Again, rabies isnt really a concern, but bites can still be dangerous and should be tended to by a vet. Last Updated: December 5, 2022 If you find one living under your house, consider leaving it alone. To safely remove opossum babies and adults from yards, contact the trained staff at Critter Control. The males testicles, visible also from the side or back of the animal, become distinguishable seven days after birth, becoming large and furry. Hemera Technologies/Photos.com/Getty Images. Fence spikes can help keep opossums out. Go back to the opossumpestcontrol.com home page. The rag will act as a wick to disperse the fumes. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. As a marsupial mammal, opossums give birth after a very short gestation (about 15 days) to large litters of tiny, immature babies. Which is it? These two animals look pretty similar. After a gestation of just 12 to 13 days, female opossums, called jills, give birth to up to 20 live young at a time. What are the disadvantages of shielding a thermometer? How long should you meditate as a Buddhist? They also have prehensile thumbs called hallux on their hands and feet which also aid in climbing. The opossum will awaken from this state in a matter of minutes or hours. An opossum's diet means eating almost everything: from trash, to dog food, insects, mice and even cottage cheese. Playing possum. Opossums have two lines of defense attacking and playing dead. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Australians are most familiar with the Common Brushtail and Ringtail possum. Its likely keeping tick and other pest populations under control in your area. The whole point of having 15-20 babies in the first place is to ensure at least a few of them survive. The male also has a bifurcated (fork-shaped) penis. Its a myth that adult opossums can hang upside down by their tail! Manage Settings Australian possums are very territorial, urinating and rubbing oil from chest, chin, and anal glands on the territory they wish to mark. The average opossum weighs about 5-6 pounds, with males weighing more than females. It does not store any personal data. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. Wear gloves and dispose of bagged droppings in the trash outside. Flea and tick prevention is the best way to keep pets flea and tick free. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. It can take the marsupial anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours to become mobile again. Appearance. 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. How do you tell if a possum is a boy or girl? There are about 70 species of Phalangeriformes or Australasian possums. The world-record opossum tipped the scales at 15.4 pounds. You should still make sure that all holes are sealed and all food sources have been thoroughly cleaned away. The most evident difference is, where in the world does the animal live? You should treat every opossum you encounter as though it is female, even when it is a male. This doesn't make your life easier, of course; you want to know whether or not that opossum is a mother, because if she is, there's a chance you have a nest of babies to find and remove too. Possums are tree-dwelling herbivores with bushy, squirrel-like tails. It is highly adaptable, social and nocturnal. To throw in a bit more confusion: sometimes, Australians use the term opossum for their variety! Common Brushtail Possums live in urban areas, forests and woodlands and heath. Is it good to have a possum in your yard? The North American opossum ranges from Canada all the way South as far as Nicaragua and Honduras. Opossums, on the other hand, are both scavengers and omnivorous. An occasional male might weigh as much as 10 pounds or a little more. Their bodies are covered in white or grayish hair. Consider these four key differences. Not only will they know the best methods, theyll likely also be up to date on current laws surrounding opossum control. If she is carrying live young, contact your local Department of Wildlife office immediately. PopGrip with swappable top; switch out your PopTop for another design or remove it completely for wireless charging capabilities. This is a fun and lighthearted children's story introducing the twelve apostles, depicted here as opossums. Please note that there is only one species of North American opossum, Dedelphis virginiana. It is interesting to note that the opossum has more teeth, 50, than any other North American mammal. The significant role played by bitcoin for businesses! Opossums are omnivores, meaning they eat both meat and vegetation. Most opossums build their nests using sticks and whatever else is available their nests appear untidy rather than woven or stacked. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Females typically weigh no more than eight pounds. This behavior is mostly displayed by young opossums. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Females have a fur-lined pouch for raising and carrying infants. This article was co-authored by wikiHow Staff. Opossums have excellent memories, recalling past food sources and have shown problem solving abilities in scientific studies, out mazing other species easily! 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 are smaller than opossums. Listeriosis is a disease of the central nervous system and a infection can occur when an animal ingests anything that has been contaminated with bacteria called Listeria monocytogenes (L. monocytogenes). The birds will usually be killed by bites to the neck, and the opossums often just eat the contents of your birds crops and occasionally some of the chest. Opossum vs possum? 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. If you saw it in the wild in North America, its an opossum a Virginia opossum, to be exact. Preventing these critters from coming in in the first place will go a very long way to protecting your humble home. In addition to size differences, you can tell a male apart from a female by the color of the males chest hair. Design The possum is a member of the marsupial family and the only species of marsupial found in North America. Possums have a bushy tail similar to a squirrel's. You can also observe what the possum/opossum is eating. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. And open wounds are vulnerable to other infections. Simon Fuller has been a freelance writer since 2008. Color of fur. How can you tell a boy possum from a girl? We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. The term playing possum comes from the catatonic defensive mechanism opossums enter into when threatened by predators. The prehensile tail in action - A young opossum hanging from a tree branch. Males have a skin gland used for chemical communication that stains the chest fur yellow. Theyre known to be fearful, fuzzy, and clever. This is the time mating can occur. A cat may attack and kill young rat-sized opossums. If using ammonia, pour a small amount of ammonia into a coffee can with a lid. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'pestlockdown_com-leader-1','ezslot_9',188,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-pestlockdown_com-leader-1-0'); If you know you have an opossum under your deck or porch, wait for them to leave at dusk before sealing up the entrance. Remove brush and other yard waste regularly to prevent it piling up and being used as a burrow. If you do not, you are lucky, but that doesn't mean you are safe. What Are the Five Species of the Brush-Tailed Possum? Opossum, O Lovely Possum Both possum and opossum correctly refer to the Virginia opossum frequently seen in North America. In California, Murine Typhus is a disease that has for a long time been transmitted to humans by the opossum fleas. Have some feedback for us? Opossums are more likely to growl, hiss and show their 50 sharp teeth than to bite. Dogs, horses and sometimes cattle can get Lyme disease. Theyll eat many things fruit, insects, garbage, and carrion (meat). The grey short-tailed opossum is a small, rat-sized marsupial from South America. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.
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