New Jersey’s misunderstood marsupial!
New Jersey is called the Garden State!
The State We’re In column by Alison Mitchell, Executive Director, New Jersey Conservation Foundation.
Some dismiss the endearing opossum as unattractive – or even a nuisance – but this quiet creature is actually one of our gentlest and most essential wild neighbors.
Despite their scruffy looks and dramatic defense tactics, opossums are shy creatures that play a vital role in keeping our ecosystems healthy and diverse. As scavengers and opportunistic omnivores, they help clean up decaying matter and control insect and rodent populations.
They eat fruits, nuts, insects, frogs, snakes (including venomous ones), bird eggs, small rodents, and even carrion. Their presence in gardens or compost piles is beneficial to people, as they love snacking on pests like slugs, snails, cockroaches, beetles, and termites.
These critters are the only marsupials native to North America, which means they carry and nurse their young in a pouch like kangaroos and koalas. After a very short gestation period of just 13 days, the tiny, underdeveloped babies known as “joeys” crawl into their mother’s pouch, where they continue to grow and develop. Once they outgrow the pouch, they often hitch a ride on mom’s back as she forages, creating an adorable backpack of baby hitchhikers.
Despite their appearance, opossums are not aggressive animals. When startled, they will bluff by showing teeth, hissing, or drooling, but these are just behaviors meant to discourage predators. Who can blame them for that?! They’re also shy and slow – their top speed is only about seven miles per hour, which may contribute to their tendency to be struck by cars.
To make up for their more passive traits, they’ve evolved a dramatic last-resort defense mechanism: “playing dead.” This is an involuntary reflex response, not a conscious decision. When threatened, they collapse, go limp, emit a foul-smelling musk, and appear completely lifeless (sometimes for hours).
Like cats, opossums groom themselves frequently with their tongues and paws. This keeps them tidy and also helps regulate body temperature, since they don’t have sweat glands. Contrary to popular belief, opossums are highly resistant to rabies since their body temperature is typically too low to support the virus.
While opossums are frequently found in wooded areas and near wetlands, they’re also incredibly well-adapted to suburban and urban environments. In the wild, they take shelter in hollow logs, tree cavities, or abandoned burrows. In developed areas, they’ll den under porches, decks, sheds, or even in attics and garages if they can get in. Their nests are a jumble of sticks, leaves, and whatever else they can scavenge. Their populations can thrive where food and shelter are abundant.
It’s time we appreciate the opossum! They’re not pests. They don’t ask for much and they give us a lot in return – including keeping real pests in check. They’re peaceful, fascinating members of New Jersey’s wild cast of characters. In short: opossums are delightful!
To learn more about how you can help preserve New Jersey’s natural resources, visit the New Jersey Conservation Foundation at www.njconservation.org or reach out to us at info@njconservation.org.
