Land of the Opossum

[BG7774]

@shannonm75 You're right they do use their tail for holding on to help balance, or to keep from being pulled out of cages and traps, also they gather leaves and brush to make their nest for the winter. The tail is all muscle, just not strong enough to support their body weight.

[orlasark]

This is cool. Thanks for posting it. I thought opossums were scary till I saw a baby and held it. Check out my 6 year old with it on Orla's Ark 3. orlasark . com

[BG7774]

South American opossums may carry Chagas’ disease. This disease has not been documented in the United States, with only three cases suspected in from South America. The Virginia opossum is not infected with this disease because and not to be confused with South America. Another disease that people think wrongly of when dealing with the opossum is rabies. The opossum is highly resistant to rabies and therefore very rarely carry the disease if ever. Carl Simon, DVM USC

[BG7774]

Anyone needed information about wildlife or the opossum, post to me here and I'll be happy to send you correct data. Wofford1985, has done a great job with this video.

[BG7774]

Unfortunately there is a lot of misinformation on the internet, mostly posted by pest control companies who want to scare people into using their services. They will post of horrible parasites and diseases different wildlife carry so they can boost their services. However sad, mis-information is out there in bulk. Dr. William Boland, DVM

[BG7774]

Q&A...Can an opossum pass any diseases on to me, my kids or pets. Answer:

NO, an opossum cannot transmit diseases to you or your pets, because it has a lower body temperature. The germs that would live in an opossum wouldn't live in you or a dog or cat. Univeristy of Michigan

[BG7774]

South American opossums may carry Chagas’ disease. This disease has not been documented in the United States, with only three cases suspected in from South America. The Virginia opossum is not infected with this disease because and not to be confused with South America. Another disease that people think wrongly of when dealing with the opossum is rabies. The opossum is highly resistant to rabies and therefore very rarely carry the disease if ever. Carl Simon, DVM USC

[BG7774]

Opossum Diseases: Opossums have a spectacular immune system, and a lower than average body temperature. This means that they don't carry the standard zoonotic diseases that other animals might carry. Although an opossum might get rabies, it's very unlikely. Opossums can carry fleas and other parasites, but they are not diseases. To sum it up with the Virginia Opossum, they are one of the safe animals in the wild to have around. US Fish & Game 2009

[BG7774]

A zoonotic diseases is a diseased passed between animals and humans. There are diseases you can get from any animal, including pets, however some carry no more than parasites. As mentioned in the question and answer above, rabies or any other disease is extremely rare and for the most part "non exsistant" in the American opossum. Many confuse some diseases such as leptospirosis etc with opossums in other countries, which are different than the north american opossum.

Dr. Lewis Harris DVM

[BG7774]

@couchfighter they can try and hold with their tails but they don't hang by them. They cannot support their weight, they use them in the same mannor as monkeys...for balance and climbing...gathering their bedding. I've rehabbed them for over 15 years and tried to see if they'd hang, they won't. The one you saw may have been trying to break the fall and hold but it's impossible for them to hang more than a few seconds at most.

[glamorousglow]

:))

[KumanekoRose]

what is the point of having more babies than milk sources? do they eat the rest? lol

^^ serious question though

[BG7774]

@KumanekoRose no they die...not sure why nature plans it that way. I rehab them and the largest litter I've had with a mom is 12 but they have 13 teats and they're in a circle.  Babies don't really suckle, the teat goes down their throat and they have a vapor lock on her, milk is more or less pumped to them.

[missrani125]

awww I love me some possums an even better a cute southern boy who appreciates nature!

[lovethe1wolves]

Thank you for appreciating your opossum neighbors.

[JSandKB]

opossums are beautiful creatures!

[lauraalittle]

I like your attitude! Yes, nature is all around us, even in the city, and it's glorious to see the natural world so well appreciated. And I also thoroughly agree -- you found a beautiful 'possum. Thanks for sharing!

[arnoldnavarro21]

wtf man??? you got some mtherfucking testicals :D but i guess there not so bad huh i never looked into them and always thought they were rodents thanks for the info :)

[Bladerunner55217]

Nice video man.. Your right we have a tiny 10 feet wide and about 100 yards long of eucalyptus trees and pine trees and low bushes along a housing track and we have opossums , Raccoons , wild cats , skunks and thats out here in the desert of southern California.

[vigo894]

Two nights in a row, my house has been vissited by one of them. I tried videotaping it, so I can put it on YouTube. It climbed up onto my roof and vanished. I hope that it comes back tonight.

[BG7774]

@vigo894 They're very good to have around, they'll rid your property of mice and snakes. They don't carry rabies as their body temp is too low....94 degrees, too low for virus's to incubate. I rehab them and very timid animals. Catch them in the wild all the time, never used gloves.

[extramural]

Good vid Woffford. Your bloods worth bottling. Wildlife needs all the help it can get. In Tasmania Australia the Tasmanian Devil will be extinct within 5 years and the Australians know nothing as they are only now finding out about their habits and spending all the research money that's was given to find a cure for the facial tumors, on discovering what they should already know. One Million Wallabies were shot in one year as they destroy their habitat due to logging.

[TheCourtnie]

I <3 Opossums!

[MasPoochie]

Good job, I enjoyed the video!

[WalksWithJesusChrist]

No. Land Of the Possum is North Carolina. Y'all ain't got no mountains. =)

[BG7774]

@WalksWithJesusChrist I rehab in Charleston, SC... we see twice the amount as rehabbers in NC and actually take some of their in each season. I handle over 400 a year.

[warrkrymez]

13 is a lucky number. First time I've seen the pouch.

[ahioud]

sweet! I learned something today

[063637981]

You are very good with explaining this to everyone. We love opossums; they are beautiful. It is too bad that some people do not try to understand our wild animals. We have them come out at night for bread, grapes, nuts, apples, meat, etc. They love just about anything. We do feed them, but do not pet them! They are very afraid of you and don't want any trouble, so leave them alone. We have seen babies as well as the adults.

[banrepguy]

this guy was prett good. he should be on animal planet or something!

[bunnykins110P]

I have to agree with the most of the other comments here that says how nice you are to watch and listen to. Very eduactional and your charisma and great personality comes through even on a video, now that is a gift that not to many people have. Yes, you should have your own show, I know that I would watch it and probably so would all my friends. keep up the great work.

[Glo7x]

Such a misunderstood but wonderful animal. I wish more people knew how beneficial they were and hopefully this video will help.

[AlienfaceBiliRubin]

Opposums rule

[polwygle]

You should continue the series!

[steveoso1]

educational, entertaining

you should try and get your own show, man.

[kn3000gtsl]

Awesome vid! Thanks for posting.

I love opossums <3 We have a bunch here in Greeneville, TN. Unfortunately, that means a lot end up in the road x_x

[mamaloochie]

ur really good u should do a few animals then send it to a tv channel and see if u get ur own show ..keep up the good job

[oddguy314]

They are so ugly its cute. I have one living under my house. We leave pinut butter for him. I knew nothing about them but read a lot on the net - seems they are quite useful. Very docile, never make a sound. They are clean. And best of all I have no rats or mice since this guy moved under my house.

[CAPISTRANTOMAS]

POSSUM NEVER GET RABIES because are animals of very cold blood. They coming from Dinosaurs times.

The POSSUMS are kind, fantastic and marvelous animals. GOD did a great masterpiece with POSSUM.

YOUTUBE CAPISTRANTOMAS

[ancestralblue]

I have an opossum living in my backyard and a very big cat who frequents that part of the yard.. The cat runs the other way when he sees the opossum coming toward him, but, he does like to watch him from a distance. I know that dogs are a real threat to the opossum. Mine are not allowed in that part of the yard. And they generally won't fight. They "play possum."

[elsoda]

DEAR handsome ryan,

if i wouldve know all this great info you have just provided two weeks ago, i would have never call the landlord who then called an exterminator who came over and exterminated two babies opossum that were in my terrace...

[HTFFanOfFlaky]

possums are helpful. they get rid of bugs that could harm our food.

[w1ngs033]

I love the mentality you have for animals. Possums certainly are wonderful creatures. So many people nowadays are starting to lose their interest in nature and wildlife and becoming more and more absorbed in the artificial things in life. So, thank you.

[dmix09]

i just caught a possum literally 10 minutes ago, and it did the same exact thing-- same expression and drooled on my foot [nasty] lol

but then i felt bad and gave it dinner leftovers lol

[ConradJacob]

i think they're rather funny animals :)

[K2Tanner]

Wow dude, you got some balls. I was just taking pictures of one in my yard but i wouldn't touch the thing because I'm scared of rabies.

[mielazul]

opossum's have a low body temperature that prevents them from getting rabies. That's what I've heard, anyway, and I hope it's true, because I frequently pet opossums. I used to think they were ugly, now I love them.

[surfamber2897]

that was actually really intresting

[jahomel]

I was just viewing some videos about Opossums and was surprised to come upon one from Greenville. You should really think about doing this for a living. I really enjoyed your video, keep it up.

Easley, SC

[cannonballs691]

verry cool vid , i have an opossum , and from what i can tell you got the goods on them , great job bud !

[dlopez8a]

Excellent video Ryan...

Now lets go flying and see if we can find some of those elusive flying bats.

[Wofford1985]

Haha, great to hear from you Carey! I'll try to post a few more soon!

[blowgunking1994]

@Wofford1985 Is that a wild opossum, or a pet one

[Wofford1985]

@blowgunking1994 Wild

[tcmerritt]

Way to go Ryan. I've got everyone down here in Jax and from Albany, NY to Milwaukee to Seattle watching this. How many more varmits have turned themselves into you?

Uncle Carey

[synthflickan]

Hahah that was excellent!

[VideoEnthusiast1]

What an awesome video about possums. I really enjoyed it. Keep up the good work.

[danrushbmx]

hahahahahahah.....i didn't know you were so knowledgable of opossums ryan

[rrrjwoff]

Excellent video by a true animal lover. Keep those fingers away from those teeth.