In another guest post from Cheryl Meyer-Conley at the TWRC we learn that a little about the opossum. TWRC Wildlife Center offers several Summer Camps for young people and welcomes volunteers age 15 and over. The next Volunteer Orientation is June 22. Visit www.twrcwildlifecenter.org for more information.
One of the most misunderstood animals we see in our yards is the Virginia opossum. Here are the facts:
- *Opossums don’t dig, destroy property or spray.
- *Due to a very low body temperature, they do not host the rabies virus.
- *Opossums eat almost anything including roaches and venomous snakes. Their blood contains a chemical that fights off the worst effects of the venom.
- *When confronted they will hiss, show their teeth and drool. When these tactics don’t work, they may faint or play dead.
- *They are nocturnal but it is possible to see them during the day looking for food.
- *It is estimated that the opossum has been around for nearly 70 million years.
- *The opossum is a marsupial carrying its young in a pouch like a kangaroo.
For more information on native Texas wildlife, contact TWRC Wildlife Center at 713-468-8972 or visit our website at www.twrcwildlifecenter.org.