Virginia opossums (Didelphis virginiana) represent the sole marsupials found in the United States, and we take pride in sharing our yard with them. As they are nocturnal, we rarely spot them directly, but our camera traps confirm their presence. Recently, we captured a fascinating behavior exhibited by opossums: the use of their tail. Check out the video below showcasing the opossum tail in action!
Virginia opossum in our yard, photographed using a DSLR camera trap.
The opossum tail serves to transport nesting materials.
Opossums utilize their prehensile tail to carry nesting materials (such as leaves, twigs, corn husks…) back to their dens. Here’s their method: opossums pick up leaves with their mouths and transfer them to their front feet, then to their back feet. They wrap their tail around the bundle of leaves and transport this bedding with their semi-prehensile tails as if it were an extra limb!
We’ve observed this behavior several times on our trail cameras. The video below captures the most recent instance, where an opossum is seen collecting leaves and transporting them to its den, located just about 10 feet from our house. In the fall, we intentionally leave our leaves on the ground so opossums, woodchucks, and squirrels can gather them for their nests. Opossums do not excavate their own dens; the one residing nearby is utilizing a woodchuck burrow. Leaves are used to line the den, enhancing insulation during the frigid winter months.
Opossum tails assist in maintaining balance while climbing trees.
Although young opossums can dangle by their tail (if prompted), adult opossums are too weighty and do not hang by their tails. However, they do employ their tails for stability and balance on branches as they climb trees.
Young opossum on a tree branch.
Opossum tails are not meant to be handles.
Grabbing a fully grown opossum by the tip of its tail can cause serious injury by dislocating its tail bones.
To find out more about opossums, read our article Possum vs Opossum: What’s the Difference?