Why Opossums are awesome

The title of this post is fairly vague — I mean, where to begin?!?! Our virtues are limitless. However, let's take a quick moment to focus on our eco-friendliness, our sweet nature, and also the features that make us ideal neighbors to welcome into your gardens, yards, and hearts. Today's content comes from Northern Oaks Bird & Animal Hospital, who did such a lovely job articulating our goodness that I've shared their text virtually unchanged. Of course, I had to sprinkle a few opossums around to jazz it up a bit. Head on over to their Facebook page for more wonderful content, including images and stories about their patients! xo Starry
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If you prefer a cut & paste version, see below!

"Opossums are harmless, timid, docile creatures. They hiss for protection because their eyesight is poor. They freeze or “play opossum” when confronted with danger because they have no means to fight. When you see these critters, leave them be.
A few facts:
1. Opossums are not rabies vectors because of their decreased body temperature.
2. They eat insects, acorns, ticks (very efficiently!), overripe vegetation, and occasionally, tiny vermin. They do not attack cats, dogs, chickens, etc, and are excellent disease control for Lyme, Ehrlichia, and any other tick-borne diseases.
3. They do not tip trash cans or destroy gardens. They clean up what other predators leave behind, but often get the blame.
4. They will never offensively attack or bite. They are completely avoidant of interaction and will hiss, growl, involuntarily faint or, like all animals, bite defensively when cornered.
5. They are a carrier for sarcocystis, the Protozoa causing Equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM). All horse feed and hay should be kept off the ground and covered. A devastating disease, and treatable if diagnosed early, less than 1% of healthy exposed horses will progress to disease.
6. They are resistant/somewhat immune to toxic snake bites and will kill them if encountered, out of defense. They perform natural pest control!" Text courtesy of our friends at Northern Oaks Bird & Animal Hospital.