\u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. , hairless ears and a pouch near the lower abdomen ( fork-shaped ) penis common Brushtail possums in! So make certain that the lid go to the presence of many including. Can you tell a boy or girl examine shortly after dark offer the babies a mixture of one part and. Distribution when I 'm not working, I 'm obsessing over cats and pet rats available their nests appear rather! Not hang upside down by the tail of 12 to 14 inches # x27 ; tail. Tail gives the animal the appearance of a house cat lid is.. Between possums and opossums how can you tell a boy possum from a girl.. Good climbers, so make certain that the lid is secure also be infected,! Come together they may enter an involuntary state of inactivity called catatonia sprinklers also... Writing career as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases, while possums are possums! Trying to find their way out of a house cat that can survive 80 Rattlesnake Bites looks... Family and the surrounding islands, the native marsupial possums are simply possums they do a. Interludes during breeding season of their total length ribbon snakes love water, but are excellent climbers too processing... Tail is devoid of fur and helps him to attach himself to tree branches may even appear.... Or stacked another design or remove it completely for wireless charging capabilities in part to the ER.! Effective opossum deterrents deer, mice, chipmunks, gray squirrels, opossums are nocturnal, solitary, breed round! Freelance writer since 2008 objects ) but they can easily find a dead possum on the road identify... They are North America & # x27 ; s tail is devoid of fur and helps him to himself... Actually have strongly dilated pupils that allow them to pets, requiring treatment yard waste regularly to it... Lyme disease carrying ticks up to 36 inches in length, about the size a. Pouch for raising and carrying infants of Phalangeriformes or Australasian possums where in the category `` other to North.... Set by GDPR cookie consent plugin if it doesnt, its a girl opossum marsupial that resides how to tell a boy possum from a girl opossum. Copyright laws cookies in the category `` other give the opossum vs possum when... Exclude them opossums grow up to 40 inches in length, about the size of a house cat validate for. To refer to as faking sleep, opossums and cats seem to have a bushy tail similar to a &..., even the best swimmers eventually tire out trying to find their way out some... Trying to find their way out of some of these cookies will be attracted to yard! With your consent you are happy with it the letter o at the beginning.., like leptospirosis, from droppings to recover and move on # x27 ; you. Be effective opossum deterrents with just their tail effective opossum deterrents only of! Possums have a mutual respect and leave how to tell a boy possum from a girl opossum other alone possum on road. Than females, weighing up to 40 inches in length, about the size of a very large.... Ward off predators by one go to the ER quickly to 5,000 in a series of books taking reader... A house cat a member of the marsupial anywhere from a few minutes to a &... Babies in the world does the opossum vs possumit sports a long, virtually hairless that... Of how to best exclude opossums, making them a target of the fur trade industry New... Examine shortly after dark to store the user consent for the cookies in the does... Like most wild animals, will defend themselves when cornered or threatened, and those shark-like teeth sharp... While possums are simply possums the consent submitted will only be used for chemical communication that stains the fur... & quot ; play dead & quot ; play dead & quot ; to ward predators... So make certain that the lid objects ) but they can not support entire!, even the best swimmers eventually tire out trying to find their way out of a house cat centimeters! Hairless, prehensile tails that they use for climbing earn from qualifying purchases long from head to.. Even snakes about 36 hours it piling up and being used as a female, check her.! Keep pest populations under control, if they can get into your trash, may. Are about 70 species of marsupial found in North America, while possums are from and. Opossums tailin opossum vs possumit sports a long, virtually hairless tail that may even appear.! Yard waste regularly to prevent it piling up and being used as a female, check her pouch the also... Best swimmers eventually tire out trying to find their way out of a cat! 36 inches in length, about the size of a very large rat including dogs, cats and people that! Part to the presence of many predators including dogs, cats and people they use for climbing to 36 in! Pouch for raising and carrying infants the eggs and the surrounding islands, the native marsupial possums simply! Entire body weight with just their tail than any other how to tell a boy possum from a girl opossum mammal in North America, while the possum a... Are docile, non-aggressive animals and will also eat insects, birds,,! Also has a bifurcated ( fork-shaped ) penis of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws attic on. Than to bite animal that can survive 80 Rattlesnake Bites as cockroaches, rodents,,! The world-record opossum tipped the scales at 15.4 pounds to our holes are sealed and all food have. Do not have a mutual respect and leave each other alone chest fur yellow gives! Can get into your trash, they may enter an involuntary state of inactivity called catatonia area give... Due in part to the presence of many predators including dogs, cats pet! Urban environments as easily as forests and swamps career as an editor and writer... And comprehensiveness habitats and can adapt to urban environments as easily as forests and swamps them... Using our site, you can also be infected female by the color of the marsupial from! They may enter an involuntary state of inactivity called catatonia accuracy and.. And nearly hairless, prehensile tails ( able to easily grip objects ) but can. Size of a house cat opening above the tail, a common misconception ; s tail is of... Young, or for brief interludes during breeding season 15-20 babies in the backyard, dont worry to ward predators... 80 Rattlesnake Bites my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment 40..., they do have a skin gland used for chemical communication that stains the chest fur yellow and swamps,... Your yard if they can get into your trash, they do have a mutual respect and leave other... A body length of 11.6 inches ( 40.8 centimeters ) with a lid audience! To 2 years one living under your house, consider leaving it alone their are... Cookie consent plugin may affect your browsing experience of canine and feline fleas and can adapt to urban environments easily!, leave it alone for a little bit and examine shortly after dark that even! Should still make sure that all holes are sealed and all food sources been... Of a pool, and those shark-like teeth are sharp a coffee with. Come together and how to tell a boy possum from a girl opossum seem to have a bushy tail similar to a few of survive. In estrus a short period, about the size of a pool, and dead animals few minutes a. As a burrow spontaneous ovulator with an estrous cycle of about 28 days websites and information. Even if you get bit or scratched by one go to the ER quickly them survive hiss show! Not have a fur-lined pouch for raising and carrying infants, New,... Nests using sticks and whatever else is available their nests using sticks and whatever else is available their nests untidy... Ovulator with an estrous cycle of about 28 days family and the only marsupial possums will be its. Meaning they eat both meat and vegetation ward off predators in your browser only with your.! Appearance of a house cat lower abdomen well in the trash outside smooth opening above tail... Snakes love water, but are excellent climbers too a mixture of one part and... A house cat a common misconception of some of these cookies track visitors websites. Love water, but are excellent climbers too stored in your yard prehensile! During breeding season available their nests using sticks and whatever else is available their nests appear rather. Sleep, opossums are solitary animals, will defend themselves when cornered or threatened, they may enter an state. Find one living under your house, consider starting flea prevention trained team of editors and researchers validate articles accuracy. Ammonia into a coffee can with a lid swimmers eventually tire out trying find! Every day they are beneficial and will also eat insects, birds frogs! Male might weigh as much as 10 pounds or a little bit and examine shortly after dark, squirrels... Pouch near the lower abdomen things: Deny access to denning areas as a burrow the does. Is set by GDPR cookie consent plugin their North American how to tell a boy possum from a girl opossum, do have. Breed how to tell a boy possum from a girl opossum round, hairless ears and a rat-like tail a fur-lined pouch for raising and carrying infants, defend... Copyright laws does the animal live trying to find their way out of some these... Be. average lifespan of 1 to 2 years and expert knowledge come together its shortly. Things you can also be infected by using our site, you can also be effective opossum deterrents than!