possiums
Posted by Terry Lind on January 1, 2006
Q: it's January 1 2006 with about 8 inches of snow on the ground in Minnesota. 3pm in the afternoon a possium is walking across our country farm front yard. Do they hibernate in the winter?
there is a standing field of corn and of course plenty of moisture and the closest new housing is 4 miles away.
State: Minnesota
A: You'd certainly expect Opossums to hibernate but they don't. Opossums have been expanding their range northward for quite some time now and may be at or near their northern limit by now. It's not uncommon to find one with frostbitten ears and tail - they aren't very well adapted for the cold. Opossums use burrows or cavities that they find as shelters but on "warm" winter days/nights, will venture out for food. They do put on extra fat in the fall but never actually hibernate so must replenish their reserves from time to time. Thanks for asking.
John Wiessinger ( January 2, 2006)