Hi everybody - I think there is some confusion in this thread over the different types of opossums. The "short-tailed opossum" referred to by the original poster is not from the wild.

The wild opossum in the United States is the Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana) and they reach a size of up to 20" long and over 10 pounds. They are the largest of the 50+ opossum species.

The short-tailed opossum (Monodelphis domestica) in the USA is a domesticated pet. They are originally from Brazil but have been raised in captivity the United States since the late 1970s. They are quite small - about the size of a large hamster and weigh perhaps 6 ounces at most. They are also sub-tropical, and would die in most parts of the United States if released into the wild since they require temperatures over 60 degrees at all times.

If anyone is interested in more information about short tail opossums, I have a website here with photos and care information.

Molly