Virginia Opossum

The Virginia Opossum is the only marsupial (an animal who carries it's young in a pouch) found north of the Rio Grande, and the only marsupial in the United States.  The opossum is a nocturnal animal which lives in North American woodlands and urban areas.

Opossums are omnivores, meaning that they eat both plant and animal matter. A typical diet for a possum includes, fruits, insets and small animals. In urban areas, Opossums are often seen rummaging through trash cans after rotten vegetables, discarded kitchen waste and pet food.

Contrary to popular belief, opossums are not rodents nor are they closely related to rodents. Opossums rarely transmit disease to humans, and they are, due perhaps to lower body temperatures compared to other mammals, resistant to rabies.