Opossum Solutions:
Nicknamed the living fossil, the opossum dates back to the days of the dinosaur.
They look like rats, only bigger, fatter, toothier, and slower. North America's only marsupial (female has a pouch) mammal. The female carries and nurses her young in her pouch until they are about 2 to 3 months old; then they are carried on her back another 1 to 2 months whenever they are away from the den.   Females have litters up to twice a year (the father always skips town!). Babies, typically 5 to 8 in a litter are ready to leave mommy's
pouch and walk around out on their own by 4 months of age. That's when they are 7 to 9 inches, nose to rump, and weigh about 10 to 16 ounces.
Opossums have a prehensile tail. Prehensile means that the tail is adapted for seizing, grasping, and wrapping itself around objects. The common picture of opossums hanging by their tails is, for the most part, a myth. A young opossum may hang briefly by its tail. But an adult opossum's body is far too heavy to be held suspended by its tail. The opossum actually uses its tail to stabilize its body while climbing.
Opossums do carry fleas (as do all wild and some domestic animals). And the opossum may bite you if you are foolhardy enough to grab one; after all, they are wild animals.
	But they help to maintain a clean and healthy environment. They eat all types of insects, including cockroaches, crickets, beetles, etc. They catch and eat rats, roof rats, mice, and they consume dead animals of all types (carrion). They like over-ripe fruit, berries, and grapes. And they think snails and slugs are a delicacy! Nature's little Sanitation Engineers!
	Solitary and nocturnal: usually slow moving; when frightened they will hiss or growl and show their 50 sharp teeth when frightened; but, in reality, they are gentle and placid- they prefer to avoid all confrontations and wish to be left alone. If they are unable to flee may fall into an involuntary shock-like state, "playing 'possum".
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