Ologies with Alie Ward Opossumology (O/POSSUMS) with Lisa Walsh
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Sep 21, 2021 Lisa Walsh, a renowned opossumologist with a PhD, dives into the quirky world of opossums. She shares fascinating insights about their unique adaptations, including venom immunity and their notorious ability to play dead. Walsh debunks common misconceptions, explains the difference between opossums and possums, and discusses their surprising roles in ecosystems. The conversation is filled with humor, touching on everything from the best possum jokes to the realities of raising these marsupials as pets. Get ready to celebrate these misunderstood creatures!
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Opossum vs. Possum
- "Opossum" comes from an Algonquin word meaning "white animal".
- The British anglicized the name, later confusingly applying "possum" to similar Australian marsupials.
Roadkill Research
- Dr. Walsh's opossum research began with roadkill collection across Ohio and Michigan.
- Her initial interest was marine biology, but she switched to mammals for easier study.
Hay Bale Hitchhikers
- Opossums may have spread to new areas by hitching rides in hay bales.
- A fur trapper suggested this theory, and online pictures support it.