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I used to be disgusted by Opossums but after learning a bit about them I've decided to leave them alone.
1. Opossums don't really get rabies. Although theoretically any mammal can contract the rabies virus, opossums seem somehow immune to it. It's not really ever documented in the North American Virginia Opossum (the only possum that lives in the USA). This is thought to be because the possum has a below-average body temperature, in which the rabies virus has difficulty thriving.
2. They are a large part of the wild lands "clean up crew". Opossums eat dead animals, insects, rodents and birds. They also feed on eggs, frogs, plants, fruits and grain. Opossums also eat the skeletal remains of rodents and roadkill animals. They will also eat dog food, cat food and human food waste.
3. They are immune to many snake venom's. New research shows that the marsupials might be the key to developing an antivenom that could not only save people from snake bites but from attacks by scorpions and from plant and bacterial toxins as well.
4. (And the #1 reasons I like em around) Opossums are also notable for their ability to clean themselves of ticks, which they then eat. Some estimates suggest they can eliminate up to 5,000 ticks in a season.
Opossums are so often misunderstood but they are great creatures to have around. They’re docile and unlikely to threaten pets or carry disease. It was once believed that they ate ticks, but that has since been disproved. Opossums do eat insects, rodents, and dead animals, so they aren't a bad...
www.farmersalmanac.com
en.wikipedia.org
...
That's right, opossums. Tests show that their superpower to resist snake venom could be harnessed to save thousands of lives.
www.cnet.com