Possums In New Brunswick: What's The Truth?

New Brunswick, a province in eastern Canada, is home to a diverse range of wildlife, from land species such as moose, deer, and hare to marine life including humpback whales, harbour porpoises, and seals. While the province boasts a wide array of fauna, the presence of possums or opossums in the region has been a subject of curiosity and debate.

Historically, possums or opossums—small to medium-sized marsupials with long snouts and prehensile tails—have not been native to New Brunswick. However, in recent years, there have been a handful of reported sightings and even a confirmed trapping of an opossum in the province, marking a northward expansion of their range. This has sparked discussions among locals and experts alike, with some speculating that the opossums may have hitched rides on trucks or trailers heading north, while others suggest they may have been escaped or released pets.

The opossum, typically found in more southern regions, is adapting to a wider range of habitats due to factors like climate change and the availability of food sources. While their presence in New Brunswick may be a rare occurrence, it underscores the dynamic nature of wildlife distribution and the ongoing impact of changing environmental conditions.

Opossums in New Brunswick are rare

Up until that sighting, there had been no recorded sightings of opossums north of Bangor, Maine. Albert Allain, an 80-year-old trapper from Richibucto Village, was the one who caught the opossum in one of his snares. According to his daughter, Lisa LeBlanc, he was "pretty excited and impressed."

Opossums, which are often called possums, have been expanding their range northward over the past century, but Don McAlpine, research curator and head of zoology at the New Brunswick Museum, stated that "it's not an animal we'd expect to see in New Brunswick, for sure." He suspected that the opossum may have hitched a ride on a truck heading north and that it likely would not have survived the cold winter.

Indeed, opossums are not well-suited to the cold climate of New Brunswick. Their range typically extends into Southern and Southeastern Ontario, Southern Quebec, and the lower Fraser Valley in British Columbia. They are about the size of a house cat, with coarse, greyish fur, whitish faces, long, pointed snouts, naked, round ears, and beady eyes. Their tails are rat-like and prehensile, aiding in climbing.

While opossums may occasionally be spotted in New Brunswick, their presence in the area is uncommon and unexpected.

They are native to the Americas

Opossums are native to the Americas. They are members of the marsupial order Didelphimorphia, endemic to the Americas. They are the largest order of marsupials in the Western Hemisphere, comprising 126 species in 18 genera.

The Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana) is the only species found in the United States and Canada. It is often simply referred to as an opossum, and in North America, it is commonly referred to as a possum. The Virginia opossum is the northernmost marsupial in the world. It is also the only opossum living north of Mexico, with its range extending south into Central America.

The opossum's ancestors evolved in South America and entered North America as part of the Great American Interchange, which occurred after the formation of the Isthmus of Panama around 3 million years ago. Opossums were minor components of South American mammal faunas until the late Miocene, when they began to diversify rapidly. Today, opossums can be found throughout most of the United States and portions of Canada and Mexico.

Opossums are not closely related to rodents or any other placental mammals. They are semi-arboreal omnivores, with a diet that includes insects, small invertebrates, carrion, eggs, fruit, and vegetation. They are solitary, nomadic, and nocturnal animals, preferring to forage at night and seek shelter during the day.

Opossums have several interesting features and adaptations. They have 50 teeth, more than any other North American land mammal. They also have opposable, clawless thumbs on their hind limbs and prehensile tails that can be used for grasping branches and carrying small objects. Additionally, opossums are known for "playing possum" or feigning death when threatened, as a defence mechanism.

Opossums have a short lifespan compared to other mammals of their size, usually only living up to 2 years in the wild and up to 4 years in captivity. This is due in part to the presence of many predators and their adaptability to various habitats.

They are about the size of a house cat

A quick Google search reveals that yes, there are possums in New Brunswick, Canada. Specifically, the region is home to the Virginia opossum (*Didelphis virginiana*), which is the only species of possum native to North America. Now, let's focus on their size:

The size of these possums can vary depending on the region and the availability of food. For example, those in urban areas, where food sources like garbage and pet food are abundant, may grow larger than their rural counterparts. Additionally, individuals from northern parts of their range, which includes New Brunswick, tend to be larger than those from more southern regions, as size can help them survive the colder climates.

Their fur color can vary, but they typically have gray or brown fur along their backs and white or cream-colored fur on their faces, chests, and the undersides of their bodies. One distinctive feature, aside from their long tails, is their narrow, pointed faces, which give them an almost rat-like appearance. Their paws are also adapted for climbing, with strong, curved claws, and their opposable thumbs on their rear feet give them added dexterity.

Despite their relatively small size, Virginia opossums are quite resilient and adaptable. They are known for their ability to survive in a wide range of habitats, from forests and fields to suburban and even urban areas. This adaptability has contributed to their success as a species and their expansion throughout North America, including New Brunswick. Their diet is also diverse, consisting of insects, small animals, fruits, and even carrion, which further aids in their ability to thrive in various environments.

In conclusion, the Virginia opossums found in New Brunswick are indeed about the size of a house cat, with their slender bodies, long tails, and pointed snouts. Their size, combined with their fur color and distinctive features, makes them quite recognizable. This, along with their resilience and adaptability, has likely contributed to their success and expansion throughout the region. So, the next time you're out for an evening stroll in New Brunswick and spot a small, cat-sized creature with a long tail scurrying across your path, you may very well have encountered one of these fascinating marsupials.

They have opposable thumbs

Opossums are the only non-primates with opposable thumbs, and they're the only marsupials native to North America. This means they have a pouch, like kangaroos. They are commonly (and incorrectly) referred to as "possums", but this name belongs to a marsupial species from Australia.

The opposable "thumb" on an opossum's rear foot is actually its big toe, or hallux. This useful anatomy allows the opossum to grasp and hold branches in a manner similar to a human hand. They also use their feet for grooming.

The opposable thumbs help make opossums excellent climbers. They also have a prehensile tail, which they use with their opposable thumbs to grasp small branches and other objects. They have been observed carrying bundles of grass and other materials by looping their tail around them. This has led many to consider the tail as a fifth appendage, like a hand.

The opposable thumbs of the opossum are not dexterous enough to allow it to manipulate tools, as some other animals with opposable thumbs can.

They play dead as a defence mechanism

Opossums, often called possums, are not native to New Brunswick, Canada. In fact, until 2014, there were no recorded sightings of the species north of Bangor, Maine. However, in March of that year, an opossum was trapped near Rexton, New Brunswick, marking the first-ever recorded instance of the species in the area.

Opossums have an involuntary defence mechanism called "playing possum", in which they enter a catatonic state in response to fear. They turn onto their backs, bare their teeth, drool, and excrete a foul-smelling liquid from their anal glands, making them appear unappetising to predators. This state can last anywhere from 40 minutes to four hours, during which the opossum is completely immobile and insensitive to pain.

This defence mechanism is highly effective, as most predators lose interest in prey that appears to be dead. The opossum's ability to "play dead" is so convincing that people have often suspected the animal of having rabies. However, it is simply a natural response to fear, and the opossum has no control over when or how long it lasts.

While "playing possum" helps opossums survive in the wild, it can also be dangerous, as it may cause them to be hit by vehicles or mistakenly buried alive. Despite this risk, their ability to feign death is a highly effective strategy for avoiding confrontation with predators.

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