The opossum, often called a "possum" in West Virginia, is the only marsupial (carried as a baby in its mother’s pouch) found in North America. They are easy to spot with their pointy snout, naked ears, beady eyes, and a grasping tail (called a prehensile tail). Adults are about the size of a large house cat, weighing 4 to 15 pounds.

After a very short 13-day pregnancy, newborn opossums are the size of a honeybee. They crawl into the mother's pouch, attach to a nipple, and grow there for about eight weeks.

Opossums are generalists, meaning they can live almost anywhere—woods, farms, and towns. They also eat almost anything: fruits, nuts, insects, eggs, and small animals.

They are noted for their ability to pretend to be dead when threatened. This "playing possum" is an involuntary response to danger and often saves their lives.

They don't hibernate, but they stay in their dens during bad storms. In very cold weather, their thin ears and naked tails are prone to frostbite.