Geographic
range: Nearctic - Neotropical: Found from Canada, through USA,
Mexico and N Central America to NW Costa Rica.
Physical characteristics: Large
"rat like", with rough, shaggy fur. Tail naked and prehensile.
Upperparts gray to white. Black ears, eye rings, legs and feet. Long
whiskers.
Food habits: Omnivorous. Feeds
on small vertebrates, invertebrates, vegetable matter, carrion ...
etc. Also successful predator.
Reproduction: Marsupial - gestation
is short and newborn travel unassisted to mother's nipples. Litter
of up to 20. Females give birth 2 and more times/ year. Dens located
on the ground in bush, logs or abandoned burrows.
Behavior: Terrestrial, but good climber.
Usually nocturnal.
Habitat: Variety of forested and
open habitats, less common in evergreen forest.
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