The opossum is of great importance in maintaining a healthy, balanced, and naturally cleaner neighborhood. The Opossum equalizes the populations of other wild life (rats, cockroaches) naturally with no human or chemical deterrents required.
In southeast Michigan believe it or not spring will be here soon. With the arrival of spring, animals that hibernate or become more inactive in winter like the opossum, will be a part of everyday life in the city again.
With more teeth than any other land mammal the shy opossum is often misunderstood. Human urban dwellers sometimes fail to recognize this little animal as one of nature's soldiers in the battle for a healthy environment. Berkley, Royal Oak, Ferndale, Detroit, Highland Park and other local cities and towns plagued by rats, insects (including cockroaches), and debris can benefit from some possum residents. Possums eat anything that is in a state of decomposition, including "food" that any other animal will ignore or cannot eat.
Opossum pros:
- Possums are direct competition for rats, mice, and insects. They eat the same food supply. So if rats, mice, and insects do well in a particular area, so will an opossum. Possums can and do thrive in the metro-Detroit area.
- Possums catch and eat rats and mice.
- Possums have a naturally high tolerance to disease. They are, for example, the most resistant to rabies of any mammal.
- Opossums are quiet and usually keep to themselves. They do not "attack" or otherwise seek out danger.
- According to ScienceDaily.com, the possum is an ancient animal - with fossil records back to the time of the dinosaurs. The opossum is shedding light on DNA and is a valuable aid in researching a wide variety of diseases - heart disease, skin cancer, spinal cord injury and repair. The opossum is also beneficial in better understanding fetal development.
- Possums, unlike other urban wildlife, do not dig. A possum den is usually an abandoned hole from another animal.
Opossum cons:
- The possum can be a small nuisance to homeowners. Usually, just providing them an alternative with a little noise or light deterrent discourages bad habits while promoting good ones.
- Possums do carry fleas.
- Possums may bite if an attempt is made to pick one up.
Possums are at the end of the day a wild animal and should be treated as such. Opossums need to remain a part of our diverse eco-system in the suburbs, city, and rural areas.
Comments