Taming of the Virginia Opossum

Abstract

SCOTT¹ has recently reviewed the role of optimal or critical periods for imprinting and socialization. These investigations deal with domesticated species, such as the dog, and show that if raised without human contact the adult is permanently fearful of people; this fear, once established, is difficult or impossible to eliminate. There have been few systematic attempts to investigate the factors involved in taming wild members of non-domesticated mammalian species. The Virginia opossum (Didel-phis virginiana), a marsupial, is native to North America and is often considered to be untamable. There are local instances of young opossums being raised as pets, although any general success is rare. This report deals with three litters of opossums.