I am a successful scavenger, thanks to my adaptability and excellent immune system. Of my 100+ opossum species friends in the world, our most common and  recognizable in the United States are the Virginia opossum. 

• Our Scientific Name of the Virginia Opossum: Didelphis virginiana
• Our  Average Size: 21-36" long (including tail); 4-15 lbs. 
• Our Average Lifespan in the Wild: 1-2 years 
• Identifying Our Features: cat-sized body; grey fur with a white face; long pointy snout; round dark eyes and hairless ears; four paws; long, hairless tail spanning over 1/3 of its total body length. 
• Activity: We are nocturnal - active mainly after dark. Although we do not hibernate, we are often less active during the winter. We tend to be solitary animals and live alone when we are not breeding. 
• Reproduction: Between the months of January and October, we breed and give birth to up to two litters of 4-8 young each. The gestation period is about 13 days, after which time the young are born and must immediately claim one of 13 nipples inside the mother's pouch. The young remain inside the pouch for about 50 days, after which time they begin to exit the pouch and spend time on their mother's back. After about 100 days, the young opossums split from their mothers to find their own home ranges.
• Skills: We are skilled climbers, thanks to our opposable rear thumbs and long tails that are designed to wrap around branches. We are also great swimmers, although we prefer to travel on land.