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25 Possum Pictures That Will Convince You They’re Actually Cute

Updated on May 21, 2025

Quit playing possum—there's no need to hide from these absolutely adorable possum pictures!

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O, the cuteness

With their big eyes, short fur and pointed ears, there’s certainly more than meets the eye when it comes to these furry creatures. We’re convinced that after you’ve seen this collection of cute opossum photos, you’ll start singing their praises too.

But first, a word about semantics. Scientifically speaking, possums are marsupials native to Australia, while the opossum is found in North America. Merriam-Webster advises that it’s A-okay to use the terms interchangeably in conversation. Whichever name they’re called by, you may find that these large marsupials are surprisingly … kind of cute. Keeping reading, and prepare to be awwwed.

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Baby Opossum, Pine Barrens, New Jersey
stanley45/Getty Images

Just hanging out

We love a funny animal photo. This baby possum, swinging from a branch by its tail, is just dropping in to say “hello!” Did you know that opossums need a lot of exercise?

Virginia Opossum babies on stick hanging out
Stan Tekiela Author/Getty Images

Three’s a cute crowd

These three baby possums were captured hanging out on the end of a tree branch. Did you know that opossums have a high growth rate and produce many offspring? Unfortunately, many fail to survive to adulthood, as they have weak immune systems and are susceptible to disease.

Opossum Peeking From Its Hole
Carl Young/Getty Images

Hide and seek in the snow

This little possum is seen peeking up from its hole. Opossums have adapted to various climates, including areas that get extremely cold in winter. While they are generally not equipped for extreme cold, they have evolved with behavioral and physical adaptations to survive in colder environments. 

Possum in box
Jenny Dettrick/Getty Images

Possum to go

We’ll take one cute possum to go, please! This little guy in a cardboard box is ready for express mail.

Mountain Possum (Trichosurus caninus)
tracielouise/Getty Images

Snack time

If you enjoy looking at cute sloth pictures, you’ll go wild over this photo of a mountain possum caught taking a snack break while munching on an apple in a park in Queensland, Australia.

Brushtail Possum feeding
Barbara Fischer, Australia./Getty Images

Lights out

Did you know that most possums, including this brushtail possum, are nocturnal? This little guy was spotted in the photographer’s backyard in Carrum, Australia.

A cute baby opossum (Didelphidae) standing on man's hand
Margus Vilbas/Getty Images

Little possum, big world

This baby possum is seen balancing on its caretaker’s hand. Aren’t baby possum pictures the best? However, while this little guy looks friendly, opossums are generally not known to be affectionate toward humans.

Cute Possum Family
Chris Counts/Getty Images

All in the family

All aboard! This mother possum takes her babies for a ride, family-style. Did you know that an average opossum litter contains eight to nine babies and can have as many as 20? 

Baby Possum
timharman/Getty Images

Babies R Us

I mean, just look at that little face—and those big ears! How old do you think this baby is? Fun fact: When possums are born, they remain in their mother’s pouch for about two-and-a-half months. At around 55 to 70 days, their eyes finally open.

Virginia Opossum foraging for food in grass
leekris/Getty Images

Fuzzy buddy

If you look from a distance, this picture of a Virginia opossum foraging for food in the grass almost looks like a sheep grazing in a meadow because of its fuzzy fur.

Baby Opossum
JasonOndreicka/Getty Images

Life’s a playground …

… and this baby possum picture shows a little buddy just playing on a branch. Watch as it does the world’s cutest pull-up.

Young North American opossum (Didelphis virginiana) sits on a fence near the house.
irin717/Getty Images

Chillin’ on a fence

This young North American possum is taking a breather atop a fence.

A mother opossum with its four babies on the pavement
lillybell/Getty Images

We are family

Another adorable possum family, another bundle of cuteness. We can’t get enough. But are opossums cuddly? While they definitely get attached to their mother, don’t try to cuddle one yourself—they are incredibly wary of humans.

Baby Opossum
JasonOndreicka/Getty Images

Upside down

While at first glance you may think this is a bat taking its signature upside-down snooze in this possum picture, take another look and you’ll realize that it’s a baby possum hanging out on a branch.

Angry Baby Opossum
AshleyHutchinsonPhotography/Getty Images

Show me your teeth!

We can never get enough cute baby animal pictures, like this one of a cute opossum opening its mouth wide to show us its pearly whites.

Possum babies
Bsheridan1959/Getty Images

Sibling love

These cute possums are seen playing together on a rock. Baby opossums are weaned at around three months of age and are on their own by five months, when they are approximately 7 to 9 inches long from nose to rump, excluding the tail.

Opossum (Didelphis Virginiana)
TracieMichelle/Getty Images

Kicking back

Possums know how to chill too! This possum kicks back on the couch. Can we join?

Opossum standoff
Robert Winkler/Getty Images

Snowy possum

Polar bears aren’t the only cute animals that play in the cold. This Virginia possum was captured playing in the crisp snow.

Opposum in backyard
Mark Miller Photos/Getty Images

Through the leaves

Fall foliage has never looked so inviting as it does with this cute possum peeking through the leaves, a reminder that this is really a wild animal.

Virginia opossum, North American opossum, (Didelphis virginiana), adult looking out of den, Pine County, Minnesota, USA, North America
Tier Und Naturfotografie J und C Sohns/Getty Images

Tree creature

This cute possum is caught looking out from its den in Minnesota.

Ringtail Possum Shallow Focus
monkeystock/Getty Images

Windows to the soul

They say that the eyes are the windows to the soul. And if that’s the case, we’re staring deep into the soul of this ringtail possum.

Baby opossum seen in the wild in North California
rancho_runner/Getty Images

Small but mighty

This baby possum is barely bigger than a blade of grass. How big do opossums get? They can be as small as 4 pounds to as heavy as 12. Males tend to be bigger and heavier compared with females.

Possum Baby
JoanBudai/Getty Images

All snuggled up

This baby possum is all tucked in and ready for bed. Sweet dreams! Again, don’t try this at home, as opossums might be cute, but they aren’t cuddly.

Young Opossum walking on a fallen tree in a forest
Rex Lisman/Getty Images

If a tree falls

A young possum is spotted walking on a fallen tree trunk in the forest.

Pet possum on tree stump
Grove Pashley/Getty Images

Staring contest

It’s a face-off! This pet possum isn’t afraid to observe the world from its perch on a tree stump.

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