Virginia opossums (Didelphis virginiana) are the sole marsupials found in the United States, and we take pride in sharing our yard with them. Since they are nocturnal, we rarely spot them, but we are aware of their presence thanks to our camera traps. Recently, we captured some fascinating opossum behavior on film: how an opossum utilizes its tail. Check the video below illustrating the opossum tail in action!
The opossum tail is utilized for transporting nesting materials
Opossums employ their prehensile tail to transport nesting materials (leaves, twigs, corn husks…) back to their dens. Here’s how they manage it: opossums pick up leaves using their mouths and then transfer them to their front feet, and subsequently to their back feet. They curl their tail over the bundle of leaves and carry this bedding around with their semi-prehensile tails as if it were an extra limb!
We have observed this behavior several times with our trail cameras. The video below showcases the most recent instance, where an opossum is seen collecting leaves and bringing them to its den, which is situated about 10 feet away from our house. We intentionally leave our leaves on the ground during the fall so that opossums, woodchucks, and squirrels can take them to their nests. Opossums do not create their own dens; our neighbor is utilizing a woodchuck burrow. Leaves are utilized to line the den, enhancing insulation during the cold winter months.
Opossum tails assist in maintaining balance while climbing trees
While young opossums can dangle by their tails (if prompted to do so), adult opossums are too heavy and do not use their tails for hanging. However, they do rely on it for balance and stabilization on branches when ascending trees.
Opossum tails are not handles
Grasping a fully grown opossum by the tip of its tail can cause serious injury by dislocating tail bones.
To discover more about opossums, read our article [Possum vs Opossum: What’s the Difference](https://www.travel4wildlife.com/possum-vs-opossum-the-real-answer/)?