I was caught helping to perpetuate a myth
By Scar D. Cat
@Scarred4Lyfe (613)
October 10, 2024 6:01pm CST
Said myth being that possums eat hundreds/thousands of ticks weekly.
The truth?
A 2021 study that analyzed stomach content of 32 Virginia Opossums (the only type in the US) in central Illinois found no traces of ticks or tick parts.
There are a few dozen other papers about opossum dietary habits - none of which found any ticks in the stomachs.
So, in conclusion:
A - They don't eat ticks
B - They are still ugly
https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/good-growing/2024-06-14-reassessing-opossum-tick-relationship-it-good-idea-attract-opossums
15 people like this
15 responses
@JudyEv (342037)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Oct
@Scarred4Lyfe We have two species - ringtail and brushtail - both based on their tails, as you might imagine.
2 people like this
@Scarred4Lyfe (613)
•
11 Oct
I think ours got their name from surprised people yelling "Oh! Possum!" 
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (38671)
•
11 Oct
I have to agree on them being ugly. They truly are.
Weird that all we've heard about ''don't hurt the possums, they eat ticks'' is untrue, for sure.
3 people like this
@Scarred4Lyfe (613)
•
11 Oct
I was actually looking for proof that it was true - surprised the hell out of me.
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (38671)
•
11 Oct
@Scarred4Lyfe
I had never heard that it wasn’t true. I even heard a fellow talk about how they ate ticks, he worked in a wildlife refuge.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (160940)
• United States
11 Oct
They are cute in their own ugly way. Hubby likes them.
3 people like this
@BarBaraPrz (47657)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
11 Oct
Well, I think they're cute. And maybe the ticks get digested really fast.
3 people like this
@vandana7 (100609)
• India
13 Oct
@Scarred4Lyfe English question...can you help
When is it right to use I, and when it is right to use Me...I am forever confused...
2 people like this
@Scarred4Lyfe (613)
•
13 Oct
@vandana7 I caught me, but never me caught I.
The Netweb says:
"I" is the subject of a sentence, while "me" is the object, meaning that you should use "I" if you are the one acting, while "me" is the word to use when an action is done to you.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (108071)
• Marion, Ohio
11 Oct
I heard there eat the ones that get on them but that is all. And they are ugly.
3 people like this
@RasmaSandra (80708)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
11 Oct
I think the opossum that visits me at night is adorable, As far as diet goes he enjoys all kinds of meat, cheese, and potatoes if I have the leftovers and will occasionally accept a sausage,
2 people like this
@LindaOHio (181578)
• United States
11 Oct
I'm sure they eat other nasty things for us. They aren't ugly...they are so ugly they're cute. Have a good weekend.
2 people like this
@Scarred4Lyfe (613)
•
11 Oct
This one is so young that it isn't much bigger than a fat squirrel.
2 people like this
@somewitch (1417)
•
11 Oct
What are you going to do with all the bags of ticks you collected for the 'possums now? 
Well, ugly... maybe. Rats are prettier.
Well, ugly... maybe. Rats are prettier.2 people like this
