Virginia opossums (Didelphis virginiana) stand as the sole marsupials in the United States, and we take pride in sharing our yard with them. Although they are nocturnal and we seldom see them, we are aware of their presence, thanks to our camera traps. Recently, we captured footage of a fascinating opossum behavior: how an opossum utilizes its tail. Watch the video below that showcases the opossum tail in action!
The opossum tail serves to transport nesting materials
Opossums employ their prehensile tail to transport nesting materials (leaves, twigs, corn husks…) back to their dens. Here’s how it works: opossums pick up leaves with their mouths and then transfer them to their front feet, followed by their back feet. They curl their tail over the top of the leaf bundle and carry this bedding around with their semi-prehensile tails as if it were a fifth limb!
We have recorded this behavior a few times on our trail cameras. The video below represents the latest instance, where an opossum is seen collecting leaves and taking them to his den, which is situated only about 10 feet from our house. In the fall, we intentionally leave our leaves on the ground so that opossums, woodchucks, and squirrels can transport them to their nests. Opossums do not create their own dens; our neighbor is residing in a woodchuck burrow. Leaves are utilized to line the den, enhancing insulation throughout the cold winter months.
Opossum tails are used for maintaining balance while climbing trees
While juvenile opossums can hang by their tail (if compelled), adult opossums are too heavy and do not use their tail for hanging. However, they do rely on it for balance and stabilization on branches while climbing trees.
Opossum tails are not meant for handling
Grasping a fully grown opossum by the tip of its tail can cause serious injury by dislocating its tail bones.
To gain more insights into opossums, read our article Possum vs Opossum: What’s the Difference?