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Virginia Opossum

Didelphis virginiana

Mammal · family Didelphidae · order Didelphimorphia

  1. G1
    Critically imperiled
  2. G2
    Imperiled
  3. G3
    Vulnerable
  4. G4
    Apparently secure
  5. G5
    Secure

NatureServe global rank G5: secure[2].

Updated October 30, 2026. Published by Humblebee.

Endangered Species Act
Not listed[1]
NatureServe global rank
G5 Secure[2]
Native in
43 states[3]
Longest recorded life
6.6 years[4]

The Virginia Opossum (Didelphis virginiana) is a mammal in the family Didelphidae[5]. NatureServe ranks it G5, which means Secure worldwide, and it is not listed under the US Endangered Species Act[2][1].

Conservation status

NatureServe gives the Virginia Opossum a global rank of G5 (Secure) and a national rank for the United States of N5 (Secure)[2][6]. The IUCN Red List category recorded by NatureServe is Least concern[7]. It is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS data checked on 2026-10-30[1]. State ranks vary. State ranks differ from state to state, and the full table is shown on this page[8].

Status Value
Endangered Species Act[1] Not listed
NatureServe global rank[2] G5 (Secure)
NatureServe US rank[6] N5 (Secure)
IUCN Red List (via NatureServe)[7] Least concern

Where Virginia Opossum lives

NatureServe lists the Virginia Opossum as native in 43 US states and territories, from Florida and Texas up to Maine, Minnesota and Wyoming[3]. It is introduced, meaning people brought it there and it is not native, in California, Idaho, Oregon and Washington[9].

Alaska: not recordedAKMaine: native, state rank S4MEWisconsin: native, state rank S5WIVermont: native, state rank S5VTNew Hampshire: native, state rank S5NHWashington: introduced, state rank SNAWAIdaho: introduced, state rank SNAIDMontana: not recordedMTNorth Dakota: native, state rank S1NDMinnesota: native, state rank S5MNIllinois: native, state rank S5ILMichigan: native, state rank S5MINew York: native, state rank S5NYMassachusetts: native, state rank S5MAOregon: introduced, state rank SNAORNevada: not recordedNVWyoming: native, state rank S5WYSouth Dakota: native, state rank S4SDIowa: native, state rank S5IAIndiana: native, state rank S5INOhio: native, state rank S5OHPennsylvania: native, state rank S5PANew Jersey: native, state rank S5NJConnecticut: native, state rank S5CTRhode Island: native, state rank S5RICalifornia: introduced, state rank SNACAUtah: native, state rank SNRUTColorado: native, state rank S1CONebraska: native, state rank S5NEMissouri: native, state rank S5MOKentucky: native, state rank S5KYWest Virginia: native, state rank S5WVVirginia: native, state rank S5VAMaryland: native, state rank S5MDDelaware: native, state rank S5DEArizona: native, state rank S3AZNew Mexico: native, state rank SNANMKansas: native, state rank S5KSArkansas: native, state rank S5ARTennessee: native, state rank S5TNNorth Carolina: native, state rank S5NCSouth Carolina: native, state rank S5SCDistrict of Columbia: native, state rank S5DCOklahoma: native, state rank SNROKLouisiana: native, state rank S5LAMississippi: native, state rank S5MSAlabama: native, state rank S5ALGeorgia: native, state rank S5GAHawaii: not recordedHITexas: native, state rank S5TXFlorida: native, state rank SNRFLPuerto Rico: not recordedPR
State presence as recorded by NatureServe[8].
Show state ranks (47 states)
StateRankMeaning
AlabamaS5Secure
ArizonaS3Vulnerable
ArkansasS5Secure
CaliforniaSNANot Applicable
ColoradoS1Critically Imperiled
ConnecticutS5Secure
DelawareS5Secure
District of ColumbiaS5Secure
FloridaSNRNot Ranked
GeorgiaS5Secure
IdahoSNANot Applicable
IllinoisS5Secure
IndianaS5Secure
IowaS5Secure
KansasS5Secure
KentuckyS5Secure
LouisianaS5Secure
MaineS4Apparently Secure
MarylandS5Secure
MassachusettsS5Secure
MichiganS5Secure
MinnesotaS5Secure
MississippiS5Secure
MissouriS5Secure
NebraskaS5Secure
New HampshireS5Secure
New JerseyS5Secure
New MexicoSNANot Applicable
New YorkS5Secure
North CarolinaS5Secure
North DakotaS1Critically Imperiled
OhioS5Secure
OklahomaSNRNot Ranked
OregonSNANot Applicable
PennsylvaniaS5Secure
Rhode IslandS5Secure
South CarolinaS5Secure
South DakotaS4Apparently Secure
TennesseeS5Secure
TexasS5Secure
UtahSNRNot Ranked
VermontS5Secure
VirginiaS5Secure
WashingtonSNANot Applicable
West VirginiaS5Secure
WisconsinS5Secure
WyomingS5Secure

Habitat

NatureServe records many habitat types for this animal, such as hardwood and mixed forest, shrubland, grassland, old fields, cropland, suburbs, wetlands and riparian areas[10]. The notes describe it as very adaptable, with a liking for wooded areas near water, and it also lives in suburban areas[11]. For dens it uses old burrows, buildings, hollow logs and tree cavities[11].

Habitat types recorded by NatureServe[10]

Size, diet and lifespan

This opossum eats a wide mix of foods. NatureServe lists insects and other invertebrates, fruit, grain, carrion, small animals and human garbage[12]. One diet estimate is 30% other vertebrates, 30% carrion, 20% other plant material and 20% invertebrates[13]. A typical adult is about 102 cm (40 in) long[14]. Females carry young for about 12 days before birth, and AnAge lists a typical litter of 15[15][16]. The oldest known one lived in captivity, and this is a record and not a typical lifespan[4].

Trait Value
Typical length[14] 102 cm (40 in)
Typical adult weight[17] 6.3 kg (14 lb)
Longest recorded lifespan (AnAge)[4] 6.6 years (captivity)
Litter or clutch size[16] 15
Gestation or incubation[15] 12 days
Female maturity[18] 184 days (about 0.5 years)
Food habits[19] Carnivore, Invertivore, Herbivore, Granivore, Frugivore
Active[20] nocturnal
Migration[21] non-migrant

Estimated diet composition (EltonTraits 1.0)[13]

  • 30% other vertebrates
  • 30% carrion
  • 20% other plant material
  • 20% invertebrates

When to look for it

The Virginia Opossum is nocturnal, which means it is active at night[22][20]. It is considered a non-migrant, though populations can differ[21]. Activity drops during cold periods[23]. On GBIF, most US records fall in March, April and May[24]. These records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[24].

January: 4,132 recordsJanFebruary: 4,614 recordsFebMarch: 5,433 recordsMarApril: 6,983 recordsAprMay: 5,464 recordsMayJune: 3,272 recordsJunJuly: 3,502 recordsJulAugust: 3,605 recordsAugSeptember: 4,621 recordsSepOctober: 4,745 recordsOctNovember: 4,383 recordsNovDecember: 4,055 recordsDec
US observation records on GBIF by month, all years. The three months with the most records are highlighted. Records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[24].
Show records by month
MonthRecords
January4,132
February4,614
March5,433
April6,983
May5,464
June3,272
July3,502
August3,605
September4,621
October4,745
November4,383
December4,055

Where to see it

National Park Service species lists record Virginia Opossum as present in 109 park units[25]. Present means the park has a confirmed record, not that sightings are common.

And 85 more park units.

States with the most GBIF observation records: Texas, California, Florida, North Carolina, Illinois[26]. These counts follow where people look and report, not population size.

Questions people ask

Is the Virginia Opossum endangered?
No. It is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act[1]. NatureServe ranks it G5 (Secure) globally and N5 (Secure) in the United States[2][6].
Where does the Virginia Opossum live?
NatureServe lists it as native in 43 US states and territories[3]. It is introduced in California, Idaho, Oregon and Washington[9].
What does the Virginia Opossum eat?
It eats insects, fruit, grain, carrion, small animals and human garbage[12]. One estimate puts its diet at 30% other vertebrates, 30% carrion, 20% other plant material and 20% invertebrates[13].
How long is a Virginia Opossum?
NatureServe records a typical length of 102 cm (40 in)[14].
How long does a Virginia Opossum live?
The longest recorded lifespan comes from a captive animal[4]. That is a record and not a typical lifespan.

Facts and sources

  1. Virginia Opossum is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS ECOS data (checked 2026-10-30). USFWS ECOS
  2. NatureServe global conservation status rank for Virginia Opossum: G5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  3. NatureServe lists Virginia Opossum as native in 43 US states and territories: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts,... NatureServe Explorer
  4. Maximum recorded lifespan in AnAge: 6.6 years in captivity. This is a record, not a typical lifespan. AnAge
  5. Virginia Opossum (Didelphis virginiana) is a mammal in the family Didelphidae, order Didelphimorphia. NatureServe Explorer
  6. NatureServe national rank in the United States: N5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  7. IUCN Red List category as recorded by NatureServe: Least concern. NatureServe Explorer
  8. NatureServe state ranks for Virginia Opossum (map and table on this page). NatureServe Explorer
  9. NatureServe lists Virginia Opossum as introduced (not native) in: California, Idaho, Oregon, Washington. NatureServe Explorer
  10. Habitat types NatureServe records for Virginia Opossum: Forest - hardwood, Forest - mixed, Woodland - hardwood, Woodland - mixed, Shrubland/chaparral, Grassland/herbaceous, Old field, Cropland/hedgerow, Suburban/orchard, Herbaceous wetland, Forested... NatureServe Explorer
  11. NatureServe notes on habitat for Virginia Opossum. NatureServe Explorer
  12. NatureServe notes on food for Virginia Opossum. NatureServe Explorer
  13. Estimated diet composition in EltonTraits 1.0: 30% other vertebrates, 30% carrion, 20% other plant material, 20% invertebrates. EltonTraits 1.0
  14. Typical length recorded by NatureServe: 102 cm (40 in). NatureServe Explorer
  15. Gestation or incubation period in AnAge: 12 days. AnAge
  16. Typical litter or clutch size in AnAge: 15. AnAge
  17. Typical adult weight recorded by NatureServe: 6.3 kg (14 lb). NatureServe Explorer
  18. Age at female sexual maturity in AnAge: 184 days (about 0.5 years). AnAge
  19. Adult food habits recorded by NatureServe: Carnivore, Invertivore, Herbivore, Granivore, Frugivore. NatureServe Explorer
  20. Activity time in EltonTraits 1.0: nocturnal. EltonTraits 1.0
  21. NatureServe migration category for Virginia Opossum: non-migrant (populations can differ). NatureServe Explorer
  22. Adult activity patterns recorded by NatureServe: Nocturnal. NatureServe Explorer
  23. NatureServe notes on phenology for Virginia Opossum. NatureServe Explorer
  24. GBIF observation records of Virginia Opossum in the US by month (chart on this page). GBIF
  25. NPSpecies park lists recording Virginia Opossum as present (list on this page). NPS NPSpecies
  26. US states with the most GBIF observation records of Virginia Opossum: Texas, California, Florida, North Carolina, Illinois. Record counts follow observer effort, not population size. GBIF

Status, range and habitat come from NatureServe Explorer (CC BY 4.0) and USFWS ECOS at the snapshot date. Listings change by federal rule. State lists are where NatureServe records the species, not a promise that you will see it there. Never name a place smaller than a state. GBIF and park records count observations and checklists. They show where and when people report the species, not how many animals live there.

NatureServe. 2026. NatureServe Explorer [web application]. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org. (Accessed: October 30, 2026). Licensed under CC BY 4.0; SpeciesFacts selected and summarized it.