In the wild their dens are generally located around sources of water, creating dens in hollow trees or vacated dens of other animals. Being adapt at also living in urban areas they may nest in culvert pipes, debris piles, leaf piles, under buildings and decks. The eating habits of the opossum include almost anything - what has probably led to their survival from prehistoric times. Living up to 3 years in the wild they continue to grow throughout their life spans. Infant mortality in the pouch is from 10 to 25 percent and with those that survive weaning only around 10 percent reaches one year of age.
Opossums are nocturnal animals, spending most of the daylight hours in their dens.
During the winter months they spend longer periods in their dens, but do not hibernate. They do not store food and require a constant food source through out the year. They suffer frost bitten ears and tails in northern regions during cold spells. The opossum uses its tail as a fifth limb, primarily for grasping. They do not sleep hanging upside down from their tails.