It’s a common perception that possums hibernate in winter, and that is why you see less of them, but it’s not always the case, and we need to find out do possums hibernate in winter or it’s just a misconception.

Whether or not you like possums, you have to learn about their behavior and how their typical day looks like. This is because possums can be found anywhere, and when they reach your home, it’s highly unlikely that you are going to welcome them.

Known for the nuisance they create; they can turn a well-furnished home into a complete disaster. Not only this, but they are prone to carry and transmit diseases.

Talking about the winters, we usually see that many species of animals hibernate either because of the weather conditions or the lack of access to food. By hibernate means becoming inactive for the time being. Possums, on the other hand, do not usually do this. Here, keep in mind that possums are nocturnal, and you typically see more of them during sleep hours. Let’s now see how these small creatures spend their lives during winters.

Possums in winter

All creatures, no matter how strong, are affected by the cold weather. Though, the intensity differs with each case. As with possums, winters affect them too. Possums have to deal with freezing of the skin and other problems.

A possum’s two most important needs are food and shelter. It is because of this characteristic; you call them scavengers.

As possums are nocturnal, they used to hide in burrows during the day. But in winters, the case is different. In cold seasons, possums prefer to look out for food during the day, as it is somewhat warmer, and they do reside in their nest during the night.

However, coming out of their nest during the day is not as easy as it seems. Possums do not like to be spotted, nor do they indulge in fights with anyone. As they see any danger or are ever confronted, they act like the dead for as long as there are no threats, and they can run away. Besides, they growl or hiss with their mouthful of sharp teeth. These two are the only defensive techniques that possums have to protect themselves.

For that reason, possums do not prefer to come out during daylight. Scared of predators, possums suffer the most in winters as coming out is not going to be out of danger.

Possum hibernation

Factually speaking, possums do not hibernate, though they become less active during winter. No matter what time of year it is, you can see possums roaming here and there.

However, due to the threats during the day and because of the poor eyesight, it’s hard for possums to find food during the day.

Possums do not have the ability to store food, nor do they have body fat that helps them stay active for a long time. While it is easy for them to forage food in summers, it’s challenging during the cold weather. When they do not get anything to eat, they look out for food in garbage cans and as well as climb trees to see if there is anything they can find edible. Moreover, possums also dig shallow holes for the purpose of looking out for insects and bugs.

In winters, possums take shelter in warm areas, such as in garages, chimneys, woodpiles, or in abandoned burrows. They often cover their dens with leaves and grass for insulation and providing warmth during cold.

Though it’s easy to find shelter, looking out for food is difficult in winters.

If you see possums in your house, you need to see how to get rid of possums. As possums are not good to have around no matter what season it is, it is better that you keep them away.

Conclusion

Possums don’t like to interact with humans or with any other creature, and despite that, you might see them throughout the year as they are not the ones who hibernate in winter. Possums remain active, but they do slow down. So, if you are seeing possums during the cold, they might have found a shelter in your house, or they have access to food.

So, how are you planning to keep possums away for the coming winter season?