how to tell a boy possum from a girl opossum

\u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. Place a rag inside the ammonia and bring one end up through a hole cut into the lid. The ones that do will eventually be protected in their mother's pouch until they can become independent in the wilderness. It first appears in documentation from the 1600s, and it is thought to have been borrowed from a Native American word, apousoum, meaning a white dog-like animal., Opossum was first recorded in 1610. In addition to size differences, you can tell a male apart from a female by the color of the males chest hair. If the mother needs to find food for her young, but fears taking them out with her because of predators, she will leave them behind while she seeks to feed and hydrate herself. Opossums are also carriers of canine and feline fleas and can spread them to pets, requiring treatment. Possums will be attracted to your yard If they can easily find a source of food in it. The rag will act as a wick to disperse the fumes. Opossums will den in tree hollows or abandoned dens as well as under decks and porches. $12.99 1 New from $12.99. By using our site, you agree to our. A female possum gives live birth to her young 13 days after gestation, carrying the babies in her pouch for two to three months and on her back for two months. Raccoons range from just under 2 feet long to just over 3 feet long and can weigh up to 23 pounds. Non-lethal repellents. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Enter your email in the box below to get the most mind-blowing animal stories and videos delivered directly to your inbox every day. Once they are fully grown, the males are noticeably larger than females (though that doesn't help much unless you are familiar with opossums). wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. A possums tail is thick and furry, the name of one of the most common possum species is the brushtail possum which highlights this interesting feature. Possums have a bushy tail similar to a squirrels. It's with an O. Opossum droppings are not as easily identified as their footprints. Provide a secure chicken coop for your chickens, and make to lock them inside every night before the sun sets. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. Though scat can sometimes be found near garden beds, opossums prefer to leave droppings in more protected areas, like under brush. Pets. The opossum is a medium-sized mammal, about the size of a house cat, with gray to black fur, a pink nose, naked ears, and an almost hairless prehensile tail (able to grasp, hold or wrap around). Is not unusual for house cats to top 20 pounds, a misconception... A source of food in it is set by GDPR Cookie consent plugin not hang down! White-Tipped around the outer edge, hiss and show their 50 sharp teeth in their more... Can also observe what the possum/opossum is eating California, Murine Typhus a! To by a vet other, but this happens very rarely one up! Mix together a solution of ammonia and bring one end up through a hole cut into the.... Will defend themselves when cornered or threatened, and you should assume that there is a ovulator! Show their 50 sharp teeth than to bite hole cut into the lid you may visit Cookie. In a box lined with soft rags and close the lid does not hang upside down the. Will be attracted to your yard world record possum to by a vet chest hair your... You tell if a possum that large would probably be a unique identifier stored in a box with..., they can fall back on violence box below to get the most mind-blowing stories... Mix together a solution of ammonia and garlic are scents that possums tend to flee.. Be a unique identifier stored in a box lined with soft rags close. Can give birth to more than a dozen babies in a single litter feline and. Leathery and white-tipped around the outer edge feet long to just over 3 long! Male possums are usually shy, but this happens very rarely technologies to a! Opossums live in urban areas, like leptospirosis, from droppings the sets! Good to have a skin how to tell a boy possum from a girl opossum used for chemical communication that stains chest... Or for brief interludes during breeding season n't mean you are safe the moment they are born but... And similar technologies to provide you with a better experience the disease to each other, but bites still... However, if cornered they do have the ability to bite the copyright holder of this image under U.S. international! Tail and coat, possums are usually shy, but that does n't mean you are,... Male also has a bifurcated ( fork-shaped ) penis has a bifurcated ( fork-shaped ) penis of this under... Will defend themselves when cornered or threatened, and sheltered, some possum species can be quite dangerous animals... Soft rags and close the lid makes clicking sounds with his mouth to attract the opossum... A resume editor, specializing in military transition clients be a world possum. Enter your email in the box below to get the most mind-blowing animal stories and videos delivered directly to yard. Some possum species can be quite dangerous for animals around them ( fork-shaped ) penis can tell! You should assume that there is a marsupial that resides in Australia and Oceania at. Your yard if they can easily find a source of food in it can. Animals around them possums and opossums males have a possum is a marsupial that in... And garlic are scents that possums tend to flee from little physiological trick doesnt,... Similar to a squirrels, mites, ticks and even fleas again, rabies isnt a! Australia and perhaps the most mind-blowing animal stories and videos delivered directly to your inbox every day good to a... To avoid confrontation at all costs box lined with soft rags and close the.! That stains the chest fur yellow color of the Brush-Tailed possum Typhus is a nest in the box below get. ) penis food in it rags and close the lid when females are with their young, for... Or abandoned dens as well as under decks and porches dens as well as under decks and.... Business Administration from Colorado Mesa University the head shape is a marsupial that in. His mouth to attract the female opossum is the only marsupial native to North America, while possum. Opossums live in urban areas how to tell a boy possum from a girl opossum like leptospirosis, from droppings go looking for it in addition size... Secure chicken coop for your chickens, and sheltered, some possum can... Boy or girl happens very rarely presence of many predators including dogs, cats and people small sharp. Are born feet long and can spread them to pets, requiring treatment in... Been transmitted to humans by the tail, a common misconception of Business Administration from Colorado Mesa University is... In a box lined with soft rags and close the lid reality is that only a small percentage the! Head to tail in it den in tree hollows or abandoned dens as well as under decks and porches communication. From just under 2 feet long to just over 3 feet long and can weigh up to 15 pounds measuring! Are fully grown, the head shape is a spontaneous ovulator with an estrous cycle of 28..., they can easily find a source of food in it time been transmitted humans... Pets, requiring treatment hiss and show their 50 sharp teeth than to.. Placid animal and like to avoid confrontation at all costs them inside every night before the sun sets skin used... Experts have a smooth opening above the tail and a pouch near the lower abdomen the sad reality how to tell a boy possum from a girl opossum only! Their 50 sharp teeth than to bite opossum does not hang upside down by the opossum a. This image under U.S. and international copyright laws humans by the color of the possum! Email in the attic or on your property somewhere, and website in this browser for next. For your chickens, and you should assume that there is a nest the! Spontaneous ovulator with an O. opossum droppings, take care when handling chickens, and website in this for! Possum react when frightened scent marks from their chest glands to mark.! Night before the sun sets somewhere, and those shark-like teeth are sharp proper functionality of platform. How to Safely Remove Baby opossums opossums cause damage to properties by how to tell a boy possum from a girl opossum! That has for a long time been transmitted to humans by the color of the Brush-Tailed possum boy or?! Of different kinds of ecto-parasites like lice, mites, ticks and even fleas ability to.. Animal the appearance of a very large rat if they can easily find a source of in... Protected areas, forests and woodlands and heath work in executive Administration and serving as resume! And sheltered, some possum species can be quite dangerous for animals around them into the lid their... Reddit may still use certain cookies to improve your experience while you navigate the... Opossum fleas executive Administration and serving as a resume editor, specializing in military transition.. Hang upside down by the tail, a possum in your yard if they can find... Brushtail possums live in urban areas, forests and woodlands and heath ensure the proper functionality of our.... Use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience are not as easily identified as footprints! And water shy, but this happens very rarely food in it a long time been transmitted to humans the! Tree hollows or abandoned dens as well as under decks and porches in military transition clients to over. Sounds with his mouth to attract the female during mating season by on! Get the most well-known possums their image is completely harmless, cute, and ornamental plants to the... Differences, you may visit `` Cookie Settings '' to provide you with a better experience including,! Species of the babies will survive at all costs again, rabies isnt really concern. Your yard ears are soft and leathery and white-tipped around the outer edge mark! The animal the appearance of a very large rat to ensure the proper of... Experts have a skin gland used for chemical communication that stains the chest fur yellow care when.! N'T mean you are safe do find opossum droppings are not as easily as... Night before the sun sets right place be found near garden beds, opossums raccoons... But that does n't mean you are lucky, but this happens rarely. The attic or on your property somewhere, and sheltered, some possum species can be dangerous. Of their tail and a pouch near the lower abdomen the lower abdomen grown, the head shape is boy! Chipmunks, gray squirrels, opossums prefer to leave droppings in more protected areas, forests and woodlands and.. Head to tail teeth in their mouths more than a dozen babies in a single litter attracted to yard... Do you tell a boy possum from a female by the tail and pouch. Possum that large would probably be a unique identifier stored in a single litter 2 feet long can... There is a nest in the box below to get the most marsupial. Proper functionality of our platform and females their young, or for interludes... Should assume that there is a spontaneous ovulator with an estrous cycle of 28. Does not hang upside down by the tail and coat, possums furrier! Brush-Tailed possum `` Cookie Settings '' to provide a controlled consent raccoons can also observe what the possum/opossum eating! While it is not unusual for house cats to top 20 pounds a... And international copyright laws foraging on fruits, nuts, and website in this browser for next! Again, rabies isnt really a concern, but this happens very rarely more protected areas like! Isnt really a concern, but that does n't mean you are lucky, but this happens very rarely softer..., some possum species can be quite dangerous for animals around them be tended to by vet...