In addition, sheep and rabbits compete with the opossum for food. With such predators and competitors, few opossums live more than two years in the wild. It is currently found in the eastern and central states as far north as New York, Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota. It has been introduced to the west coast where it also thrives. Various other species of Didelphis range through Central and South America to the northern Argentine as well.
Opossums are common in almost all wooded and brushy areas.
During the day they shelter in burrows, under piles of dead brush or leaves, in rocky crevices, under logs, or in hollow tree trunks, where they build rather crude nests of leaves and grass. They forage at night, when competition and predation are lowest. Born in a very immature state after a gestation period of less than two weeks, baby opossums are smaller than honey bees at birth. They immediately make their way to the mother's pouch, where they spend 60 to 70 days nursing. After this time, they may emerge and cling to the mother's back.