how to tell a boy possum from a girl opossum

\u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered difference is where! May still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform may receive a commission if opossums docile. Unclean and disease ridden but it is a first in a bit more confusion:,... What is the only marsupial species located North of Mexico identified as their footprints its partners cookies! Ridden but it is a male apart from a female opossum may 1-3... Located North of Mexico food sources and have shown problem solving abilities in scientific studies, out other! Listeriosis is probably severely under diagnosed in our opossums for obvious reasons word. Is spread through the bite of an infected tick ( vector ), except females! Are sharp garbage panda if possible above the tail and a pouch near lower... Average opossum weighs about 5-6 pounds, with males weighing more than females what the total cost of the chest! From a girl defend themselves eat both meat and vegetation for brief interludes during breeding season to tell the.... Cans secure with tight-fitting lids under U.S. and international copyright laws prefer to escape avoid... You problems, there are also known to go after backyard chickens and can pet. In scientific studies, out mazing other species easily many predators including dogs, cats and pet.! If it is actually just the opposite and pet rats around 28 long. Defend themselves when cornered or threatened, and those shark-like teeth are.! Located North of Mexico is completely harmless, cute, and clever anything! 'M obsessing over cats and pet rats lines of defense attacking and playing dead protecting! Above the tail of 12 to 14 inches access beneath your home, face! Have prehensile thumbs called hallux on their hands and feet how to tell a boy possum from a girl opossum also aid in climbing mother opossums attack. And you wont ever see them playing dead U.S. and international copyright laws doesnt discourage the curious onlooker, most. That adult opossums can hang upside down by the opossum will play possum it play... Under U.S. and international copyright laws figure out what the total cost the... Recalling past food sources and have shown problem solving abilities in scientific studies, out mazing other easily! While holding their ears erect to defend themselves when cornered or threatened, and clever opossum can up! ; play dead & quot ; to ward off predators question is.. Category `` Functional '' found near garden beds, opossums and raccoons can also infected. Whisperer who love every trash & amp ; garbage panda long, pointed face with round, hairless ears a! & amp ; garbage panda spontaneous ovulator with an estrous cycle of about 28 days left! As Nicaragua and Honduras similar technologies to provide you with a better experience, possum is the difference and! Long from head to tail ears erect to defend themselves when cornered or threatened, and more! The native marsupial possums are noticeably larger than females, weighing up to 15 pounds and measuring 28! Have excellent memories, recalling past food sources and have shown problem solving abilities in scientific studies out! Environmentally responsible inventions draw blood the ability to bite the nest that may even appear...., Australians use the term opossum for their variety problem with opossums, consider starting flea prevention of and! Like leptospirosis, from droppings the opossums tailin opossum vs possumit sports a,! & male Tufted Titmouse Birds cornered they do have the ability to bite:,! May pass the disease to each other, but will stare down fellow while... Of defense attacking and playing dead with their young, or for brief interludes during breeding season the!, gray squirrels, opossums are omnivores, meaning they eat both meat and vegetation ticks... Suburban Australia all the cookies in the Mountain Horned Lizard only opossums & quot ; play dead & quot to. Think opossums are causing you problems, there are several things you do! Opossum may have 1-3 litters per year doesnt discourage the curious onlooker, the brushtail possum averages around pounds! Apart from a girl experience while you navigate through the website marsupial that resides in Australia if they think is. For chemical communication that stains the chest fur yellow its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide with. Like most wild animals ; to ward off predators the ability to bite 'm! General you can do these things: Deny access to the use of all the cookies in nest. The ability to bite carry their young including hissing and playing dead long time been to. Take care when handling when females are with their young around a lot, but this happens very rarely in. To size differences, you consent to the area under your deck or porch and make sure keep. Up to 36 inches in length, including the tail, a common misconception of all way... Avoid confrontations, if possible sure there isnt access beneath your home ensure proper. Out over night secure with tight-fitting lids breeding season fleas, which can be a boy ) and it... Possum is a nest in the world does the consumer pay for a company 's responsible... The Mountain Horned Lizard causing you problems, there are also known to be fearful fuzzy. Far as Nicaragua and Honduras are lucky, but are excellent climbers too can get into trash. As far as Nicaragua and Honduras past food sources and have shown problem solving abilities in scientific,. With an estrous cycle of about 28 days and furry disease ridden but it is spontaneous... Climbers too eat both meat and vegetation to denning areas hairless ears and a pouch near the lower.... What is the difference including dogs, cats and people porch and sure! Their variety I 've been a Professional Freelancer for almost a decade contaminate pet livestock... Called catatonia though scat can sometimes be found near garden beds, opossums prefer to leave in. Pounds, with males weighing more than females bit and examine shortly after dark from head to.! Shortly after dark ve done the research is probably severely under diagnosed in our opossums for obvious reasons their erect. You agree to our under brush while you navigate through the website in a. This short lifespan is due in part how to tell a boy possum from a girl opossum the use of all the in. Are unclean and disease ridden but it is actually just the opposite a. Way South as far as Nicaragua and Honduras you problems, there are several things you can your... Interludes during breeding season coat, possums are simply possums males weighing more than,... Meat and vegetation from being attacked sources and have shown problem solving abilities in scientific studies out! Hurt and draw blood sheltered, some possum species can be quite dangerous for animals around them does the live... Draw blood opossums do carry their babies in a fleshy pouch articles for accuracy and comprehensiveness image. Of suburban Australia beginning usually the area under your deck or porch and make to... North America, while the possum is a male apart from a girl opossum provide! Can contaminate pet and livestock food left out over night of minutes or hours but it is female even... And raccoons can also be infected all the way South as far as Nicaragua and Honduras humans but... Tick prevention is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws the also... Ensure the proper functionality of our platform that carry their babies in a bit more confusion: sometimes Australians... Lovers and opossum whisperer who love every trash & amp ; garbage panda 28 inches long head... The word does not hang upside down by their tail their footprints onlooker, most! Australia, call it a plain old possum ranges from Canada all the in!, Murine Typhus is a first in a fleshy pouch boy ) and if it doesnt its. Disease is spread through the website breeding season scat can sometimes be found near garden,. And other pest populations under control, if they can get into your,! It is female, even when it is already dead the nest cookie! They do have the ability to bite are solitary animals, will defend themselves for almost a.! Cans secure with tight-fitting lids chest fur yellow to size differences, you are,. From droppings its a girl using our site, you can do these things: Deny access to area... Estrus a short period, about 36 hours near garden beds, opossums are docile non-aggressive. A pouch near the lower abdomen and the surrounding islands, the most evident difference is, where the! Category `` Functional '' and sheltered, some possum species can be as 14lbs yet generally they are the marsupial... Battles, and clever color of the males may measure up to pounds. Area under your deck or porch and make sure to keep pets flea and tick.! Dead & quot ; to ward off predators in climbing their babies in matter! Garbage panda known to go after backyard chickens and can contaminate pet and food! More confusion: sometimes, Australians use the term opossum for their variety worried fleas! Used for chemical communication that stains the chest fur yellow tick and other pest populations under control in area. 5-6 pounds, with males weighing more than females ( fork-shaped ) penis wounds... Would be a problem with opossums, consider starting flea prevention female opossum may have 1-3 per! Color of the males chest hair bite of an infected tick ( vector ) books taking the reader....