Had a opossum in the backyard half an hour ago. I've spotted opossums in the backyard several times over the past couple of years, usually in the winter or early spring. The birdfeeders are the draw. One time, there were a couple of raccoons in the yard at the same time as the opossum. I thought there would be some fighting, but they just ignored each other.
Tonight, there was just the one opossum. According to Stan Tekiela's Mammals of Minnesota Field Guide, opossums don't hibernate, but, like raccoons and skunks, will den up when the weather is especially cold. With the temperatures being so mild this winter, it's not surprising opossums are active. The backyard has several feeders and during the day, the birds feed on suet and different kinds of bird seed. A lot of it ends up on the ground. The field guide says opossums will eat seeds, nuts, berries, bird eggs, fish, reptiles, amphibians, road kill, and worms. I'm guessing that the opossum isn't finding much in the way of bird eggs or fish or road kill in this neighborhood, so detritus from the feeders is welcomed.
After checking under the feeders, it wandered over towards the compost bins, then back into the yard near the woodpile. And that's when the opossum disappeared. Has it turned the woodpile into a den? I guess I'll find out when I start making maple syrup in March and need to take apart the woodpile to build a fire. (More about maple syruping in March.) Maybe I'll see tracks in the morning. (It's supposed to snow overnight.) Until then, keep an eye out for the opossum.
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