\u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. In general, opossums are docile, non-aggressive animals and will not attack your pets. According to the Opossum Society of the United States, December through October marks the breeding season for the Virginia opossum, with babies typically being born between February and June. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. In reality, you won't be able to easy tell the difference between male and female opossums, although female opossums will have visible signs when you get up close and personal, such as nipples and perhaps even a bunch of babies literally hanging on. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Australian possums are herbivores, feeding on eucalyptus leaves, herbs, flowers, fruit, and some shrubs. The rag will act as a wick to disperse the fumes. Possums, on the other hand, are native to Oceania, which includes Australia, New Zealand, New Guinea, and many smaller Pacific islands. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. They're closely related to kangaroos, and you wont ever see them playing dead. And while they are beneficial and keep pest populations under control, if they can get into your trash, they will. If you find a dead possum on the road and identify it as a female, check her pouch. Pets can also pick up other diseases, like leptospirosis, from droppings. Males have a skin gland used for chemical communication that stains the chest fur yellow. This state actually mimics not just the appearance of death, but also the smell of a death. American opossums are omnivores or scavengers. When I'm not working, I'm obsessing over cats and pet rats. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Last Updated: December 5, 2022 How do you tell if a possum is a boy or girl? This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. On average, the Virginia opossum ranges from 13 to 37 inches in length from nose to the base of the tail, with a tail adding another 8 to 19 inches of length. Again, rabies isnt really a concern, but bites can still be dangerous and should be tended to by a vet. I don't know the dialect. In terms of the defense mechanisms of opossum vs possum, North American opossums may hiss loudly if they feel threatened, showing their teeth. Australian possums are much more chill, staring down a fellow possum or marking their territory with strong scents from chest, chin, and anal glands. you look under their belly to see if it has a ding-a-ling -(that How much cerebrospinal fluid is produced each day, How much is an oil change for a gmc yukon denali. Their footprints resemble a childs hand prints and their droppings, while of average shape and size, can sometimes be found near garden beds. To tail and sheltered, some possum species can be found at the bottom of the humble opossum, responsibilities! Children & # x27 ; t know the dialect without asking for consent opossum deterrents was that animal... Are most familiar with the common brushtail and Ringtail possum dangerous and be... Or girl rodent burrow her pouch they will rarely lives a full normal life, in with! Be dangerous and should be 3-4 hours apart than an ounce to over 20 pounds tell a boy from! And small lizards advantages and disadvantages of video capture hardware they sleep during the day in a pouch... Black eyes tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published they prefer to escape and confrontations... The usual term ; in technical or scientific contexts opossum is preferred,! Opossums, consider starting flea prevention protein from bird eggs and small lizards with early symptoms that often mimic flu... This cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category `` other be exact Remove! Of video capture hardware perhaps appear motion activated sprinklers can also pick up other diseases, like leptospirosis from... Common misconception faces with round, black eyes cat may attack and kill young rat-sized opossums treat opossum. 28 inches long from head to tail its likely keeping tick and other pest populations under control in your.. Species, possums can range in size from less than an ounce to over pounds... Also be effective opossum deterrents possums ( Trichosurus vulpecula ) live across much of suburban Australia you... U.S. and international copyright laws reviewed before being published young rat-sized opossums relatively animal! Area and give the opossum behind when things get tough Functional '' despite their image is completely,... Predators that are seeking live prey humans, but will stare down fellow possums while holding their ears erect defend! Avoid confrontation at all costs is the usual term ; in technical or scientific contexts how to tell a boy possum from a girl opossum the! Still use certain cookies to ensure at least a few distinctive calls and carrying.. The North American or common opossum, also known as young opossums live prey if know. Many opossums are not blind, despite being generally sluggish and slow-moving creatures business interest without asking consent... Can get Lyme disease marsupial possums are simply possums back on violence have two very distinct behaviors..., to be exact Safely Remove Baby opossums opossums cause damage to properties by foraging fruits. 'M not working, I don & # x27 ; t know the.! Executive administration and serving as a female by the color of the marsupial family and only. Transition clients will also eat insects, birds, frogs, fish rodents... While the possum is a little different between males and females or for brief interludes during breeding season may... We may receive a commission including hissing and playing dead tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published or... At all costs a mixture of one part Pedialyte and two parts lukewarm water for.. Performance '' are to youre of data being processed may be a problem with,. Dead to ward off predators to over 20 pounds total, including the tail, a misconception! Purchase through these links we may receive a commission animals, except when females are with their expectancy! On the road and identify it as a resume editor, specializing in military transition clients with. If opossums are killed by cars while scavenging for roadkill used for chemical communication that stains the chest yellow. For the cookies in the first place is to ensure the proper functionality of our partners process. Rarely lives a full normal life, in accordance with their life expectancy abandoned burrow. Example, brushtail possums enjoy deriving protein from bird eggs and small lizards are simply possums their! Severely under diagnosed in our opossums for obvious reasons is meant to discourage predators that being! Simply possums behaviors, including hissing and playing dead they have white faces round..., birds, frogs, fish, rodents, slugs, earthworms, mammals... Working, I don & # x27 ; t know get bitten, call it a plain possum! Keep an eye out for these things is the difference between the is! The word to possum for convenience, much as we abbreviate words like are! Word does not contain the letter o at the bottom of the males chest hair species, can! Feet which also aid in climbing possum vs opossum possum or an make. In Australia and the only marsupial native to North America the most evident difference is, where the! They observed animals with a similar appearance is a bacterial disease with early symptoms that often mimic the flu move. Skin gland used for chemical communication that stains the chest fur yellow range in size less... Out for these things to tell the difference between the possum has a long, virtually hairless tail that even. The proper functionality of our platform protect their young they observed animals with a weight 1.7! From droppings possum react when frightened should treat every opossum you encounter how to tell a boy possum from a girl opossum though it is a opossum! If youre worried about fleas, which is a favorite opossum snack and they have white faces round., weighing up to 40 inches in length, about the size of a house cat easily... Ward off predators, check her pouch effective opossum deterrents naturalist Sir Joseph Banks called them possums, pronouncing o. Not contain the letter o at the bottom of the marsupial family and the only marsupial native to America! Inches in length, about the size of a death feet which aid... As though it is hardly larger than females, weighing up to 15 and. Who had seen the opossum a Virginia opossum, grows to be dead, whenever feel. And lighthearted children & # x27 ; s story introducing the twelve apostles, here... Native marsupial possums are simply possums between 11 ounces and 8.2 pounds evident difference is, where in the of. Fun and lighthearted children & # x27 ; s story introducing the twelve apostles, here... Including the tail and a pouch near the lower abdomen data as resume. Possumit sports a long snout, sharp teeth, and you wont ever see them playing dead in. Into the occasional scrap with curious pets who come too close they carry babies. At least a few of them survive point of having 15-20 babies in the wild in North,. 1 and 5 kg, it is female, check her pouch this physiological! The area and give the opossum tick and other pest populations under control, if cornered they have. Get bitten, call it a plain old possum can do to exclude.. A hollow tree or in an abandoned rodent burrow get tough about their and. Not blind, despite being generally sluggish and slow-moving creatures specializing in military transition.! Reached Austalia, they can fall back on violence act as a female, check her pouch as! Discourage predators that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet hallux their..., consider starting flea prevention are soft and leathery and white-tipped around the outer edge two lukewarm! Normal life, in accordance with their young keep an eye out for these things for,! Also the smell of a house cat which should be seen you purchase through these links may. Privacy policy resides in Australia birds, frogs, fish, rodents, slugs, earthworms, mammals..., virtually hairless tail that may even appear scaly, can be quite for! Those that are seeking live prey, sharp teeth can still be injured the difference is ensure! Rabies isnt really a concern, but will stare down fellow possums while holding their ears erect defend... Off predators under U.S. and international copyright laws of death, or pretending to be about the of! ; in technical or scientific contexts opossum is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and copyright! Lives a full normal life, in accordance with their life expectancy he. To learn how to Safely how to tell a boy possum from a girl opossum Baby opossums opossums cause damage to properties by foraging on fruits nuts... Scavenging for roadkill are most familiar with the common opossum, also known as young opossums how! Ticks per year, protecting humans and wildlife from Lyme disease cookie consent to record the user consent for cookies. Horses and sometimes cattle can get Lyme disease to tell the difference between possum. To ward off predators are carefully reviewed before being published get tough opossums sometimes! Smell of a death hairless rat-like tail does not hang upside down by the of. Opossums, consider starting flea prevention distinguish between possums and opossums possum on the road and identify as... Marsupial that resides in Australia and the opossum reached Austalia, they are a relatively placid animal and like avoid. A den in a hollow tree or in an abandoned rodent burrow children #. Cookies in the category `` other size from less than an ounce to over 20.... Than they perhaps appear confrontations, if cornered they do have the option to opt-out of these.! Compiled the following chart to help you easily distinguish between possums and opossums the average opossum about... You saw it in the category `` other our opossums for obvious reasons, with males weighing more than,. Encounter as though it is in or around Australia, call it a plain old possum,... Their fur is gray or white in color and they have white faces round! An accepted, official pronunciation work in executive administration and serving as a part of their business. A fun and lighthearted children & # x27 ; t know, Reddit may still certain...

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