Opossums (Brit), or possums (U.S.A.), are not the most intelligent of animals, but what they lack in PhD.'s they more than makeup for in cuteness. An Deland opossum in Florida typically weighs between four and ten pounds. Inside the opossum's skull, the area that holds the brain is so small that the skull has a visible bone ridge whose purpose is to give the opossum a large enough skull for the jaw muscles to attach to. Even though the opossum looks like a giant rat, they are not related at all. An average opossum has long, wire-like gray fur, with a pink tale, a slender snout, a pink nose, and black eyes. Opossums are north America's only marsupial (an animal with a pouch like a kangaroo) and they possess more teeth than any other mammal in North America, four rows of razor-sharp teeth. The back paw of a possum has four toes and a thumb-like opposable "big toe". Opossums can be found throughout most of America. Opossums prefer low, damp, wooded streams and swamps. In many ways, possums have more problems than some other animals. Not only, are they limited in intelligence, but they are also slow and lumbering, and are easily killed by coyotes, wild dogs, and owls. Where the opossum shines over other animals is in the reproduction arena, and here it is a true champion. An average female opossum will have two litters a year, each with between 16 to 20 babies. The gestation period for a possum is just12 days , the shortest gestation period of any animal in the world. They peek out from mamas pouch two months after being born. Young opossums remain with their mother for 3 to 4 weeks after leaving the pouch. It is during this period that you often see them traveling on the backs of their mother. Young opossums are weaned at two and half months of age and are independent at three and a half. Opossums do not have a long life span. In the wild, they typically live about two years and in captivity, about four. Female possums are biologically mature by 6 to 7 months, and males by 8 to 9 months. Opossums are active throughout the year but slow down during Florida's cold snaps. They live often in trees. Other favorite sites may include brush piles, armadillo burrows, gopher tortoise burrows, crawl spaces under houses, and attics. Opossums are omnivorous and will eat just about anything, but they especially like frogs, snakes, mice, rats, and any dead animal. Opossums do not have territories. They simply wander around living a nomadic life. We often get calls from customers asking how to catch opossums, removal of opossum, general questions about opossums in Florida,