03/03/2021
Greetings from Cedrick Pines. Part of our mission is to provide Opossum education. This week we will focus on the different species you may find in North America.
In North America, you will normally only find one species of Opossum, the Virginia Opossum. However, if you live in a southern border state you may be fortunate enough to encounter two very different species of "Opossums."
First, the "Didelphis Virginiana" or Virginia Opossum is native to North America and is the type of Opossum you are likely to encounter in the USA.
Second, the "Didelphis Marsupialis" is the Mexican Opossum that is native to Mexico but has been frequently spotted in Southern Border Towns.
You can tell the difference with their faces. Virginia Opossums have a lighter face, the Mexican Opossum has a darker face.
At Cedrick Pines we have been fortunate to interact with both species. However, being this far north, we generally rehabilitate and release the Didelphis Virginiana species.
Next week we will talk about different color pigmentations across the species.
If you are curious or have any questions about this very precious mammal please reach out and we will try to address your questions in one of our weekly messages.
