OPOSSUM RAISING.
The opossum is a southern animal and is found in abundance in most parts
of the Southern States. In late years they have been moving farther
northward and are now found, though not numerous, as far north as
Central Pennsylvania; but are found most plentifully in the wooded
portions of the South, where they are such a common animal as to be well
known to all.
They are slow moving and inoffensive, having no means of defense
whatever. When approached, they make a great show by opening the mouth,
and present a rather fierce appearance, but when touched by man or
animal, they pretend to be dead, and this very characteristic habit has
given rise to the expression, "playing 'possum."
While the opossum is a nocturnal animal, it is sometimes seen in
daylight, but this is of rare occurrence. They do not hibernate but will
remain in the dens during cold weather, and do not like to roam about
when the leaves are dry and rustly.
The dens are, as a rule, located in the ground, under a rock, log or
tree, and are quite shallow; the nest at the extremity being lined with
leaves or grass. They also den in hollow logs and stumps occasionally,
and in natural openings in rock bluffs.
The young of this animal are born in the last half of April and the
beginning of May, the number of young varying from six to twelve, and
sometimes even more. When born they are very small and imperfectly
formed and are immediately placed by the mother in the pouch on her
belly, where they remain until they have attained a perfect form and
have become large enough to walk about. After being placed in the pouch,
they attach themselves to the teats of the mother, and remain in that
condition until they have become large enough to move about.
On leaving the pouch, they quite often ride about, when tired, on the
mother's back, holding fast by winding their tails about that of the
parent. They will reach their full growth within a year, if the
conditions are favorable--that is, if they have plenty of food, etc. In
captivity, when well cared for, they attain considerable size by
midwinter.
The opossum is omnivorous, feeding alike on animal and vegetable food,
but it prefers flesh to fruit. They feed on carrion, and on any small
animal which their slow movements will allow of capturing, also on eggs
and young birds, for they are good climbers. They are quite fond of wild
fruits, such as persimmons, polk berries, apples and paw-paws; also of
certain vegetables, especially onions. They also eat mice, insects, etc.
Opossums are hunted extensively in the South, and when pursued they
usually climb the nearest tree, unless they are close to the den. As an
article of food they are highly esteemed, especially by the colored
people, and find a ready sale in the market.
While the fur of this animal is not, strictly speaking, a valuable one,
to the prospective fur-farmer it is well worth considering, especially
if located near a market. At present prices the young animals by
midwinter, will average a dollar each in value, when selling both the
skin and carcass. The ease with which they may be raised is also an
important factor, so that on the whole, in many sections, they will be
found to be a profitable animal to handle.
Opossums are fairly good climbers and the enclosure should have a wide
strip of tin around, as described elsewhere in the chapter on
Enclosures. They will also gnaw out of wooden enclosures if there is a
crack or any chance to get a start. They will readily climb out of the
enclosure if made of wood unless covered or at least partially covered.
There has been no better or cheaper material found for constructing
fences for opossum raising purposes than galvanized wire.
They are not much given to digging and the wire need not be buried very
deep in the earth. If the ground is solid, 18 inches will be deep
enough. The animals, if properly fed, watered and cared for, will soon
become accustomed to their quarters, and make little or no effort to
escape. The young will become tame and quite playful.
The natural home of the opossum can be described as south of a line
drawn west from New York City through Pennsylvania, Northern Ohio and
Indiana, south of Chicago, through Iowa near Des Moines, and into
Nebraska near Omaha, extending about half way into Nebraska, then South
through Kansas, all of Oklahoma and the lowlands or the Eastern half of
Texas. The opossum is not a cold weather animal, and in its wild state
would freeze if it inhabited territory much farther north than the
northern boundary of the line shown. A severe winter a few years ago, is
said to have frozen large numbers in their dens in Southern Ohio,
Pennsylvania, and parts of West Virginia, Indiana and Illinois.
In their natural or wild state, they often hole up in shallow dens, old
logs, trees, etc., and while they are endowed with the instinct of
"playing 'possum" when injured, their instinct along other lines seems
very shallow, as they do not always know enough to "get in out of the
cold;" in other words, on the approach of severe winter weather, they do
not all seek deep dens where the ground does not freeze.
While the natural home of the opossum is in the section as outlined,
there is no reason why they cannot be successfully raised hundreds of
miles north of their northern limit. The thing to guard against will be
freezing. The raiser must see that they have good and deep burrows--deep
enough that the ground will never freeze to their nest. They should have
plenty of leaves in their nest. If the enclosure is in a thicket, and
there are trees within and leaves near, the animals will no doubt carry
an abundance of leaves into their dens for nests. If there are no trees
in the enclosure, see that a supply is furnished each den before
freezing weather in the Fall.
The opossum is going to become one of the important animals in
fur-farming for various reasons: They are prolific breeders, bringing
forth from 6 to 12 at a litter; grow rapidly; are easily fed and eat a
great variety of food.
[Illustration: Ideal Spot for an Opossum or Raccoon Fur Farm.]
The opossum raiser has two sources of revenue--fur and carcass. There is
a ready market for the carcasses in all cities. The grower should make
arrangements with butchers and others to take so many carcasses on a
certain date. The fur is at its best from about Thanksgiving to the
middle of February. Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years are three
holidays when the fur will be prime and the meat in demand. In cities
like New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Pittsburg, Buffalo,
Cleveland, Detroit, Columbus, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Chicago,
Milwaukee, Omaha, Des Moines, Kansas City, St. Louis, etc., a market can
be had in each for large quantities at each of these holidays, as well
as considerable quantities each week during the winter months. In the
smaller places, from 5000 up, there will be found a demand for the meat,
so that the market for the carcasses as well as fur, is one that will
always be open. Prices at which the carcasses sell will of course vary,
depending to some extent upon the supply of other meats, as well as the
times, etc.
When it is taken into consideration that the litters are large; that
they eat cheap food; their growth is rapid and that the pelt is extra,
does not this animal promise to lead as a money maker over some of the
other and higher priced fur-producers?
In the latitude of West Virginia, the young are born about the middle of
April. In two months, or by June fifteenth, they are about the size of
rats and always "gaining." Six months later, or December fifteenth, if
well fed and cared for, they will weigh from nine to fifteen pounds. By
this it will be seen that at only eight months old--born April fifteenth
and killed December fifteenth--they have attained sizes ranging from
medium to large.
The males should be kept by themselves, at least from the time the young
are born, until they are two months of age or older. The female, with
her large family, should be given plenty of food from the time the young
are a few days old until weaned, as she requires a great deal of food to
satisfy her cravings and to supply the numerous young.
As the severe weather is over by the time the young are born, very good
places for the old can be made in boxes, old logs and the like. These
should be so placed and constructed that food can be given to the female
handily, so as not to disturb her and the young more than necessary.