Massachusetts Wildlife Rehabilitator Practice Exam

At approximately what age do young opossums begin leaving the pouch?

1. 2 weeks

2. 4 weeks

3. 2½ months

4. 6 months

The correct answer is: 2½ months

Young opossums typically begin to leave the mother’s pouch around the age of 2½ months. At this stage, they are developing significantly and are ready to start exploring their environment outside of the pouch, though they may still rely on the mother for protection and nourishment. This behavior aligns with the developmental milestones of marsupials, as they continue maturing after leaving the pouch, which is a crucial phase in their growth. Understanding the timing of pouch departure is important for wildlife rehabilitation, as it informs caregivers about the appropriate age for taking care of orphaned or injured opossums. The other choices reflect stages that are either too early or too late in the opossum's development, making them unsuitable for indicating when these young animals begin their transition to the outside world.