{"id":189123,"date":"2022-07-18T11:14:46","date_gmt":"2022-07-18T11:14:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/what-is-the-difference-between-a-possum-and-an-opossum-4\/"},"modified":"2022-07-18T11:14:46","modified_gmt":"2022-07-18T11:14:46","slug":"what-is-the-difference-between-a-possum-and-an-opossum-4","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/what-is-the-difference-between-a-possum-and-an-opossum-4\/","title":{"rendered":"What is the difference between a possum and an opossum?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_17 counter-hierarchy counter-decimal ez-toc-grey\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" style=\"display: none;\"><i class=\"ez-toc-glyphicon ez-toc-icon-toggle\"><\/i><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class=\"ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1\"><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/what-is-the-difference-between-a-possum-and-an-opossum-4\/#What_is_the_difference_between_a_possum_and_an_opossum\" title=\"What is the difference between a possum and an opossum?\">What is the difference between a possum and an opossum?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/what-is-the-difference-between-a-possum-and-an-opossum-4\/#How_do_you_identify_a_possum\" title=\"How do you identify a possum?\">How do you identify a possum?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/what-is-the-difference-between-a-possum-and-an-opossum-4\/#Do_possums_bite_humans\" title=\"Do possums bite humans?\">Do possums bite humans?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/what-is-the-difference-between-a-possum-and-an-opossum-4\/#What_does_a_raccoon_and_a_possum_look_like\" title=\"What does a raccoon and a possum look like?\">What does a raccoon and a possum look like?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/what-is-the-difference-between-a-possum-and-an-opossum-4\/#Is_a_possum_and_an_opossum_the_same_thing\" title=\"Is a possum and an opossum the same thing?\">Is a possum and an opossum the same thing?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/what-is-the-difference-between-a-possum-and-an-opossum-4\/#Why_do_they_call_possum_opossum\" title=\"Why do they call possum opossum?\">Why do they call possum opossum?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/what-is-the-difference-between-a-possum-and-an-opossum-4\/#Is_the_O_silent_in_the_word_opossum\" title=\"Is the O silent in the word opossum?\">Is the O silent in the word opossum?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/what-is-the-difference-between-a-possum-and-an-opossum-4\/#Is_there_a_difference_between_opossum_and_possum\" title=\"Is there a difference between opossum and possum?\">Is there a difference between opossum and possum?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/what-is-the-difference-between-a-possum-and-an-opossum-4\/#What_does_it_mean_when_you_see_a_possum\" title=\"What does it mean when you see a possum?\">What does it mean when you see a possum?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/what-is-the-difference-between-a-possum-and-an-opossum-4\/#What_to_do_if_you_see_a_possum\" title=\"What to do if you see a possum?\">What to do if you see a possum?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/what-is-the-difference-between-a-possum-and-an-opossum-4\/#Is_it_a_rat_or_a_possum\" title=\"Is it a rat or a possum?\">Is it a rat or a possum?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/what-is-the-difference-between-a-possum-and-an-opossum-4\/#Will_possums_attack_you\" title=\"Will possums attack you?\">Will possums attack you?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/what-is-the-difference-between-a-possum-and-an-opossum-4\/#What_happens_if_you_get_bit_by_a_possum\" title=\"What happens if you get bit by a possum?\">What happens if you get bit by a possum?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/what-is-the-difference-between-a-possum-and-an-opossum-4\/#How_aggressive_is_a_possum\" title=\"How aggressive is a possum?\">How aggressive is a possum?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/what-is-the-difference-between-a-possum-and-an-opossum-4\/#Do_possums_bite_hurt\" title=\"Do possums bite hurt?\">Do possums bite hurt?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/what-is-the-difference-between-a-possum-and-an-opossum-4\/#How_do_you_know_if_you_have_a_raccoon\" title=\"How do you know if you have a raccoon?\">How do you know if you have a raccoon?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/what-is-the-difference-between-a-possum-and-an-opossum-4\/#What_does_it_mean_when_a_possum_comes_to_your_house\" title=\"What does it mean when a possum comes to your house?\">What does it mean when a possum comes to your house?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-18\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/what-is-the-difference-between-a-possum-and-an-opossum-4\/#What_is_a_possum_look_like\" title=\"What is a possum look like?\">What is a possum look like?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-19\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/what-is-the-difference-between-a-possum-and-an-opossum-4\/#Are_opossums_and_possums_related\" title=\"Are opossums and possums related?\">Are opossums and possums related?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-20\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/what-is-the-difference-between-a-possum-and-an-opossum-4\/#Why_is_there_an_O_in_opossum\" title=\"Why is there an O in opossum?\">Why is there an O in opossum?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-21\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/what-is-the-difference-between-a-possum-and-an-opossum-4\/#How_do_you_know_if_a_possum_is_possum\" title=\"How do you know if a possum is possum?\">How do you know if a possum is possum?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-22\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/what-is-the-difference-between-a-possum-and-an-opossum-4\/#Why_do_we_call_opossums_possums\" title=\"Why do we call opossums possums?\">Why do we call opossums possums?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-23\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/what-is-the-difference-between-a-possum-and-an-opossum-4\/#Is_possum_and_opossum_the_same\" title=\"Is possum and opossum the same?\">Is possum and opossum the same?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-24\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/what-is-the-difference-between-a-possum-and-an-opossum-4\/#Is_the_o_pronounced_in_opossum\" title=\"Is the o pronounced in opossum?\">Is the o pronounced in opossum?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-25\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/what-is-the-difference-between-a-possum-and-an-opossum-4\/#Does_possum_have_a_silent_O\" title=\"Does possum have a silent O?\">Does possum have a silent O?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_the_difference_between_a_possum_and_an_opossum\"><\/span>What is the difference between a possum and an opossum?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Both possum and opossum correctly refer to the Virginia opossum frequently seen in North America. <b>In common use, possum is the usual term; in technical or scientific contexts opossum is preferred. Opossum can be pronounced with its first syllable either voiced or silent .<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_do_you_identify_a_possum\"><\/span>How do you identify a possum?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><b>Opossum Identification<\/b><\/p>\n<li>Color. White or gray.<\/li>\n<li>Legs.  <\/li>\n<li>Shape. Long and pointed face with round, hairless ears and rat-like tail.<\/li>\n<li>Size. Up to 40 inches in length, generally about the size of a house cat.<\/li>\n<li>Antennae. No.<\/li>\n<li>Region. Found in eastern, central and west coast regions of the U.S.<\/li>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Do_possums_bite_humans\"><\/span>Do possums bite humans?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Just like any scared animal, <b>it&#8217;s possible for opossums to bite in defense. If they feel cornered or threatened, opossums will use several escape strategies ranging from playing dead to hissing. Biting is rare, but people should avoid contact with all wild animals to eliminate the risk.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_does_a_raccoon_and_a_possum_look_like\"><\/span>What does a raccoon and a possum look like?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Raccoons are gray, black, brown, cinnamon, and albino in color, but they all tend to have a black or dark patch over their face that resembles a mask, and their noses are dark. Possums are white, gray, and black, and their faces tend to be white with a pink nose.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_a_possum_and_an_opossum_the_same_thing\"><\/span>Is a possum and an opossum the same thing?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><b>Both possum and opossum correctly refer to the Virginia opossum frequently seen in North America. In common use, possum is the usual term; in technical or scientific contexts opossum is preferred. Opossum can be pronounced with its first syllable either voiced or silent .<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_do_they_call_possum_opossum\"><\/span>Why do they call possum opossum?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Possums are native to Australia. <b>When English explorers first met the Australian creature, they thought it looked like the North American Opossum. As a result, they called it a possum and recorded the name like North Americans would pronounce it (without the O). Playing possum is an idiom for playing dead.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_the_O_silent_in_the_word_opossum\"><\/span>Is the O silent in the word opossum?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The O in opossum is spelled but not pronounced. <b>It is a silent letter, just like the H in the word honest. The articles a and an are correctly based on the first pronounced letter, not simply the first letter.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_there_a_difference_between_opossum_and_possum\"><\/span>Is there a difference between opossum and possum?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Both possum and opossum correctly refer to the Virginia opossum frequently seen in North America. <b>In common use, possum is the usual term; in technical or scientific contexts opossum is preferred. Opossum can be pronounced with its first syllable either voiced or silent . So cute.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_does_it_mean_when_you_see_a_possum\"><\/span>What does it mean when you see a possum?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>A possum encounter may be a sign that <b>you need to protect yourself and your family against bad energy or bad people who want to take advantage of you in some way. Spiritual practices such as prayer and meditation can sometimes provide significant protection.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_to_do_if_you_see_a_possum\"><\/span>What to do if you see a possum?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><b>Encourage them to leave by closing the doors to all rooms and opening the doors to the outside. Opossum are usually not aggressive, so you may be able to help them on their way by gently nudging them with a broom.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_it_a_rat_or_a_possum\"><\/span>Is it a rat or a possum?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><b>Rats have long hairless tail, while possums have long hairy tail with a bushy appearance. Usually, possums are nocturnal, but rats are both nocturnal and diurnal. Rats are always omnivorous, whereas possums are usually herbivores and opportunistic omnivores.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Will_possums_attack_you\"><\/span>Will possums attack you?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Generally, no opossums are not directly dangerous to people. When encountered directly, the creatures hiss and growl. <b>Opossum attacks are rare and unlikely. More commonly, the opossums pretend to be dead and emit an awful stench from their anal glands when frightened.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_happens_if_you_get_bit_by_a_possum\"><\/span>What happens if you get bit by a possum?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>You must wash the bite with soap and water thoroughly. Make sure that antiseptic is applied. If you begin to notice inflammation or swelling, you should seek medical help immediately. While opossums are not normally the carriers of rabies, it is possible that <b>you could become ill due to a bacterial infection<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_aggressive_is_a_possum\"><\/span>How aggressive is a possum?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Opossum are <b>not aggressive: their open-mouth, defensive hissing is merely a bluff to look vicious. And if that doesn&#8217;t work they play dead when really scared! If there is an opossum in the backyard, don&#8217;t worry. They aren&#8217;t a threat, and more than likely they will be moving on in a short while.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Do_possums_bite_hurt\"><\/span>Do possums bite hurt?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>While we don&#8217;t recommend getting bitten by any animals, opossums are some of the least dangerous and least intimidating critters you might encounter! Inch per inch, <b>their bites are much weaker than those of a domestic dog, and about a third as strong as a human.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_do_you_know_if_you_have_a_raccoon\"><\/span>How do you know if you have a raccoon?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><b>Opossum Identification<\/b><\/p>\n<li>Color. White or gray.<\/li>\n<li>Legs.  <\/li>\n<li>Shape. Long and pointed face with round, hairless ears and rat-like tail.<\/li>\n<li>Size. Up to 40 inches in length, generally about the size of a house cat.<\/li>\n<li>Antennae. No.<\/li>\n<li>Region. Found in eastern, central and west coast regions of the U.S.<\/li>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_does_it_mean_when_a_possum_comes_to_your_house\"><\/span>What does it mean when a possum comes to your house?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><b>Scratch marks and droppings left at the base of trees or woodpiles are also strong signs of raccoon activity. If these signs are undetected, look out for toppled garbage cans, trash strewn across your yard, low growls and shuffling noises as raccoons run along your roof or inside your walls.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_a_possum_look_like\"><\/span>What is a possum look like?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>A possum encounter may be a sign that <b>you need to protect yourself and your family against bad energy or bad people who want to take advantage of you in some way. Spiritual practices such as prayer and meditation can sometimes provide significant protection.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Are_opossums_and_possums_related\"><\/span>Are opossums and possums related?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Here&#8217;s a tip: <b>Opossums and possums are different animals. Opossums live in North and South America, while possums live in Australia and other countries. Both animals are marsupials, but possums are more closely related to kangaroos.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_is_there_an_O_in_opossum\"><\/span>Why is there an O in opossum?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Even though most North Americans don&#8217;t pronounce the O, possum is spelled opossum <b>because it is the official name for this American omnivore. As a result, you should use the official name opossum in formal writing. On the other hand, it&#8217;s okay to leave the O off for informal speech and text.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_do_you_know_if_a_possum_is_possum\"><\/span>How do you know if a possum is possum?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Ammonia<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_do_we_call_opossums_possums\"><\/span>Why do we call opossums possums?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Possums are native to Australia. <b>When English explorers first met the Australian creature, they thought it looked like the North American Opossum. As a result, they called it a possum and recorded the name like North Americans would pronounce it (without the O). Playing possum is an idiom for playing dead.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_possum_and_opossum_the_same\"><\/span>Is possum and opossum the same?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><b>Both possum and opossum correctly refer to the Virginia opossum frequently seen in North America. In common use, possum is the usual term; in technical or scientific contexts opossum is preferred. Opossum can be pronounced with its first syllable either voiced or silent . So cute.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_the_o_pronounced_in_opossum\"><\/span>Is the o pronounced in opossum?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><b>The O in opossum is spelled but not pronounced. It is a silent letter, just like the H in the word honest. The articles a and an are correctly based on the first pronounced letter, not simply the first letter.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Does_possum_have_a_silent_O\"><\/span>Does possum have a silent O?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Opossum,&#8217; O Lovely &#8216;Possum&#8217; Both possum and opossum correctly refer to the Virginia opossum frequently seen in North America. In common use, possum is the usual term; in technical or scientific contexts opossum is preferred. <b>Opossum can be pronounced with its first syllable either voiced or silent .<\/b><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Table of Contents What is the difference between a possum and an opossum?How do you identify a possum?Do possums bite humans?What does a raccoon and a possum look like?Is a possum and an opossum the same thing?Why do they call possum opossum?Is the O silent in the word opossum?Is there a difference between opossum and&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"spay_email":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[622],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-189123","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-pet-care"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/189123"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=189123"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/189123\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=189123"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=189123"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=189123"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}