Stable Isotope Values Suggest Opossums (Didelphis virginiana) at the Northern Edge of their Range do not Seasonally Molt

Didelphis virginiana (Virginia Opossum) continues to spread further north into temperate North America, raising questions regarding how they survive harsh winters. Very few marsupials exhibit winter adaptations such as torpor or seasonal molting. We used stable isotopes evaluate evidence of molting in Opossums. serially cut hairs from captive Opossums determine if a documented diet shift early life was reflected along the hair shaft. Isotope values mirrored Opossum's diets. compared isotope between trapped different seasons and found no differences. The data indicate do not seasonally molt at northern edge their range.