Text and photo by Paula Dittrick, TMNCPC blogmaster
Opossums typically roam at night, and many people often do not realize their presence in urban backyards. Their presence is a positive sign for healthy ecosystems just as the presence of snakes is a positive sign.
The diet of opossums consists of ticks, roaches, and rats, among other things. Opossums groom themselves, licking off any ticks and swallowing them. This reduces the incidents of Lyme disease to humans.
“Opossums are so effective in their grooming habits that they are thought to kill 83-96% of all ticks that latch on to them, making a significant contribution to [tick] control,” said the Insect Cop web site. “Having plenty of opossums around can…help to reduce bites and incidents of Lyme disease in your area, making your yard a safer (and more pleasant) place to be.
Frogs, lizards, woodpeckers, and fire ants also eat ticks. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently noted that snakes eat rodents, also helping reduce the incidents of Lyme disease to humans.
“While tick populations have exploded in certain parts of the U.S., posing a threat to human health, snakes can help control spread of this troubling disease by eating tick-infested and Lyme-positive rodents,” FWS said in a Facebook posting recognizing World Snake Day.