather than in an exterior pouch. Opossums are the only marsupials in North America. Kangaroos, koalas, and wombats are other well known marsupials. Opossums are marsupials (mammals with a pouch in which they carry their young), a primitive group of mammals found most commonly in Australia. Monofilament recovery and recycling program.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |