Opossum or possum is a small mammal belonging to the order Didelphimorphia. It is a marsupial, and that is why it is related to kangaroos and koalas. There are over 60 species of opossum.
Virginia Opossum is the only endemic marsupial in North America. Opossums are now found in all of the United States as well as in Canada and Mexico.
It is a solitary, nocturnal animal. It is omnivorous, eats insects, snails, rodents, fruits, grass, snakes, eggs, etc. Although it adapts easily to different environments, it feels familiar on trees, where it uses its tail for stability when climbing. It typically lives 2 to 4 years. If it confronts a predator, then sometimes to escape, it remains completely motionless.
Researches have proven that it's likely that opossums might be the answer to Lyme disease.
Lyme disease can be transmitted to humans from deers. Since 1982, more than 100,000 cases of this rare disease have been reported in the United States, where deer often "visit" residential areas. The disease is transmitted through ticks, which especially love the deer with the whitetail. If left untreated, it can lead to arthritis and possibly facial paralysis or heart failure.
Mild winters can trigger an increase in tick population in the summer, and this is stressful for anyone who loves outdoor activities, as it can cause the rapid spread of Lyme disease.
Although some recommend the "scientific" way of spraying for ticks in your yard, opossums could be the natural solution to warding off ticks. According to a study broadcasted in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B, opossums can kill almost 90 percent of the ticks that try to attach and feed on them.
The study notes opossums are extremely good at grooming themselves, which leads them to eat most of the ticks that attach themselves.
Another study conducted by the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies proves that a single opossum can kill over 5500 ticks per week. That's why their role is indeterminate on the Lyme Disease infection rates.
"They're net destroyers of ticks," Cary Institute researcher Richard Ostfeld said to newstimes.com.
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