This is my latest emergent reader book about the opossum. This is such a cute and often overlooked wild animal – the only marsupial in the US.
- Unique Defense Mechanism: Opossums are famous for playing dead when they feel threatened. This behavior is called “playing possum.” They lie very still, sometimes even with their tongue hanging out, to trick predators into thinking they’re already dead. This helps them avoid getting hurt!
- Adaptive Eaters: Opossums are omnivores, which means they eat both plants and animals. They have a varied diet that includes fruits, insects, small animals like rodents, and even carrion (dead animals). This diverse diet helps them survive in different environments.
- Marsupial Mothers: Opossums are marsupials, just like kangaroos and koalas. Female opossums carry their babies in a pouch on their belly. Baby opossums, called joeys, are born very tiny and underdeveloped. They crawl into their mother’s pouch and continue to grow and develop there until they are ready to venture out on their own.
- Excellent Climbers: Opossums are skilled climbers and spend a lot of time in trees. They have long, grasping tails and sharp claws that help them climb and hang from branches. They are also quite agile and can move swiftly through the treetops.
- Natural Pest Controllers: Opossums help keep insect populations under control by eating a variety of bugs, including beetles, cockroaches, and even ticks. They also eat small rodents, which can help keep rodent populations from getting out of control. So, having opossums around can actually be beneficial for keeping a healthy balance in the ecosystem!
KatQat Resources 
Leave a comment