North GroundHuntNorth Ground Hunt — return to North Ground
Species authority page

Virginia opossum

Didelphis virginiana · Furbearers

Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana): The only marsupial north of Mexico. Long, hairless, prehensile tail. This profile does not establish whether taking it is legal anywhere.

Check rules for a place and dateOpen the virginia opossum map

Certified rules currently represented in Hunt: coverage in development. This is coverage, not a legal answer.

Virginia opossum climbing a tree trunk
Adobe Stock · Standard License (asset 30052165)
Scientific name
Didelphis virginiana
Family
Didelphidae
Range
Most of the eastern and central U.S. and adjacent southeastern Canada (north into Ontario), west to South Dakota, Colorado and Arizona; introduced on the Pacific coast and into British Columbia, and still expanding north and west.
Biology

How to identify it

The only marsupial north of Mexico. [1][2]

Long, hairless, prehensile tail. [1][2]

Whitish underfur tipped with black; coloration varies across the range. [1][2]

Robust body, short legs and an opposable thumb-like hind toe; about 1.9–2.8 kg. [1][2]

Species it is confused with

Check these before deciding what you are looking at. If you are not certain what it is, do not shoot.

Field notes

  • Identification Do not identify Virginia opossum from colour alone. Compare structure, size, range and the listed similar species before making a field decision.[1][2]
Field knowledge

Where it lives

Varied, from dry country to wet meadows, but prefers woodlands and thickets near water. [1][2]

Field knowledge

How it behaves

Nocturnal and solitary, active dusk to dawn; does not hibernate but is less active in the coldest weather [1][2]

When threatened adults hiss, bare teeth or flee; feigning death is mostly by young animals [1][2]

Opportunistic omnivore: small animals, insects, worms, fruit and seeds [1][2]

Somewhat nomadic, often staying in an area only months [1][2]

Regulatory handoff

Where it is listed for legal take

These authorities list this species for legal take in their own regulations.

Where legal take is listed

Being listed is not an open season. Seasons, zones, licences, methods and limits decide whether this animal may be taken on a given day and place — check Hunt or the authority before you go. Listings read 2026-09-30.

Geospatial intelligence

Where it is found

Most of the eastern and central U.S. and adjacent southeastern Canada (north into Ontario), west to South Dakota, Colorado and Arizona; introduced on the Pacific coast and into British Columbia, and still expanding north and west.

Biology

Sources

Every claim above is attributed to one of these published sources.

  1. Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute · reviewed 2026-09-30

    Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute

  2. NatureServe · reviewed 2026-09-30

    NatureServe