Winter is the most difficult time of year for opossums. In the fall, when the temperature starts becoming colder, their thin and wispy fur begins to thicken, offering a small amount of protection from the cold. They also begin to store fat deposits, often in the base of their tails. But their tails, feet, and ears are furless, so New England opossums often get frostbite on the exposed skin. Wildlife rehabilitators often look for signs of frostbite damage to help determine the approximate age of an adult opossum.

They will seek shelter in various places, including hollow logs, tree cavities, and spaces under houses or other buildings. As temperatures start to drop, they may line their dens with dry grass and leaves for insulation.

Opossums will also reduce their activity during the coldest days to conserve energy and body heat. While they do not hibernate, they may stay in their dens for extended periods, particularly during harsh weather.

They can often be seen outside at night, in the cold, exposed to the elements, as they look for food. The more calories they can consume in winter, the better for staying warm.

Luckily, opossums are opportunistic feeders - they will eat a wide variety of foods, which helps them survive the winter.

What can I do?

If you see an opossum in your yard, don’t discourage it, just let it be. During winter, I provide dry cat food, fruit, and veggies—they love grapes, apple, and avocado. 

It is not recommended to leave fresh meat or wet cat/dog food because you don’t want to attract predators like dogs, cats, foxes, fishers, etc.  I have an opossum that visits my yard and is happy to eat just about anything I've left out.

Providing shelter—like nesting boxes or insulated pet houses—can also help opossums survive harsh winter conditions. We will be posting more on building shelters soon.

If you find an opossum in your garage, under your porch, in a shed, or any place out of the cold, consider yourself lucky. That opossum is not a threat to you and will not damage your property. But it certainly is a threat to a mouse or a rat. Mice and rats make for yummy winter meals and they are loaded with much-needed vitamins and calories. 

When they feel safe, an opossum may spend several nights in one place, especially during severe weather. Or they may move on for a few days and then return. Opossums are usually solitary animals. If you do have an opossum in your yard, chances are it will only be that one. 

Just let it be; it is struggling to survive.