Ecology of the Opossum on a Natural Area in Northeastern KansasFitch, Henry S. (Henry Sheldon)
Science
Ecology of the Opossum on a Natural Area in Northeastern Kansas
Fitch, Henry S. (Henry Sheldon)
Opossums
The feces or "scats" of the opossum are not liable to be confused with
those of other mammals except possibly with those of the striped skunk
or raccoon, both relatively uncommon on the Reservation. Favorite
sites for deposition of opossum scats were at the bases of large
trees, usually honey locusts or elms, near the animal's den.
Accumulations of several dozen scats may collect in such situations.
Often the opossums live-trapped were found to have deposited scats and
many of these were saved for examination, although they were usually
trampled, broken and mixed with earth and hair. Few scats were seen in
the field throughout the summer. Their disintegration is rapid at that
time of year because of the high temperature, frequent heavy rains,
and abundance of dung-feeding insects. Scats were seen in greatest
abundance in the fall, partly because the opossum population was then
at its annual high point. During fall, wild fruits made up the greater
part of the diet and were represented in almost every scat that was
seen. Wild grape (_Vitis vulpina_) is an abundant woodland vine on the
area and often forms dense tangles both in deep woods and in edge
situations. Grape was the most abundant single item, and a large
number of scats consisted exclusively of grape seeds and skins. In
November and December opossums could be trapped most effectively by
making sets in or near grapevine tangles where the animals were
attracted by the abundant ripe fruits. The crops of wild grapes were
especially heavy in 1948 (before live-trapping was begun) and in 1949,
and scats containing them were noticed in those years especially.
Opossums, too, were more numerous on the Reservation in 1948 and 1949
than they were in 1950, 1951, and 1952.
Hackberry fruit (_Celtis occidentalis_) was second to grape in
importance and large numbers of scats were found to be composed mainly
or entirely of the skins and seeds of this fruit. In the fall of 1951,
these fruits were especially important and were the principal food
source.
Wild plum (_Prunus americanus_) and wild crabapple (_Pyrus ioensis_)
also are important in fall and winter and are present in many scats.
In summer, blackberry, abundant on some parts of the Reservation, is
an important food. Other wild fruits noticed in scats include those of
cherry (_Prunus virginiana_) and climbing bittersweet (_Celastrus
scandens_), and mast (acorn ?). In the fall of 1948, corn made up a
large part of the contents of scats noticed. Crops of corn were grown
on two fields of the Reservation in that year. In following years,
corn was noticed less frequently in scats but still continued to be
one of the important food items. Several cornfields adjoined the
Reservation, and the scats containing the grain were observed mainly
along the borders of these fields.
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