Activity, movement, and home range of Virginia opossums (Didelphis virginiana) in Florida

Abstract

The activity and spatial organization of the Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana), a solitary didelphid marsupial, were studied in north-central Florida. Opossums were strictly nocturnal, and the activity level peaked between 2000 h and 0200 h. Activity was influenced by temperature. Below 8°C, duration of nightly activity decreased strongly with decreasing temperature. Above 8°C, activity tended to decrease with increasing temperature. Average nightly activity did not differ among months from August to December or between males and females. Opossums lived in well defined and at least seasonally stable home ranges with moderate to extensive home range overlap. Females tended to more exclusive space use and greater stability of home ranges than mates. Males often shifted home ranges at the end of mating seasons. Three different measures of home range size were presented. Average values for males and females were 141.6 ha and 64.4 ha, respectively (corrected minimum convex polygon). Individual home range sizes of males were influenced by habitat being larger in presumably poorer habitats, and by body size. Average distances moved per hour were 234 m in males and 178 m in females. Nightly movements of males and females averaged 1835 m and 1465 m, respectively (maximums 4665 m and 3973 m). Distances traveled were associated with temperature, home range size or body size. Very limited data from other regions suggest greater space use by opossums in the studied population.