Approximately how old is a healthy young opossum that is 10 inches long including its tail?

• A. About 6 months
• B. About 3.5 months
• C. About 1 month
• D. About 12 months

Answer: (B)

Estimating how old a young opossum is from its size relies on knowing how quickly they grow after leaving the pouch. Opossums are born tiny, spend about two months in the mother's pouch, and are weaned around three months. By that age, their total length, tail included, is typically around 9 to 12 inches. So a healthy youngster about 10 inches long fits best with an age of roughly 3.5 months—older than a 1‑month joey but not yet an adult. If it were 6 months or a year, the length would usually be greater than 10 inches. The provided length aligns with the late juvenile stage.