A Conversation for Possums

Range

Post 1

Jimi X

I don't know how far north its range extends, but there are definitely Possums in Pennsylvania.
In fact, there's a lake in Cumberland County called Opossum Lake.
Hit one of the buggers with my car once while on a date and it ruined the whole mood!


Range

Post 2

bludragon, aka the Dragon Queen of Damogran

Possums range right up into the True North-- at least the southern part of it. Southern Michigan hosts possum, as well as racoons, in urban areas. You can pretty much expect to see at least one roadkill possum in the course of a year on residential streets in the Metropolitan Detroit area. They have learned to scavenge in the civilized world of garbage cans, etc.

The little ones are sorta cute, but when they get big they DO look like somebodies bad dream of the 'Invasion of the Giant Rats'....


Range

Post 3

Researcher 83179

They are most definitely in New Jersey also - and - since there are lots of people and lots of roads and lots of cars in NJ, there are lots of the little buggers on the side of the road (almost anyone you travel).

I can also attest to the fact that they can get nasty! When I was 7, me and a friend were walking past a wooded lot on our street (back when there were such things as wooded lots in New Jersey) when a possum came charging out at us. We jumped up on my mother's car (she never forgave me for the footprints) while the ugly little thing hissed at us. We were eventually rescued by a neighbor with a broom!


Range

Post 4

BlurbVurt

I never actually seen one hanging from a tree though! I wasn't sure if that was an urban myth. Bloody heavy if one dropped on you!
The thought doesn't even bare thinking about.


Range:update

Post 5

bludragon, aka the Dragon Queen of Damogran

Possum sighting in NORTHERN Michigan, between Gaylord and Mackinac Bridge. This verifies range as well into the north. However not sure of possum health this far north. The one sighted was either playing possum or sleeping at the side of the road...or fell victim to the same fate as those in New Jersey.


Note: no possum sighted in da Yoop [Upper Penninsula of Michigan] as yet. But der's a whole lotta udder wildlife up der, eh?


Range:update

Post 6

Güthwinë

Also ranges into the middle reaches of Wisconsin, as I can personally attest. We had one hanging around our backyard a few weeks ago, and we live in a relatively urban area! I'm also fairly certain that they extend into the Northwoods areas, so it wouldn't be surprising if they could live in Da Yoop, too. Seem to be rather adaptable critters. Is it just me, or do possums look exactly like *slightly* smaller versions of ROUS's?


Range:Different opossum!!

Post 7

SHODAN_V2

Same name Differnt animals,
I live in New Zealand and have meet (And killed with no regrets!)
several opossums. However I have seen video footage of an "amirican"
opossum, they are differnt as detailed below.
The New Zealand (Bush Tailed?) and Australian Speices (lots!) have flat noses not unlike a cat, the US counterpart with the same name has a pointed nose and is much more dangerous!!


Range:update

Post 8

Scottworthy

Adding to possum range, they seem to be all over western Washington state (though they can't seem to handle the arid parts of the state). I saw them outside my window when I lived in downtown Seattle, and I see dead ones all the time on the roads. I heard they were brought here for hunting from the South (which wouldn't actually surprise me). So, we can add the northern part of the Pacific coast of the United States. I'm beginning to think they're everywhere in the US that has sufficient precipitation to allow heavy ground cover.

Scottworthy


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