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Animal Guide

Virginia Opossum

56 destinations · 29 states

Native Range
Eastern, central, and southern United States, extending into parts of Central America

The Virginia opossum is a nocturnal animal that can be easy to underestimate until you watch it up close. Its long, pointed face, nearly hairless tail, and bright eyes give it a distinctive look, while its constantly twitching nose reveals how much it relies on smell as it explores. Opossums are excellent climbers and use their prehensile tails for balance as they move through branches, although the tail is not strong enough to regularly carry their body weight. At night, they search for insects, fruit, eggs, small animals, and other foods, making them adaptable foragers. Young opossums spend their early months riding on their mother's back or clinging to her fur. Their famous defensive behavior can also be surprising. When badly threatened, an opossum may collapse into an apparently lifeless state, complete with drooling and a limp body, rather than trying to fight. At a zoo or wildlife destination, look for the small details first: the sensitive nose, gripping feet, and curious movements often reveal an animal far more active and capable than its sleepy reputation suggests.

Virginia Opossum

Where to see Virginia Opossum

56 destinations across 29 states

56 destinations

Abilene Zoo

Abilene, TX

Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo

Gulf Shores, AL

Alaska Zoo

Anchorage, AK

Amarillo Zoo

Amarillo, TX

Birmingham Zoo

Birmingham, AL

Boonshoft Museum of Discovery

Dayton, OH

Bramble Park Zoo

Watertown, SD

Brandywine Zoo

Wilmington, DE

BREC's Baton Rouge Zoo

Baton Rouge, LA

Brookfield Zoo

Riverside, IL

Buttonwood Park Zoo

New Bedford, MA

California Living Museum

Bakersfield, CA

Chattanooga Zoo

Chattanooga, TN

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

Colorado Springs, CO

Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden

Cincinnati, OH

Clearwater Marine Aquarium

Clearwater, FL

Columbus Zoo & Aquarium

Powell, OH

El Paso Zoo

El Paso, TX

Erie Zoo

Erie, PA

Fort Worth Zoo

Fort Worth, TX

Fresno Chaffee Zoo

Fresno, CA

Gladys Porter Zoo

Brownsville, TX

Great Bend Brit Spaugh Zoo

Great Bend, KS

Great Lakes Aquarium

Duluth, MN

Henson Robinson Zoo

Springfield, IL

Little Rock Zoo

Little Rock, AR

Louisiana Purchase Gardens & Zoo

Monroe, LA

Louisville Zoo

Louisville, KY

Metro Richmond Zoo

Moseley, VA

Mill Mountain Zoo

Roanoke, VA

Miller Park Zoo

Bloomington, IL

Minnesota Zoo

Apple Valley, MN

Monterey Zoo

Salinas, CA

NEW Zoo & Adventure Park

Green Bay, WI

Ochsner Park Zoo

Baraboo, WI

Oglebay Good Zoo

Wheeling, WV

Oklahoma City Zoo

Oklahoma City, OK

Orange County Zoo

Orange, CA

Oregon Zoo

Portland, OR

Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium

Tacoma, WA

Potawatomi Zoo

South Bend, IN

Ralph Mitchell Zoo

Independence, KS

Red River Zoo

Fargo, ND

Roger Williams Park Zoo

Providence, RI

Sacramento Zoo

Sacramento, CA

San Francisco Zoo

San Francisco, CA

Santa Ana Zoo

Santa Ana, CA

Sequoia Park Zoo

Eureka, CA

Shalom Wildlife Zoo

West Bend, WI

St. Louis Aquarium

St. Louis, MO

Sunset Zoo

Manhattan, KS

Virginia Living Museum

Newport News, VA

Virginia Zoo

Norfolk, VA

Woodland Park Zoo

Seattle, WA

Zoo in Forest Park & Education Center

Springfield, MA

Zoo New York

Watertown, NY

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