Droppings need not be fresh to be dangerous; the parasite can live outside a host and remain potentially infectious for as long as one year. Do Possums Live in Groups? – Australian Possums There are no registered poisons for opossums. Possums are not like birds and do not sleep in the branches of the trees. In this article however we’ll discuss as to how do possums live in groups? So, possums can climb trees but they do not live in trees. Predator, sniffing opossum, often leaves, that saves the animal life. He was limping cause one of his legs were damaged and was about the side of a large hampster when he brought him in. The common Virginia opossum is the only marsupial, or pouch mammal, in the United States and Canada. Wiki User November 26, 2010 10:52PM. Since American opossums live alone so we’ll only be studying the behavior of Australian possums in groups. This may have something to do with the opossum’s low body temperature (94-97º F) making it difficult for the virus to survive in an opossum… Where Do Opossums Live In The Winter? Scientists have no idea why they age so quickly. They often die of a metabolic disorder. Question: Do opossums carry rabies? Answer. As they grow and the pouch becomes full, the juveniles then ride on the mother’s back until they are old enough to go out on their own. Many other do not have a pouch at all. There are more than 60 opossum species. Answer: Any mammal can get rabies. So, possums can climb trees but they do not live … The reproductive system of the opossum has fascinated many and has led to interesting folklore. The opossum does not hang upside down by the tail, a common misconception. Possums and opossums are different animals, although they belong to the marsupial infra-class. Virginia Opossums Get a Bad Rap People often blame them for things they didn’t do such as tipping garbage cans or killing chickens. Asked in Opossums How long does an opossum live… But there are many Australian possums that aren’t social at all. I told him to let him go after he could walk again but he wouldn't do it. Possums are not like birds and do not sleep in the branches of the trees. Learn how to identify opossum tracks on your property. You need to find an animal doctor who is qualified to address this type of health problems if you are going to raise a possum. A. Their diet includes all types of bugs and insects including cockroaches, crickets and beetles. My big brother found a baby one limping in the street when he was 17 and brought it in the house and nursed it back to health in a box. Opossum breeding season can last for most of the year, ranging from January to November depending on the location. Typically shy and quiet , opossums (which are commonly referred to as “possums”) generally don’t cause much harm to people or plants. The babies crawl toward the mother’s pouch, where they live for 70 to 125 days. However, the chance of rabies in an opossum is EXTREMELY RARE. A lot of the time the only major complaint people have about them is simply that they are there. Virginia Opossums Get a Bad Rap People often blame them for things they didn’t do such as tipping garbage cans or killing chickens. Finally, people will call because there is a dead opossum in their home or attic. 2-3 years. Pregnancy of the female opossum lasts from 11 to 13 days. A ‘damaged’ opossum (missing an eye or tail) will live longer in captivity. Females generally have estrus or fertility cycles that can last between 17 and 38 days, and may have up to seven such cycles per breeding season as long as pregnancy does not occur. Do not attempt to use poison baits intended for rodents on opossums, or any other animal. Opossums usually don’t tip the trash cans or dig up gardens but they often stop to clean up the mess left by another animal and get all the blame.