MURINE TYPHUS ANOTHER ATTEMPT TO BLAME A PROBLEM SOLELY ON THE OPOSSUM - Opossum Society of the ...
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Winter 2019
MURINE TYPHUS
ANOTHER ATTEMPT TO BLAME A PROBLEM SOLELY ON THE OPOSSUM
During the week of October 13, 2018 in
“Flea poop and opossums are causing a Typhus outbreak in L.A.” Daily Beast
southern California we all awoke to the
https://www.thedailybeast.com/flea-poop-and-opossums-are-causing-a-typhus-outbreak-in-la
same frenzied story from newspapers on “Possums Likely Culprit as ‘Niche Disease’ Appears in SoCal Communities”, NBC news
our doorstep, TV and online. Opossums https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/Possums-Likely-Culprit-as-Niche-Disease-Appears-in-
were to blame for the current typhus SoCal-Communities-295251451.html
outbreak (formerly known as murine “Opossums Invading American Cities, Sparking Typhus Fever Outbreak” Inside Edition
typhus). https://www.insideedition.com/opossums-invading-american-cities-sparking-typhus-fever-
outbreak-47903
The headlines included a side article More newspapers headlining the opossum as the culprit for typhus could be found in the Los
Angeles Times, Long Beach Press Telegram, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, The Orange County
about a man who suffered from typhus
Register, along with others.
for weeks without his doctors being able
to help him. He credits his Blue Shield 65 typhus. A proper regime of antibiotics their pets for fleas and put away trash
Plus HMO health insurance company for brought him back from the brink. that may attract infected animals but
allowing him to be referred to HealthCare have done little to control the homeless
Partners Medical Group’s infectious For those of you who don’t know, Typhus populations of people crowding the
disease specialist in Pasadena who is distinct from typhoid fever, a foodborne sidewalks and bike paths of Los Angeles,
properly tested and diagnosed him with illness that is rarely contracted within the Long Beach and Pasadena. Los Angeles,
United States and can be spread Long Beach and Pasadena have the
from person to person. Typhus, highest concentrations of homeless
by contrast, cannot be passed encampments and coincidentally, the
between people. highest amounts of reported typhus.
Typhus outbreaks are often Typhus spreads when fleas become
associated with poor hygiene infected with bacteria known as Rickettsia
and overcrowding. Los Angeles typhi (R. typhi) or Rickettsia felis (R. felis).
officials say they’re corralling The illness reaches humans when fleas
stray animals that could carry bite them or when infected flea feces are
fleas, cleaning streets and rubbed into cuts or scrapes in the skin,
encouraging people to treat
Continued on page 6
Inside This Issue
Mail Pouch........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... Page 2
Changes to the OSUS website...................................................................................................................................................................................................... Page 5
Using Cat Litter Boxes...................................................................................................................................................................................................................... Page 8
OSUS Member in the News............................................................................................................................................................................................................ Page 9
V i s i t O S U S a t w w w . o p o s s u m s o c i e t y u s . o r g
We are all outraged at the stupidity when I get home.
of the health department and
don’t want the opossum to suffer From what I read it seams like
because of this ruling. some moistened cat chow and a
shallow water dish will work for
Thank you, now.
Madeline Libre, Licensed Any guidance would be
Rehabilitator and opossum lover. appreciated of where I can take
them for rehabilitation if needed.
Q The Virginia Department
of Game & Inland Fisheries
is adding opossums to its list of
A Hi Madeline,
I just had another wildlife
There eyes are open and they
seem to be about 4-5” long.
Rabies Vector Species (RVS). Do rehabilitator in Virginia ask us
you have any hard data we can the same question. I would advise Justin
provide them about why opossums them to look at their own statistics
don’t carry rabies and should not which show that opossums are not
be considered an RVS? a concern; horses have had more
Carolyn Wilder cases of rabies than opossums.
President, Wildlife Rescue League
See for yourself:
A I would recommend them
looking at their own state’s
hard data on the Virginia
http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/
environmental-epidemiology/
Department of Health website. rabies-control/rabies-statistics/
The website shows in 19 years of
collected data only four cases of
rabies was reported in possums;
I think that if they wish to add
more species to their RVS list,
A Return to our website and
look under How To Locate a
Wildlife Rehabilitator Near You. In
they had more reported rabies in there’s a lot more animals that the meantime, I will send you the
horses. should be in line ahead of the Orphan Care Diet to sustain them
opossum. until you can get help.
http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/ Leslie Bale
environmental-epidemiology/ Leslie
President
rabies-control/rabies-statistics/
Q
Opossum Society of the United Pls Help: need detail recipe
Leslie States for MBD. Recommended diet
Q The health department in
the state of Virginia has just
Q Hello, I am a landlord and
my tenant called me this
morning and said there was a
high quality dog/cat chow-what
I’m I to look for on ingredient
label? Any advz would be greatly
put the opossum on the RVS list. dead opossum and that rats were appreciate. The osos 90:10 : are
I am looking for any information eating it. This was 10 am. I was the ingredients blended or alone.
on the matter. I have been doing scared at first because if rats were
opossums for some years and out during the day and eating a any help would be greatly
have never had a case of rabies. dead carcass, then I had bigger appreciated-
If you have any stats, articles or problems. Turned out to be baby
information to helps us change opossums atop their dead mother; thk-you,
this matter please forward to me. 3 dead, but 6 alive. I have them
in a bucket now with some wood carol
chips. I will throw a couple rads in
Continued on page 3
2 OSUS
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If you are thinking of creating a
MAIL POUCH continued from page 2 club for your campus during your
studies, you would need to check
A Hi Carol,
It sounds like you’ve
the recovery time.
Leslie
with administration as to what
needs to be done to get approval.
After approval has been given, or
already read our article on our maybe as part of the approval
website about MBD https://
opossumsocietyus.org/metabolic-
bone-disease-mbd and you have
Q I love the work that you all are
doing to help the opossums
and spread awareness on their
process, you will need to find
out the student interest in your
campus club. Pick a meeting place
a copy of our 90/10 diet. place on our Earth. I’ve always felt and put out flyers or information
really strongly about opossums to students online as to who might
I offer the ingredients unblended; and have recently thought about be interested. Biology students,
placing the 10% supplemental starting an organization similar vet students, agriculture studies
food atop the dog chow. Some to this at my university. I was might be prime targets.
people find the opossums are wondering what the reception is
more inclined to eat if they like in your communities about Once you find out the interest level,
moisten the chow and blend it what you all are doing, and any ask if a local wildlife rehabilitation
with the vegetables. Softening the tips on starting a community of organization would have someone
chow by soaking, then draining opossum lovers at my school. who could talk about opossums,
the excess water, is recommended check by county here:
for serious MBD cases as their
teeth will be loose. Chop the fruit
and vegetables finer and blend all
A Our reception in
community varies on the
people attending our education
the
https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/
conservation/laboratories/
together with the soaked chow if presentations. I would say wildlife-investigations/rehab/
their teeth are loose. universally their minds are facilities
changed once they are given some
All dog and cat food sold in the U.S. background on opossums. I know my biology teacher at
is nutritionally balanced; for dogs university let me come back each
and cats. Most kibble is around We are a non-profit public semester and guest speak on
18% protein. Choose a kibble with education corporation; lots of opossums until he retired.
the highest protein level for the annual paperwork to keep that
opossum. Sometimes you can find status in California. Thank you for being interested in
brands with 25% protein listed, opossums.
choose that one.
Serving portions for Juveniles and Adults Leslie Bale
As our article states, you
must feed a good diet,
supplemented with calcium
(see the 90/10 diet for
For 1 juvenile opossum: 1 – 3 Tbsp of mixture
For 1 adult opossum: 1/4 to 3/4 cup of mixture Q There was animal abuse of a
possum. I contacted an animal
control officer and told them what
Always have a bowl of dry kibble available.
instructions) for as long as happened basically and he didn’t
the opossum was fed a wrong When opossums are placed in outdoors runs, seem to care and they told me is
diet. only offer bowl of kibble + mixture in the that more than likely no charges
evening. will be filed but the abuse is so bad
If you are versed in Adult opossums can be fed dry dog food (90%) I think they need to be. Can I file
homeopathics, I can give you with supplements including sardines (to add charges on my own because of the
information on how to treat Taurine) eggs, vegetables, fruit, other fish (with abuse? I’m not sure because it’s a
an opossum homeopathically bone), chicken bones, etc. wildlife animal and I don’t own it
for MBD, which would halve NOT TO EXCEED 10% of the diet.
Continued on page 4
3 OSUS
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such a creature; I also wonder if
MAIL POUCH continued from page 3 there’s programming opportunity
to get people who are friends of
but something needs to be done The FBI is mandating all police wildlife to actively cohabitate. I do
about it. They are getting off with agencies to notify them of animal NOT want an animal such as this
a slap on the wrist. cruelty cases. for a pet, but rather am interested
https://www.fbi.gov/news/ in permaculture and urban
Jailey wildlife adaptations. I’d like to be
stories/-tracking-animal-cruelty
on the forefront of neighborhood
A I am sorry you are getting the
runaround.
I don’t know what state you live
in, but in California, the city of Los
Angeles even created an Animal
animal accommodation efforts,
and think this is a great animal to
begin with, especially due to the
It is not up to Animal Control Cruelty Task Force (ACTF) increase in tick borne diseases, I
or the Police to care or to guess perceive mutual benefits. Thanks
on whether or not the District http://www.laanimalser vices. for hearing me out and pointing
Attorney will file charges in an com/laws-policies/animal- me in the right direction! And
attempt to prosecute the case. cruelty/ many thanks for your efforts!
It is their duty to take a report.
Demand a report, if they say no, I’m sorry whatever authorities ~Jess
ask to speak to a supervisor, if you are dealing with are decades
the supervisor won’t file a report,
ask the police to file a report,
if a police officer won’t, ask to
behind in their education on the
current laws. A Hello Jessica,
speak to the Sergeant, then the It looks like it’s going to take What a wonderful offer!
Lieutenant, then the Captain or a brave, bold, persistent soul
Commander, if they still won’t, such as yourself to stand up I’m not sure how the wildlife
call the Chief of Police during the and educate the enforcement rehabilitators handle their
day and complain to him. Keep agencies governing your area. releases in North Carolina but
going up the ladder. I hope we’re giving you enough I know we’re happy to get a
information for you to accomplish call from someone offering up
MAKE SURE THEY GIVE YOU A that goal. Your persistence could their yard as a release spot for
REPORT NUMBER. YOU CAN’T mean the protection for the rehabilitated, releasable wildlife.
BE ASSURED THEY TOOK A future of opossums, wildlife and They’ll probably wish to inspect
REPORT UNLESS THEY GIVE YOU domestic animals in general by your location for suitability. Please
THE REPORT NUMBER. TELL the community enforcing the laws view the link below and select the
THEM YOU WILL BE COMING IN they will now become aware of. wildlife rehabilitators nearest to
AFTER THE REPORT HAS BEEN you to call. Tell them you have a
PROCESSED (a week or so) TO
GET A COPY OF THE REPORT
(you will have to pay a fee).
Q Subject: Getting an opossum
for our backyard as refug (sic)
.3 acre lot and would be happy
to accept animals to be released
on your property. Be sure to ask
Hello! I recently moved to a them what species and numbers
Animal cruelty new house and have observed a would be involved. Wildlife tend to
is now a felony decrease in wildlife in our yard as disperse themselves appropriately
in all 50 states. compared to other houses I’ve lived but make sure they don’t try to
in in NC, and was wondering if saturate your land unnaturally.
there’s a way to offer our yard to https://www.ncwildlife.org/
a rehabilitated opossum, we live in Injured-Wildlife#5535106-
https://www.dopplr.com/ hickory nc. We have .3 acres that contact-a-wildlife-rehabilitator
animal-cruely-laws I would be pleased to share with
Continued on page 5
4 OSUS
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MAIL POUCH continued from page 4
Q This past Spring there was a
‘possum dead under my deck
where I stored firewood. I moved
A Opossums will have 2-3 den
sites they alternate between.
Each time they stay in the site
the newspaper in it, and transport
to their den for the day.
the pile closer to the woods. I am they will add dead leaves, bags, Replace the newspapers as they
happy with the critters as I know and their favorite: newspapers to disappear or get wet.
they eat ticks and such. Is there pad and insulate the nest.
anything else I can do to help
the opossum find shelter for the Leave some wadded up newspaper
winter? Thanks! sections along where you’ve seen
them walking. They will curl up
Stacie their tail like a napkin ring, stuff
CATALOG WILL BE DISCONTINUED
Due to rising costs in postage, rising cost to make a difference in funding our
in gasoline to drive to the post office, the opossum work. Eventually, we hope
discontinuance of many merchandise to choose an online business that will
items, the unavailability of volunteers take our copyrighted artwork and
to help with the mailing, the snail-like handle the manufacturing, advertising,
delivery time of even Priority Class mail money collection and mailing of items,
resulting in the inability to ship as fast depositing income with us without any
as the consuming public expects, we are of our volunteers being involved in the
going to discontinue our shipped items process.
after April 15, 2019. If there is something you have been
We still have t-shirts, opossums toys and putting off buying, we suggest you buy
Robert Meyer’s artwork and keychains it now.
but don’t make enough on those items
NEW PAY TO DOWNLOAD MATERIALS OFFERED
Starting in April, we will have a new Having all this education and training
feature on our website that will have material online allows us to easily
the new 2018 Orphan Care manual update and add material and notify
available to download for $30.00 and the membership and purchasers of
will include one year’s membership in the new information available. As a
the Opossum Society and vice-versa. member in good standing you will
For just $30.00, you will have digital continue to have easy access to all the
access to the membership packet, material.
orphan care manual, orphan care We believe this will expedite getting
video (recently edited), education the information out to the people who
slide show & script, and receive the need it most for their rehabilitation
quarterly newsletter for one year. work or gifting the bundled features to
someone else.
5 OSUS
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MURINE TYPHUS
The Opossum Society of the United
continued from page 1 States gets honorable mention on page
269. It mentions how the protest of our
according to the U.S. Centers for Disease other agencies stated studies showed group, in front of Orange County Animal
Control and Prevention. opossums carried hundreds of fleas, Control in 1988, effectively ended the
whereas the research graph (page 274) euthanasia of opossums as a nuisance
Typhus causes fever, body aches, stomach showed the highest amount of fleas animal by any governmental agency (yes
pain and a rash. Young infants and the found on the opossums studied was 204. we did!). In effect, they said that we tied
elderly are the most likely to be affected. I also asked why the same graph showed their hands from being able to control, via
Most people recover on their own, but the average amount of fleas found on an euthanasia, the opossum.
more severe cases can lead to damage opossum was 96; with a low of 5 and a
to the heart, brain and lungs without high of 204 (which I felt would be more Ms. Krueger went on to state that
treatment. The infection can lead to death accurate as 200 is the reported maximum California and Texas is where the typhus
in rare cases. flea-load found on a cat; cats having is most prevalent. Because of the warm
about the same flea-occupying surface climates in both states, fleas develop year
Backtracking the information from officials area as an opossum). She advised me that round. Because of this, the Orange County
quoted in articles from the newspapers, I the most fleas found on an opossum in Mosquito and Vector Control District of
found the information on opossums was the study was 726 but that high number Orange County, CA recommends topical
stemming from a published research was excluded to reduce the margin of flea control on all opossums brought into
paper, “Identification of Zoonotic error. I asked if the 726 number was rehabilitation. I absolutely agree with her, I
and Vector-borne Infectious Agents excluded to reduce the margin of error, have readily available tubes of Advantage
Associated with Opossums (Didelphis why would that number be added back in II when doing intake on opossums.
Virginiana) in Residential Neighborhoods when quoting facts to the press. Wouldn’t
of Orange County, California.” that be purposefully providing a number I reminded Ms. Krueger that two years
that increases the margin of error in the ago Los Angeles and San Diego counties
It is compiled by several employees information being reported and passed were in the grips of a Hepatitis A
from different vector control districts in on to the public? outbreak, which traced back to the over
southern California and the Navy Medical 50,000 homeless people who have set
Research Center and Centers for Disease I also noted in the report, on page 268- up their own third world encampments.
Control and Prevention. It was published 269, a breakdown of how many of those Hospitals and doctors now have testing
at the University of California, Davis in fleas collected from opossums tested protocols in place that have greatly
2016. positive for R. typhi was 3%, R. felis was reduced the introduction of Hep A into to
53%, the same ratio was found on pet the community.
ht t p s : / / w w w. re s e a rc h g ate. n e t / cats tested. Feral cats tested showed
publication/318213539_Identification_ 0% R. typhi and 39% R. felis. The report
o f _ Z o o n o t i c _ a n d _ Ve c t o r - b o r n e _ mentions that pet cats get their fleas
Infectious_Agents_Associated_with_ from feral cats and opossums. It does not
Opossums_Didelphis_virginiana_in_ mention why the infected flea load of pet
Residential_Neighborhoods_of_Orange_ cats is not a concern. Perhaps they feel it’s
County_California 9 an easy fix to deflea pet cats. If it’s such
an easy fix, how were they able to find so
I was able to get a copy of the paper from many pet cats with a significant flea load?
Laura Krueger, Orange County Mosquito
and Vector Control District, Orange I was more concerned with the graph in
County, California and we exchanged the paper showing half of the opossums’
emails about the paper. feces tested positive for a Salmonella
serovar. I wasn’t aware opossums wouldn’t
I asked her why the information she succumb to salmonella when exposed.
had been releasing to the press and More research to come on that.
Continued on page 7
6 OSUS
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MURINE TYPHUS
that would tend to prove what someone
continued from page 6 thinks they already know or if it was a
comprehensive investigation to explore
Also in the rather than control the human homeless all possibilities of a particular problem.
mix are public population. The Opossum Society of the Extrapolating data from a restricted study
libraries across United States is here to correct any unjust and ignoring other causation is not very
the country villainization of the opossum. revelatory for the big picture.
having to
shut down I encourage you to scrutinize the original www.iheart.com/content/2018-10-16-
to fumigate research of any scientific study to see rats-and-trash-fuel-typhus-outbreak-in-
for fleas from the homeless population whether it was conducted in a manner los-angeles-skid-row/
allowed to lounge inside during the day.
krcgtv.com/news/local/columbia-library-
Opossums are not known to frequent reopens-after-flea-infestation
public libraries.
www.ksbw.com/article/fleas-shutdown-
It is possible that other cities and salinas-library/1054683
counties across the country may try
to rally against the opossum and use www.amestrib.com/news/20160928/
this report as justification. The report flea-infestation-forces-library-closure
is not comprehensive, nor conclusive.
It’s always easy to blame the opossum. forum.prisonplanet.com/index.
It’s a lot cheaper to make the solution php?topic=169024.0
exterminating the opossum population
BREAKING NEWS - FEBRUARY 2019
Los Angeles City Hall is overrun with rats. infestation and recent cases of flea-borne staff from this medieval disease, then we
typhus. It wasn’t about the opossums. should all pack up and go home.”
One employee became sick with typhus.
All the carpets in City Hall are going to “Rats are a symbol of this injunction,” Again, opossums are not known to
be removed which will cause said Buscaino, who frequent City Hall. If a 2016 injunction
another problem for landfills. represents Watts and allows thousands of homeless to set up
Non-toxic pesticides are the harbor area. “They their tents on sidewalks downtown from
planned for inside, but what are emblematic of 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. and this allowance of
about outside? how we lost control homeless encampments coincides with
of the homeless, trash both the Hep A and typhus outbreaks
Councilman Joe Buscaino and encampment in Los Angeles, we can draw our own
connected the dots between issue. And if we can’t conclusions.
a 2016 court injunction, which protect the greatest
limited how and when the symbol of our own https://mynewsla.com/
city can seize and destroy the democracy, our own business/2019/02/06/typhus-at-la-city-
property of homeless people City Hall, if we can’t hall-fleas-infected-by-rats-all-carpeting-
on skid row, and the City Hall rat protect our own junked/
Anyone traveling, shopping or working in any area where there is a noticeable homeless population and
NOTICE ! subsequently comes down with anything resembling Typhus or Hep A, be sure and notify your doctor so that they
will be alerted to test for those diseases.
7 OSUS
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USING CAT LITTER BOXES
Litter boxes can be used with opossums
30 grams or more in size. For litter
boxes to have a chance of success, their
placement and size is crucial. The size
of the box is relative to the opossum’s
growth and must be upgraded along
with their housing as they grow. You
can start out with a clean peanut butter
jar lid, graduating to a plastic to-go box
bottom from dining out to an actual litter
box once the litter goes outside for pre-
release. The rule of thumb is having a and that the litter issue would have been allergy risk to cats and humans. It is also
litter box that three opossums can stand scientifically investigated. important to mention that the Natural
in at once. If the litter box is too small, Corn and Wheat Litter make use of no
they won’t use it. For adult opossums, the If you’re concerned about the dust thrown silica or clay. Instead, it’s a blend of wood
litter box must be large enough to fit the up by clay litters, you can switch to a litter which is biodegradable, inexpensive
entire opossum and tail at once. made of wheat or corn – these contain and easy to use. It also has a remarkably
no sodium bentonite. While they’re more pleasant odor.
Placement is a factor for both the babies expensive than clay litter, they last longer
and adults. One side of the litter box and have similar clumping properties. Clumping Clay
must be against a covered cage wall or When disposing of used litter of any
other surface that offers protection from type, you can reduce your own exposure One of the reasons people go for this
being ambushed by another animal. The to dust by slipping the litter box into a type of cat litter is because it’s easy to
opossum is vulnerable while eliminating large plastic bag before up-ending it. And clean. The litter is made from bentonite.
and likes to not have to worry about since litter typically throws off dust when However, it creates a lot of dust and is not
what’s happening on all four sides. The poured into the box, avert your head (or biodegradable.
litter box must be distanced by at least wear a mask) when filling the pan.
several inches from the feeding/drinking Clay No-Clumping
area and the den box area. Make a TYPES OF CAT LITTER
triangle configuration as best you can This litter is made from clay as opposed to
in a quadrangle cage. An instructional Crystals bentonite. They are not easy to clean and
video can be found on our website under require meticulous cleaning. Lastly, Clay
General Information, Help for Wildlife These types of litter boxes are expensive No-Clumping is also not biodegradable.
Rehabilitators and Vets. and are usually made of silica. They
last longer than others and have better Kitty litter is not palatable and whereas
Most reports on the possible toxicity control of odor. However, these litter the opossums might “sample” the litter,
of kitty litter are anecdotal. There are boxes are not biodegradable. they will quickly spit it back out. Having
no studies suggesting that clay litters a litter box set up correctly in a cage or
containing sodium bentonite put either Natural Corn and Wheat Litter enclosure will guarantee about a 90%
cats or humans (or opossums) at increased use rate from the opossum. There will
risk of any health problems. Given the fact These litters are made from recycled corn always be those that don’t use it. A litter
that the number of pet cats in the United and wheat. They are biodegradable and box makes scooping urine balls and feces
States is upwards of 90 million, if litter don’t clump with little or no dust. It’s easy. We all want things easier, less time-
dust were harmful, you would think that easier to collect feces in these boxes as consuming and cleaner for the opossum’s
vets would have been seeing more sick they are not dense. However, the main environment, don’t we?
cats with illness attributable to the dust problem that this type of litter poses is an
8 OSUS
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OSUS MEMBER IN THE NEWS
OSUS Member Leigh Ann Cooper has the frontier to boom times, and having
authored a novel, “Possum Crossing – a experienced whiplash from boom to
Tale of a Place in West Virginia” which bust, it is now on the cusp of a new boom.
is now available on Amazon.com. Be Despite adversity and abandonment by
sure and access the Amazon Smile politicians, Possums, as residents of the
website from the Opossum Society of town call themselves, do not give up
the United States home page: www. on the mountain state and are poised
opossumsocietyus.org so that Amazon to bring prosperity and new glory to
will donate a percentage of your her. The story of these proud people is
purchases back to OSUS. a story shared by millions in this time
of changes occurring with the speed
Overview: You’ve all heard the slogan, of light. Possums do not abandon West
West Virginia, Almost Heaven. Possum Virginia for greener grass elsewhere, but
Crossing is a story about what the they remain to bring about a rebirth of
narrator refers to as a real heaven here on better times.
earth. It is populated by mountaineers
who are hardworking and patriotic Available in paperback, hard cover or
citizens of Possum. Like the state as a nook book/kindle.
whole, Possum has seen growth from
OPOSSUMS IN THE NEWS
Wash and save your old mascara wands to use as a flea and fly blow comb on opossum babies or
start a campaign to donate to this wildlife organization, who also shares with others. Watch below
video:
https://www.facebook.com/dearlysitevideo/videos/1628435630581737/
NWRA SYMPOSIUM — MARCH 5 - 9, 2019
Visit nwrasymposium.org for more information - Register Now
Location: St. Louis, Missouri
Symposium Hotel: Marriott St. Louis Airport
Host Center: Wildlife Rescue Center
Keynote Speaker: Dr. Sharon Deem, learn more about the keynote on the
symposium webpage
CALIFORNIA COUNCIL FOR WILDLIFE REHABILITATIONS
ANNOUNCES 2019 SYMPOSIUM LOCATION AND DATE
Dates: November 2 - 4, 2019
Location: Tenaya Lodge, Yosemite
Watch their website, ccwr.org, for details
9 OSUS
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The Opossum Society of the
United States
Wishes to Thank Our
Contributors
Barbara Trevino
Pax Vliestra
Here is a fun way to help opossums. Combine your two favorite hobbies Rachel Griffiths-Jiannoni
- shopping and opossums! Visit our online gift catalog. Follow the links Cris Alvis
to some great shopping sites such as Amazon.com and iGive.com. Buy Kate Abate
books, videos, music, toys, gifts and lots more! Every purchase you Stephanie Mann-Olson
make helps the opossums. OSUS receives a portion of every purchase.
Thomas Manning
So Spend! Spend! Spend! After all, it is for a good cause! Tell your
Margie & Andrew Valdez
friends! Remember, you must access Amazon.com and iGive.com from
the LINKS on the OSUS webpage in order for us to get credit for your
Wendy Gustafson
purchase. Do not go directly to Amazon or iGive. Karen Myers
Drs. Leslie & Dick Richards
Elizabeth Carr
OSUS MEMBERSHIP/RENEWAL FORM Edith Hoag
_____Please find enclosed my tax-deductible donation. Barbara Trevino
Susan Lakics
____I want to become a member of O.S.U.S.
Cris Alvis
($30 / year U.S/, $40.00 year int’l)
Millicent Gary
____ Please renew my membership of OSUS ($30/year) Monica McKeller
(Check one of the above) Sharon O’Reilly
Stefano Carattini
Name: ______________________________________________ Jay & Linda Casselberry
Nathan Perry
Address: ____________________________________________ Nicole Nickelson – Rest in peace to the
possum that was in the road. I am so sorry
Telephone: __________________________________________
and pray that you are with the possum
Angels and pain free.
Email: ______________________________________________
Barbara Trevino
Julianna Sand – For Geebie..Best Possum Dad
Membership is $30.00 annually
ever!
Marguerite Hargrove
Please mail check to: Jennifer Wordham
OSUS Cris Alvis
P.O. Box 16724 Morgan Taylor – On Valentine’s Day, in Honor
Irvine, CA 92623 of Mark Gohlmann and his love for Me &
Or register via PayPal online at our website: Marsupials
Without our contributors and those members whose
www.OpossumSocietyUS.org work generates donations to OSUS, we would not
Note: The OSUS membership/email list is never given out to any be able to care for as many orphans, save as many
other organization. It is used for official OSUS business only. Your injured or reach so many people with our information
on opossums. Good job, and thank you all! Your
membership renewal month due is the month you joined. generosity really make a difference.
10 OSUS
www.opossumsocietyus.orgOpossum Society of the United States
P.O. Box 16724
Irvine, CA 92623
Join OSUS and receive ...
Phone Calls and Mail:
• Quarterly Issues of ‘Possum Prints.
Due to the tremendous
volume of messages left • Updated diet/development/medical sheets.
on our Board of Directors, • Orphan/Injured care information.
Counselor, and City • Veterinarian/emergency care list.
Coordinators’ answering • A warm, fuzzy feeling!
machines, toll and long
distance calls which
require an answer will be
returned collect.
When requesting
information from the
Society, please enclose a
self-addressed stamped
envelope (SASE). Due to
the high volume of mail
requests and the cost of
postage, the Society can
no longer absorb this
expense.
Donations to defray the
costs of printed materials
will be accepted at any
time.
Address correction
requested.
Postage Guaranteed
Please take the time to send us a change of address card when you move so
that you do not miss out on any issues of ‘Possum Prints.
Printed on recycled paper.
Meetings and Events
2019 Event Location
Mar 05 - 09 National Wildlife Rehabilitators Symposium (nwrawildlife.org)............................................ St. Louis, MO
Feb 16 – 17 IWRC Basic Wildlife Rehabilitation*.............................................................................................Brownsville, TX
Mar 04 – 05 IWRC Basic Wildlife Rehabilitation * ............................................................................................... St. Louis, MO
Mar 16 – 17 IWRC Basic Wildlife Rehabilitation*.................................................................................................. Kelowna, BC
Mar 30 – 31 IWRC Basic Wildlife Rehabilitation*......................................................................................................Murray, KY
Apr 06 – 07 IWRC Basic Wildlife Rehabilitation*............................................................................................... Saskatoon, SK
Jun 15 – 16 IWRC Basic Wildlife Rehabilitation*............................................................................................Caroni, Trinidad
* All IWRC courses are described and available to purchase on their website (theIWRC.org)
http://www.opossumsocietyus.org
OSUS Board of Directors
August 2017-2019
Leslie Bale • (562) 804-3038 • President/Liaison, Official Agencies • VOpossum@aol.com
Leslie Brogan • (818) 255-0925 • Secretary
Crystal Norris • Email: crystaln@sonic.net • Treasurer
Melinda Smith • Email: Opawsum@aol.com • At LargeYou can also read
