Florida's only marsupial (a mammal having a pouch for carrying the young) is the Virginia opossum. Opossums have grayish-white fur and are about the size of a house cat. They have long naked tails, small naked ears (usually black), and a pointed snout. Opossums prefer woodlands with lots of cover and nearby water. They are also common in urban areas, as they are attracted to almost any type of available food, including garbage, pet food, or cultivated fruits and vegetables.

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Opossums are skilled climbers, often seen in trees and on the tops of fences.  Females produce at least two litters a year. After gestation, the seven to eleven young crawl into the female’s pouch where they can nurse. At about eighty days, the young leave the pouch and often ride on the mother’s back. Young are weaned at about ninety-five to one hundred days old and disperse to be on their own shortly afterward. It is not uncommon for a homeowner to find out they unknowingly have a problem with rodents or snakes after they discover an opossum problem. They may invade your home in search of food or shelter to care for young.