Opossums or well known as Orlando possums are the marsupial mammals found in various regions of the world including China, New Zealand, Australia and North America. These animals prefer to visit human habitat in search of food and to meet their routine diet; they can attack trash cans, human leftovers, and pet food as well. People report that these animals appear larger in the night as compared to their actual size.



Experts reveal that Florida possums can usually grow somewhere between 15 and 20 inches in length. It means they can be somewhere around the size of a house cat. Their average weight can be somewhere around 10 to 13 lbs. However, depending on their routine activity and the diet they get; their size and weight can rise beyond this range as well. The more he gets to eat, the bigger he will grow and the scary you will find him with a larger body.

Possums can eat almost everything including small snakes, insects, berries, leaves, pet food, table scraps, and vegetation as well. They stay super active to search food for them and can eat whatever they find on the way. Hence, when they get plenty of food to eat, their size usually becomes bigger. If someone threatens these animals, they are capable enough to hiss, growl or show off with their sharp teeth. When he shows his large girth, he may appear more scary and bigger in size. But in actual, possums are quite shy and docile creatures.

Irrespective of their size, Orlando possums usually have a short lifetime. Experts reveal that they can live only up to 2 to 4 years. The common predators of these animals include owls, dogs, cats, coyotes, foxes, bobcats and humans as well. The great news is that possums are generally immune to the rabies virus so even if they attack your property, you may feel safe on that side. Possums are also capable enough to resists against snakes; reports say that they are either partially or even completely immune to venom produced by cottonmouths, rattlesnakes and pit vipers.

The normal diet of Florida possums includes grains, fruits, plants, frogs, eggs, birds, slugs, snails, insects, rodents, and carrion. They can also live upon cat food, dog food, table scraps and human leftovers. As these animals love to eat calcium-rich diet, so they are often in search of rodent skeletons.

If you threaten these creatures, they will try to run, belch, and growl, defecate or urinate. The funny fact is that they also try to play dead when no other option works. They simply roll over and make their body stiff with closed eyes. At the same time, they can also secrete foul-smelling fluid out of their body. This playing dead state can last even for around 4 hours, and it is quite effective against predators and deterrents attacking them. These animals are also great swimmers and can climb with the help of their super active tails. Although they are not much aggressive in nature, they can cause huge damage to your property.

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