Do possums live longer in captivity?

The average lifespan for the Virginia opossum is between two and four years. In captivity, the oldest recorded opossum was four years and five months old. However, in the wild, opossums have a much lower life expectancy and do not commonly make it past their first year of life.

How long does a captive opossum Live?

between 3-4 years
Wild opossums have a relatively short lifespan of approximately 1.5-2 years. Captive opossums normally live between 3-4 years, however up to 8-10 years has been described.

Why don t possums live long in captivity?

The opossum has an average lifespan of 1 to 2 years. This short lifespan is due in part to the presence of many predators including dogs, cats and people.

Do wild possums make good pets?

Short-tailed opossums have grown in popularity as an exotic pet. They are very good pets for beginners because of their cleanliness, omnivorous diet, and general good health. These opossums are small, generally friendly creatures with easy care requirements, and they certainly are cute!

How big is a 3 month old possum?

approximately 7-9 inches long
She, in turn, will make clicking sounds. The young are weaned at approximately 3 months of age and are on their own at 4 1/2 – 5 months when they are approximately 7-9 inches long from nose to rump, excluding the tail. In a few months they will reproduce and continue the fascinating life cycle of the Virginia opossum.

How long can possums go without food?

Again, not very long. Like other mammals, baby possums will probably not last longer than 2-3 days without food.

How do you befriend a wild possum?

Wait for the opossum to come over and sniff your hand. This may take a few minutes, or require a few more attempts at a later time, but opossums are generally such curious animals that they will eventually come over and approach you. Just make sure you don’t make any sudden movements or noises that may startle it.

Do possums carry disease or parasites?

Opossums are carriers of different kinds of ecto-parasites like lice, mites, ticks and even fleas. Fleas are very common on opossums. The eggs and the larva of the fleas are usually shed in the areas that they frequent regularly. In California, Murine Typhus is a disease that has for a long time been transmitted to humans by the opossum fleas.

What is the lifespan of a possum?

– Possum Lifespan. The Virginia opossum is thought to live as long as two years in the natural habitat. The captive specimens have a maximum life expectancy of about 4 years. However, unlike American opossums, Australian possums have fairly longer lifespans. Let’s see in detail as to how long do possums live for.

What do possums eat and are they dangerous?

Vegetables – Like fruit, possums can also eat veggies in relatively small quantities. Despite their image is completely harmless, cute, and sheltered, some possum species can be quite dangerous for animals around them. For example, brushtail possums enjoy deriving protein from bird eggs and small lizards.

What are predators of opossums?

The opossum has a number of natural predators in its environment although the main predators of the opossum are birds of prey such as owls and eagles, dogs, foxes and cats. Humans are one of the main predators of the opossum as they hunt them for meat but the opossum is also commonly killed on the roads by cars.