OPOSSUMS ARE SMALL TO MEDIUM SIZED MARSUPIALS, WITH THE LARGEST JUST EXCEEDING THE SIZE OF A LARGE HOUSE CAT, AND THE SMALLEST THE SIZE OF A SMALL MOUSE.  LIKE ALL MARSUPIALS, THE FUR CONSISTS OF AWN HAIR ONLY. AND THE FEMALES HAVE A POUCH. NOTABLY, THE MALES HAVE A FORKED PENIS BEARING TWIN GLANDS. OPOSSUMS HAVE A REMARKABLY ROBUST IMMUNE SYSTEM, AND SHOW PARTIAL OR TOTAL IMMUNITY TO THE VENOM OF RATTLESNAKES, COTTONMOUTHS AND OTHER PIT VIPERS. OPOSSUMS ARE ABOUT EIGHT TIMES LESS LIKELY TO CARRY RABIES THAN A WILD DOG AND ONE IN EIGHT HUNDRED OPOSSUMS ARE INFECTED WITH THIS VIRUS. 

ALTHOUGH ALL LIVING OPOSSUMS ARE ESSENTIALLY OPPORTUNISTIC OMNIVORES IN THEIR DIET, MANY DIFFERENT SPECIES VARY IN THE AMOUNT OF MEAT AND VEGETATION THEY EAT. OPOSSUMS ARE USUALLY SOLITARY ANIMALS, STAYING IN ONE AREA AS LONG AS THERE IS FOOD AND WATER AVAILABLE.

SOME FAMILIES WILL GROUP TOGETHER IN READY MADE BURROWS OR UNDER HOUSES. SOME WILL EVEN CRAWL UP BATHTUB PLUMBING AND SHINNY ALONG THE HOLLOWED TUB AND HAVE THEIR BABIES IN THE BACK. AS NOCTURNAL ANIMALS, THEY PREFER DARK, SECURE AREAS. THESE AREAS MAY BE BELOW GROUND OR ABOVE OR IN AN ATTIC, WHERE IT IS WARM FOR THE BABIES. THE OPOSSUM LIFESPAN IS UNUSUALLY SHORT FOR A MAMMAL OF IT'S SIZE, USUALLY ONLY TWO TO FOUR YEARS. WHEN THREATENED OR HARMED THEY WILL " PLAY OPOSSUM", MIMICKING THE APPEARANCE AND SMELL OF A DEAD OR SICK ANIMAL. HISSING OR SQUAWKING IS A DEFENSIVE PROCESS THAT DETERS OTHER ANIMALS FROM APPROACHING IT.

TRAPPING OPOSSUMS IS USUALLY FAIRLY EASY AND IT IS BEST DONE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AS OPOSSUMS HAVE A NASTY HABIT OF DYING IN PLACES THAT CAN SOMETIMES BE VERY DIFFICULT TO ACCESS. IF A MOTHER DIES WITH HER BABIES, WHICH HAPPENS QUITE FREQUENTLY, THE BABIES WILL CRAWL AROUND LOST AND MAY DIE THEMSELVES, WHICH CAN TAKE HOURS OF SEARCHING IN A CRAWL SPACE OR ATTIC TO FIND AND REMOVE THEM. 

THEY CAN HAVE LITTERS TWICE IN ONE YEAR. WHEN WE INSPECT FOR OPOSSUM ACTIVITY, WE DO A VERY THOROUGH JOB AND KNOW WHERE IT IS BEST TO PLACE THE TRAPS. 

​SOMETIMES IT IS POSSIBLE TO JUST CAPTURE THEM WITH A KETCH-ALL POLE AND PLACE THEM IN A CARRIER TO REMOVE THEM.