Ask an Opossum

Hi! I’m Phi, Xplor’s mail possum. I know a lot about nature. If you have a question, email me at AskPhi@mdc.mo.gov.

Q: Why do opossums have pouches?

From Avayah, age 7

A: Believe it or not, girl possums are the only mammal in Missouri with a pouch. We’re marsupials, like kangaroos and koalas. A pouch is a big pocket, but instead of cellphones and spare change, we keep babies in there. Newborn possums aren’t much bigger than kidney beans. They’re too itty-bitty to survive on their own, so they crawl inside their mom’s pouch. Once they’re in there, the little pouch potatoes have a safe place to grow for nearly two months.