Possum vs. Opossum: What's the difference?
- smpoetry1216
- Oct 11
- 2 min read
Did you know that Opossum and Possum are actually two different animals? Most individuals use the words interchangeably; however, they are not the same thing.
So let's break it down and explore what's similar and what's different between these two fascinating animals.
Type: Marsupial (Pouch for babies)
Native Range: Native to North America, particularly in the US and southeastern Canada
Fur: Course Gray Fur
Size: Anywhere from 8 to 13 pounds and approximately 29 inches in length.
Diet: Omnivores, enjoying fruits and plants as well as carrion (dead animals), and small animals, they eat just about anything in their surroundings.
Tail: Long tails that have no fur.
Type: Marsupial (Pouch for babies)
Native Range: Native to Mesoamerica: Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica.
Fur: Thick, fluffy, reddish-brown, dark brown, and warm grey hues to their fur.
Size: Anywhere from less than an ounce to over 20 pounds and between 23 and 47 inches in length.
Diet: Mostly herbivorous, enjoying fruits, veggies, herbs, and leaves while occasionally snacking on bird eggs and small lizards.
Tail: Thick furry tails, almost resembling those of a squirrel.
Now, what do you do if you ever happen to cross paths with a possum or an opossum?
Don't handle them. Both possums and opposums can carry disease and parasites (fleas, mites, ticks, and lice).
Rabies Risk: While opposums are generally known to be all bark and no bite, 1-800 are affected by the rabies virus.
Possums are typically free from rabies, but that doesn't mean you can touch them.
They can also carry infectious diseases such as:
Chagas disease
Coccidiosis
Leptospirousis
Relapsing Fever
Salmonellosis
Spotted fever
Toxoplasmosis
Tuberculosis
Tularemia
And More
So while they are incredibly fascinating animals, it's best to admire these creatures from afar.