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 get to see 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. Take a look at the video below that showcases the opossum tail in action!
The opossum tail serves to transport nesting materials
Opossums utilize their prehensile tail to transport nesting materials (leaves, twigs, corn husks…) back to their dens. This is the method they use: opossums pick up leaves with their mouths, then transfer them to their front feet, and finally to their back feet. They wrap their tail over the bundle of leaves and carry this bedding around with their semi-prehensile tails as though it were a fifth limb!
We’ve recorded this behavior multiple times on our trail cameras. The video below features an opossum seen collecting leaves and carrying them to its den, which is only about 10 feet from our house. We intentionally leave our leaves on the ground in the fall so opossums, woodchucks, and squirrels can utilize them for their nests. Opossums do not dig their own dens; our neighbor here is occupying a woodchuck burrow. Leaves are utilized to line the den, enhancing insulation during the chilly winter.
Opossum tails aid in balancing while climbing trees
While juvenile opossums can hang by their tail (if compelled to), adult opossums are too heavy for that and do not utilize their tail for hanging. However, they do employ it for balance and stabilization on branches while climbing trees.
Opossum tails are not meant for handling
Grabbing a fully grown opossum by the end of its tail can inflict serious harm by dislocating tail bones.
To discover more about opossums, read our article Possum vs Opossum: What’s the Difference?