Toronto Area Opossums

by Jacintha B, Gordon W, Loretta W, Trudy, Linda. Geoff S, Patrik, Yvonne
(The Toronto Area)

There have been Possums in Toronto for years. As a child about thirty years ago, they used to be seen near the train tracks near DuPont and Lansdowne. I didn't see one personally until I was 21. That one was hit by a car near Symington and DuPont. We saw another live one about a month later. I now live near Keele and Rogers. My husband first saw one 8 years ago when we first moved here; although he had no idea what it was. Than about an hour ago I heard cats mating/fighting and looked out the window. Saw the cats on my lawn. Stayed watching as a momma Raccoon and her four babies crossed the street. Out of the corner of my eyes I saw something else. An opossum walking towards my house. Walked right up to one of the cats sniffed it and walk on its way.

Jacintha Bennell wrote ... We saw this Possum eating almonds that someone had left on a rock by the pond in Charles Sauriol conservation area near Don Mills and Lawrence in Toronto. Our first sighting of a possum!

Bloor and Ossignton area. Walking in from parking my car in the back yard and was startled to see the Possum on the patio stones. It stayed still a moment and then crept along side of yard and under fence into alley and then into a neighbours yard.

Gordon Wright from Markham said ... on March 4th I watched a Possum waddle through my backyard from the nearby woods in the early morning daylight. He was quite furry, more so than I’ve seen in pictures. It looks like he had managed to grow extra fur to try to keep warm in our Ontario winter.

Loretta W from Newmarket said ... this morning at 6:45 am I encountered two Opossums on our property when taking out the garbage. The larger one was chasing a smaller one and it appeared to be some kind of mating ritual. They were both running toward me when the big one spotted me and stopped. The little one came within 4 feet of me and looked back to check where her attacker was. I then spoke to ‘her’, that was the first she noticed me. The large one ran away under some bushes and the little one took off running through the fence and into the field next door. They both appeared quite healthy. I know they have been on the patio eating bird seed that has dropped from the bird feeder.

Trudy said ... in our backyard off St Clair Ave E I saw a baby one in Spring. It was in our rat trap (we wanted to see if we still had rats as in previous summer). We let it out and it was pretty fearless. Then last month saw am adult one, it’s living under our shed. Haven’t see it since idk if it’s moved on.

Linda from Oshawa said ... I went to throw a can in my recycle container outside and found a young Possum in the blue box. It must have fallen in last night and couldn't get back out. I tipped the box over so it could get out and the silly thing tried to hide in a can. Only it's head would fit in so I quickly grabbed the can and shook it out. It landed on the ground and quickly took off through the fence. That is the first time I have ever seen a Possumn and was so intent on releasing it I didn't take any pictures

Geoff Smith from Oakville said ... Today, January 14, our dog went to the back yard for one last pee before bed. The time is 10:15 pm. The dog basks and barks, the neigbour's peer out of an upstairs window and I hasten outside to see what all the fuss is about. Turns out a Possum is sitting on the fence! White, with a long tail, and sad looking eyes. It is plus 2 degrees outside so above freezing. Hopefully this Possum will survive and be on it's way by morning! Thanks for stopping by.

Saw one last night about 8:30 in North York, Lawrence and Avenue Rd area. I thought it was a cat at first, as it moved quietly through my garden...when it saw me, about 3 ft away, it made a comfortable detour and kept going quietly ... I hope it eats all the insects especially ticks on my back yard if it find them!

Patrik wrote about his Opossum sighting in Brampton ... I was a bit startled upon seeing the large white creature wandering about my back yard oblivious of my presence. A quick clap of my hands got him scurrying for the fence. October 13, 2021. Sorry, it happened so fast and I didn’t have my phone to get some pics.

Yvonne spotted an Opossum in Georgetown, November 2021 ... not shy at all. Came up on our deck, right up to the patio door sniffing around I suspect for the peanuts we throw out for the squirrels. We threw it a handful and a ripe apple, to which he scampered of with the apple in its mouth. Sitting two feet away from one of these little critters made my daughter's and mine night!

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