FWC: Florida Opossums Eat A Lot of Pests You Don’t Want In Your Yard

By  //  November 2, 2015

Of South American ancestry

OPOSSUM-FULL
Opossums can be found throughout North America, but are considered an invasive species in place such as Southern Ontario and British Columbia. (MyFWC image)

Did you know that opossums are immune to the venom of rattlesnake, copperhead and cottonmouth bites?

Plus they eat a lot of pests you don’t want in your yard.

The opossums make up the largest order of marsupials in the Western Hemisphere, including 103 or more species in 19 genera.

Of South American ancestry, they entered North America following the connection of the two continents.

Their unspecialized biology, flexible diet, and reproductive habits make them successful colonizers and survivors in diverse locations and conditions.

Opossums can be found throughout North America, but are considered an invasive species in place such as Southern Ontario and British Columbia.

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This is how baby Benjamin Button looked when he arrived at Busch Wildlife Sanctuary. (MyFWC image)
This is how baby Benjamin Button looked when he arrived at Busch Wildlife Sanctuary. Benjamin became an animal ambassador of the Busch Wildlife Sanctuary after surviving exposure to some type of chemical that sadly killed his mother and caused little Benjamin to lose his fur. The Sanctuary’s wildlife hospital treats hundreds of opossums each year. One of the most common cases is collisions with automobiles. Many are mothers with premature babies developing in the pouch. Opossums don’t move very fast to begin with and mothers weighed down by young in their pouch are even more at risk. Female opossums carry their babies around with them for as long as four months. (MyFWC image)
This fellow, Benjamin Button, became an animal ambassador of the Busch Wildlife Sanctuary after surviving exposure to some type of chemical that sadly killed his mother and caused little Benjamin to lose his fur. The Sanctuary’s wildlife hospital treats hundreds of opossums each year. One of the most common cases is collisions with automobiles. Many are mothers with premature babies developing in the pouch. Opossums don’t move very fast to begin with and mothers weighed down by young in their pouch are even more at risk. Female opossums carry their babies around with them for as long as four months. (MyFWC image)
This fellow, Benjamin Button, became an animal ambassador of the Busch Wildlife Sanctuary after surviving exposure to some type of chemical that sadly killed his mother and caused little Benjamin to lose his fur. The Sanctuary’s wildlife hospital treats hundreds of opossums each year. One of the most common cases is collisions with automobiles. Many are mothers with premature babies developing in the pouch. Opossums don’t move very fast to begin with and mothers weighed down by young in their pouch are even more at risk. Female opossums carry their babies around with them for as long as four months. (MyFWC image)
OPOSSUM-FULL-3
Opossums can be found throughout North America, but are considered an invasive species in place such as Southern Ontario and British Columbia. (MyFWC image)