Most possums are active during the night although it's not uncommon to see possums out at night sometimes especially during winter months.
Opossums are members of the marsupial order Didelphimorphia endemic to the Americas.
The largest order of marsupials in the Western Hemisphere, it comprises 120+ species in 19 genera.
Possums are not aggressive: their open-mouth, defensive hissing is merely a bluff to look vicious.
And if that doesn't work they play dead when really scared! If there is an opossum in the backyard, don't worry.
They aren't a threat, and more than likely they will be moving on in a short while.
Just like any scared animal, it'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.
The possum has a furry tail, while the opossum has a bare tail.
One key difference between the possum and the opossum is their tails.
A possum's tail is thick and furry, much like that of a squirrel.
The name of one of the most widespread possum species–the common brushtail possum–highlights this feature.