Is it 'possum' or 'opossum'? Find out more about these helpful critters!

Patty Spitler was joined by News 8’s Pam Elliot and Amazon John and Meerkat Mel from Silly Safaris to learn all about a helpful marsupial. John and Mel joined the show to set the record straight about one commonly misunderstood animal: the opossum.

To help demonstrate, opossums Jenny, Flora, and Fauna tagged along.

The animal is technically a Virginia opossum — and yes, the “O” is silent, like in “swimming pool,” as John is quick to point out. In South America, where dozens of other possum species exist, the “O” was dropped to account for the variety. But in North America, there is only one: the Virginia opossum, the continent’s sole native marsupial — a pouched mammal, like a kangaroo or wallaby.

While Jenny is an adult, Flora and Fauna are just 7 to 8 weeks old. They may look a little scrappy, but they come loaded with some remarkable natural defenses.

Ticks are spread by rodents and other small mammals. The Safari folks say by keeping the rodent population in check, opossums indirectly help reduce tick exposure. They also eat other insects and pose no threat to chickens, farm animals, or household pets.

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