Opossums regular visitors at birdfeeders

 
                                                                                               Photo by Barry Wallace

Opossums are now regular visitors looking for seeds below bird feeders and in backyards in this part of Ontario.   The Virginia Opossum is the only marsupial native to North America and has been expanding its territory in to southern and eastern Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia, living in wooded areas near water sources.

They are grey in colour, have thick bodies, and hairless tails that aid in climbing.  They are omnivorous and opportunistic feeders, eating a variety of plant and animal material, including insects, seeds and soft berries.

They are mainly nocturnal and forage from dusk 'til dawn, but in winter they may switch to daytime foraging due to warm temperatures and food scarcity.  Opossums are wanderers and do not stay in the same area for long periods.

They are susceptible to frostbite and suffer ear damage regularly, as seen in the photo above above.

Opossums also seem to have no wariness of automobiles and many are regularly injured or killed on Ontario roadways.

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace