How long do possums live?

A wild possum, meaning the North American Virginia opossum, usually lives only 1.5 to 2 years, says the Smithsonian’s National Zoo. In human care, opossums typically reach 3 or 4. The oldest on record lived 6.6 years in a zoo. For a mammal the size of a house cat, that is a very short life.

In the United States and Canada, “possum” is the everyday name for the Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana). It is North America’s only marsupial, a mammal whose young grow in a pouch. Australia has its own “possums”, which are different animals, and we cover them near the end.

How long do possums live in the wild and in captivity?

Virginia opossum lifespan

Where	Typical lifespan	Longest known	Source
In the wild	1.5–2 years	Rarely more than 2 or 3 years	Smithsonian’s National Zoo; Animal Diversity Web; AnAge
In human care (zoos, sanctuaries)	3–4 years	6.6 years (recorded in a zoo)	Smithsonian’s National Zoo; AnAge (Weigl 2005)
Island opossums (Sapelo Island, Georgia)	Longer than mainland opossums	Not published on the pages we checked	AnAge

The zoo record of 6.6 years comes from AnAge, a database of animal ageing run by researchers. It is based on Richard Weigl’s 2005 book of longevity records from zoos around the world. Animal Diversity Web, from the University of Michigan, says a few captive opossums have reached 8 to 10 years. We could not find the records behind that claim, so treat 6.6 years as the safest documented figure.

Older articles often say possums live “2 to 4 years in the wild”. The expert sources give less than that. Most wild opossums never see a third birthday.

Why do possums live such short lives?

There are two reasons. Many opossums are killed young, and the survivors age very quickly.

Danger everywhere

Opossums are slow and live close to the ground. Owls, coyotes, foxes and raccoons eat them, says Animal Diversity Web. Cold winters kill many adults too, since opossums have thin ears and a bare tail and do not hibernate.

The Smithsonian’s National Zoo lists being hit by cars as a major threat. If you see one on a road at night, you have seen one of the biggest dangers they face.

Playing dead is their famous defence. A frightened opossum may fall over, drool and give off a bad smell. This state can last from a minute to six hours, says Animal Diversity Web. It works against some predators, but not against cars.

They age fast

Even in safety, opossums grow old quickly. Biologist Steven Austad radio-tracked wild opossums for his research. The University of Alabama at Birmingham tells how one healthy adult, “Opossum No. 9”, got cataracts, muscle loss and arthritis within a few months. Austad asked why an animal the size of a cat ages so much faster than a cat does.

His answer came from islands. On Sapelo Island, off Georgia, opossums have lived for thousands of years with fewer predators. AnAge notes that these island opossums live longer and start breeding later than mainland ones. Scientists think that when an animal is likely to be eaten young, evolution favours breeding fast rather than lasting long.

How fast do opossums grow up?

Very fast, which fits their short lives. A mother opossum is pregnant for only 12 to 13 days, says the Smithsonian’s National Zoo. She can give birth to 4 to 25 tiny young. The babies crawl into her pouch and stay there for about two months. They are weaned at about 105 days old.

A Virginia opossum’s life in numbers

Stage	Age or length
Pregnancy	12–13 days
Litter size	4–25 young (Smithsonian); average about 15 (AnAge)
In the pouch	About 2 months
Weaned	About 105 days (3.5 months)
Ready to breed	About 6 months (females) and 8 months (males)
Litters per year	Up to 2
Typical wild lifespan	1.5–2 years

Breeding ages are from AnAge (184 days for females and 243 days for males). An opossum can breed before it is a year old and have two litters a year. So a short life does not stop the species from doing well. Virginia opossums have spread across much of the United States.

How long do possums live as pets or in rescue centres?

Opossums looked after by people typically live 3 to 4 years, according to the Smithsonian’s National Zoo. They are safe from predators, cars and hunger, and they get vet care. They still age quickly, though, so even a well-cared-for opossum is old at 4.

In most US states you need a permit to keep a wild opossum. If you find an injured or orphaned one, contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator or your state wildlife agency. Don’t try to raise it yourself.

How long do Australian possums live?

Australian possums, such as the common brushtail possum, are marsupials too. But they belong to a different group from the Virginia opossum. Their last shared ancestor lived many millions of years ago. The Australian Museum describes the brushtail as about 55 cm long, including its tail. It lives in every Australian state and territory and was taken to New Zealand in the 1830s.

We could not find a brushtail lifespan on the museum’s page, so we have not given one here. If you are in Australia and asking about the possum in your roof, the Virginia opossum numbers above do not apply.

Want more? Find out what possums eat, including the truth about ticks. See how another marsupial copes with its world in adaptations of a kangaroo. Or compare a much longer-lived mammal: how long polar bears live.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

1. Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute. Virginia opossum.
2. Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology. Didelphis virginiana (Virginia opossum).
3. AnAge: The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database (Human Ageing Genomic Resources). Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana) longevity, ageing, and life history.
4. UAB Reporter, University of Alabama at Birmingham. What is the answer to aging? 35 years into his research, Austad is still asking.
5. Australian Museum. Common brushtail possum.

Sources checked 15 September 2026.