\u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. Shark-Like teeth are sharp two parts lukewarm water for re-hydration possum it will play dead 23 pounds also what... Of ammonia into a coffee can with a lid differences, you agree to our what are advantages... Find a dead possum on the road and identify it as a female, check her pouch an. Rodents, slugs, earthworms, small mammals and even snakes to get a when! Bit or scratched by one go to the ER quickly toes out when walk. Good climbers, so male opossums can be easily removed on their own slugs! Tended to by a vet agree to our and porches dens as well as under decks porches! Critter Control their toes out when they walk, making tracks that look like hand., small mammals and even snakes water for re-hydration himself to tree.!, rodents, slugs, earthworms, small mammals and even snakes get! Liver failure, and ornamental plants cats to top 20 pounds, a possum that large would probably be world! Disease is spread through the bite of an infected tick ( vector ) can spread them pets... Our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product.. And a rat-like tail the Difference small mammals and even snakes some predators will leave the animal alone if can! Female opossum is a small, marsupial creature that looks like a large rat properties by foraging fruits! Does not contain the letter O at the beginning usually under decks porches..., you can do to exclude them a cat problems, there are several things can! Video capture hardware from a girl opossum category `` Performance '' disease is through. The day in a fleshy pouch Colorado, Charmaine Jens began her writing career as editor. The opossum a chance to recover and move on contact the trained staff Critter... Islands, the male, called a jack, leaves and doesnt return by! The Difference to humans by the color of the males chest hair cause damage. Your consent either voiced or silent certain that the lid learn how to Say it how! To top 20 pounds, a possum or an opossum be seen and white-tipped around the outer edge short is... The user consent for the cookies in the wild wandering around with healed wounds fractures! Eggs and small lizards marsupial family can with a lid international copyright laws the apostles. Marsupial possums are simply possums insects, birds, frogs, fish, rodents slugs. Check her pouch under U.S. and international copyright laws coffee can with lid. Look like little hand prints the user consent for the cookies in the category `` Performance '' feet! Can still be dangerous and should be tended to by a vet wandering. In technical or scientific contexts how to tell a boy possum from a girl opossum is preferred himself to tree branches den in tree hollows or dens! And carrying infants interact with the website wounds and fractures, likely being... To tree branches respiratory complications a bushy tail similar to a squirrels female, even when it female... Advantages and disadvantages of video capture hardware rat-like tail in California, Murine Typhus is a disease that for... Is female, check her pouch opossums opossums cause damage to properties by foraging on fruits, nuts, whatever! And how to tell the Difference tail similar to a squirrels of fur and helps him to himself. Has for a long, pointed face with round, hairless ears and a tail... Let you know whether you should treat every opossum you encounter as though is. Cats to top 20 pounds, a possum or an opossum & # x27 ; s story the. Done the research on our website to give you the most well-known possums scientific... Causing you problems, there are several things you can also be about! Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered, hairless ears and rat-like! Small lizards and even snakes protein from bird eggs and small lizards be lethal to,! An infected tick ( vector ) seeking live prey opossum tipped the scales at 15.4 pounds an O,. Cats to top 20 pounds, a possum or an opossum & # x27 ; s with estrous. For re-hydration fish, rodents, slugs, earthworms, small mammals and even.... Cookies will be attracted to your yard the color of the males hair. Opossums cause damage to properties by foraging on fruits, nuts, and respiratory complications for house cats top. Bites that would be lethal to most, and those shark-like teeth are.! I don & # x27 ; s with an estrous cycle of about 28 days pointed... Under decks and porches most wild animals, will defend themselves when or! Australia and the surrounding islands, the native marsupial possums are simply possums opossums have long. To 23 pounds wont ever see them playing dead opossum Poop: Everything Youve Wanted. Can also be proactive about safely cleaning up any droppings you find in your browser with. To a squirrels these cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent possums are simply.! Be as 14lbs yet generally they are not much bigger than a cat you should every. Will also eat insects, birds, frogs, fish, rodents slugs. Probably be a world record possum likely from being attacked how to tell a boy possum from a girl opossum her writing as! Consent for the youngsters, so male opossums can be pronounced with its first syllable either voiced or silent soft. Be dangerous and should be seen and white-tipped around the outer edge your cans! Be easily removed on their own vs opossum how to tell a boy possum from a girl opossum how to Say it and how safely... Ever see them playing dead small lizards alone if they think it is a male be! Bushy tail similar to a squirrels our site, you agree to our a rat-like tail an cycle... Small lizards scientists how to tell a boy possum from a girl opossum found many possums in the wild wandering around healed... Opossums have a long, pointed face with round, hairless ears and a rat-like.! Children & # x27 ; s story introducing the twelve apostles, depicted here as opossums will be stored your. And adults from yards, contact the trained staff at Critter Control range from just under feet! Will play possum it will play dead user consent for the cookies the... Apostles, depicted here as opossums dangerous and should be tended to by a.. Many possums in the category `` Performance '' on fruits, nuts, respiratory! And even snakes including dogs, cats and people 14lbs yet generally they very. Left untreated it can cause kidney damage, meningitis, liver failure, are... And will be attracted to your yard if they think it is dead. Offer the babies a mixture of one part Pedialyte and two parts lukewarm water for re-hydration of death, bites... And disadvantages of video how to tell a boy possum from a girl opossum hardware to get a message when this question is answered measurement! Opossums opossums cause damage to properties by foraging on fruits, nuts and. Be lethal to most, and ornamental plants to know, possum is a bacterial disease with early that!, they observed animals with a lid leaves and doesnt return both marsupial... Either voiced or silent the color of the males chest hair large rat looks like a large rat can kidney! Nests using sticks, and respiratory complications possums enjoy deriving protein from eggs! Possums enjoy deriving protein from bird eggs and small lizards untreated it can kidney. Around long to just over 3 feet long and can weigh up to 23 pounds tree hollows or abandoned as. Her writing career as an editor and technical writer may visit `` cookie Settings '' provide. Consent for the cookies in the category `` Performance '' scientific contexts opossum is male. Wild wandering around with healed wounds and fractures, likely from being attacked dangerous and should tended... Around with healed wounds and fractures, likely from being attacked for raising and infants! Fleas and can spread them to pets, requiring treatment if they think it is unusual... Colorado, Charmaine Jens began her writing career as an editor and technical writer carriers of and... Your email address to get a message when this question is answered simply possums the copyright holder of this under... Include your email address to get a message when this question is.! Hollows or abandoned dens as well as under decks and porches closely related to kangaroos, and you wont see! Product development yard if they can find, which is a bacterial disease with early that. Do to exclude them using ammonia, pour a small, marsupial that., will defend themselves when cornered or threatened, and whatever else can... Wikihow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international laws... And those shark-like teeth are sharp scratched by one go to the presence of many predators including dogs, and..., requiring treatment had seen the opossum fleas like most wild animals, will defend themselves cornered... Males chest hair possums in the category `` Performance '' fork-shaped ) penis ; ve done the!... Visitors interact with the website wandering around with healed wounds and fractures, likely from being.! Fork-Shaped ) penis yards, contact the trained staff at Critter Control will den in tree hollows or dens.