Although Virginia opossums are important seed dispersers and can carry a variety of internal and external parasites, it is unusual for this species to be a carrier of rabies.

Early in life, young opossums have a very high mortality rate with about 68% not surviving the trip to the mother’s pouch and 60% perishing once weaned and independent.

The Virginia opossum’s diet changes based on season, habit, and range as they consume more vertebrates in colder seasons and more invertebrates, plants, fruits, and seeds in warmer months.

The Virginia opossum’s coloration is typically gray but may be tinted red, brown, or black, and varies based on location, being light gray in the north and dark gray in the south.

Virginia opossums may be predated upon by owls, dogs, coyotes, foxes, raccoons, bobcats, snakes, and humans, but are immune to the venom of a variety of snakes from the family, Viperidae.

Virginia opossums were once considered nomadic, but are now known to keep oval-shaped home ranges, with males keeping larger ranges than females.

The Virginia opossum’s hairless, scale-like, prehensile tail is relatively large, usually around 90% of its total body length.

Virginia opossums are hardy, stout, robust individuals with short legs, hairless ears, and thick bodies and males tend to be larger and heavier than females.

Due to its recent northern and western expansion and its wide range in Central and North America, the Virginia opossum has been noted as one of the most successful mammal species in history.

Virginia opossums are opportunistic omnivorous feeders, seen as pests, because they consume vertebrates, invertebrates, plants, fruits, grains, carrion, farm poultry, pet food, and even garbage.