Notes on the Ecology of the Opossum in Maryland

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Abstract
Livetrapping of opossums at the Patuxent Research Refuge in Maryland over an 8-year period resulted in the capture of 224 opossums, with 541 trap records. The maximum recorded trap life was 29 months, and the greatest estimated age was 36 months. Opossums did not enter traps readily, and the average period between consecutive captures was 31 days. Trap records indicated that opossums range over long, narrow areas rather than circular ones, probably associated with stream courses. Opossums begin to breed in Maryland in early February and young are found in the pouch until August. Evidently the first breeding period accounts for most of the young produced. The sex ratio of those trapped was slightly higher for males than females, but did not differ significantly from an expected sample from an even sex ratio. The trapping results indicated a production rate of from 4 to 5.4 young per adult female, but this is based on the assumption that young and adults have the same trap response. Opossums appear to favor low, damp woods rather than upland woods or open areas.

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