Beautiful sunshine illuminates the day, while and ominous horizon hint at the storm ahead. A breathtaking contrast between light and darkness, peace and uncertainty!
Opossums are among the most unfairly maligned animals in North America. Their nocturnal habits, hissing, and toothy displays often lead people to view them as pests or threats. In reality, these quiet marsupials provide some of the most valuable services in urban and suburban ecosystems.
Contrary to popular belief, opossums very rarely carry or transmit rabies. Their lower body temperature makes it difficult for the virus to survive, making cases extremely uncommon.
They are also highly effective pest controllers. A single opossum can consume thousands of ticks per season, helping reduce the spread of dangerous tick-borne illnesses like Lyme disease. Beyond ticks, they act as nature’s sanitation workers, scavenging on carrion, insects, fallen fruit, and organic waste. This cleanup work helps limit bacteria and disease while keeping ecosystems balanced.
Their dramatic defensive displays, hissing, baring teeth, and even “playing dead” with a foul odor, are mostly bluffs designed to deter predators rather than signs of aggression.
Far from being a nuisance, opossums are beneficial neighbors quietly doing the dirty work that keeps our environment cleaner and healthier. The next time you spot one, there’s no need to fear or harm it, just let it continue its important nighttime duties.
Service may come to an end, but our commitment to those who have served does not.
This Remembrance season, we honour those who gave their lives, recognise those who served alongside them, and stand with the veterans and families who carry their legacy forward.
At Veterans’ Foundation, we’re proud to back the organisations providing meaningful support to the Armed Forces Community across the UK.
We remember. We recognise. We stand together. ❤️
They did not choose to serve. They did not understand the conflicts into which they had been drawn. They simply gave everything that was asked of them. 💜