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Opossums do not hibernate and need to find a dry, warm shelter to make their nest in winter. They may make their nest inside houses and outbuildings. Opossums can be seen eating from trash cans and drinking water from bird baths.
Opossums, however, do not hibernate in the traditional sense. Instead, they enter a state of torpor during periods of cold weather or when food is scarce. Torpor is a state of lowered body temperature and metabolic rate, similar to hibernation, but with some key differences.
Opossums do not hibernate during winter. They are able to remain active and forage for food. Opossums have adaptations such as a thick fur coat, layer of fat for insulation, and the ability to reduce their metabolic rate to conserve energy in cold temperatures. Opossums have a wide diet and can scavenge for food during the winter months.
An opossum faces dire conditions during colder months. The chilly weather usually leads to frostbite on its hairless tail, paws, or ears. The danger is made even more pressing because opossums don’t hibernate in winter. However, they are known to hunker down in their dens to wait out bad weather.
Though they don't hibernate, opossums do slow down during the winter. They live in burrows that they fill with dry leaves or even shredded paper, and fat reserves help keep them...
Unlike some animals, possums do not hibernate in the winter. They still need to leave the safety of their dens to explore their surroundings for food. They are solitary creatures and prefer to find food and dens on their own.
Besides lacking the proper outerwear, opossums do not hibernate. Except for denning up for short periods during the very coldest weather, they must be out and about all winter searching for food, which makes them extremely vulnerable to hypothermia and frostbite.