VITAMIN D and OPOSSUMS Your Skin Synthesizes Vitamin D in Benefits

Winter 2017

VITAMIN D AND OPOSSUMS Your skin synthesizes vitamin D in benefits. You must expose your opossum dappled sunlight for some exposure each response to exposure to direct sunlight. to direct or indirect (dappled sunlight) week. Do NOT leave them unattended, It’s the UV-B (short range radiation) approximately 20-30 minutes per week. the sunlight is continually moving and portion of the ultra-violet spectrum Free-roaming opossums instinctively what was dappled shade could be full sun that’s needed. This wavelength range know this and pick a select day(s) to get in minutes, you don’t want sunburned is effectively blocked by window their sun exposure. Captive opossums can opossums. Cloudy days and complete glass. Vitamin D formation happens become deficient in vitamin D if you don’t shade cut down on the amount of when UV-B ultraviolet light reacts with take them out and hold them in an open- vitamin D the skin synthesizes. Eating dehydrocholesterol in the skin. UV-B topped box, or set them in a wire cage in enough naturally oily fish or yogurt can compensate for the loss of vitamin D; however, some say you can get too much vitamin D from food and supplements, but not from the sun.

Nearly every cell in the body has receptors for vitamin D. Recently studies have starting referring to vitamin D as not a vitamin at all, but a fat-soluble hormone best obtained via sun exposure. Vitamin D is essential for bone health, helping in calcium absorption.

Just because the opossum is nocturnal doesn’t mean it doesn’t have need for sunlight. This may also account for some sightings of opossums during the day. Noon is the time when the most benefit can be obtained from UV-B rays. Don’t forget, you need vitamin D also, so don’t forget to let your skin soak up the sun and convert those UV-B rays into vitamin D. light is blocked by glass. Typical glass is transparent down to about 330 nm. Inside This Issue UV-B is 315-280 nm. Glass is transparent to about half of UV-A light radiation, Comment on Summer 2016 Newsletter Article ...... Page 2 however, and UV-A light can cause skin Help!!! Inventory Person Needed!!! ...... Page 2 damage. So, sitting in front of the window Mail Pouch ...... Page 4 gives the risk for harm, without the Donating to the Opossum Society in your Last Will and Testament ...... Page 7

Visit OSUS at www.opossumsocietyus.org COMMENT ON SUMMER 2016 NEWSLETTER ARTICLE As you recall, I wrote in expensive product. Sweaters for sale, with the taxidermed face of the the Summer 2016 Possum go for $379.00. opossum still on it. Prints how I was paid a visit by New Zealand authors The brushtail possum, a We wish New Zealand author Annie and advocates of brushtail non-native species in New Potts and those supporting her well possums in New Zealand. Zealand, seems to be going in her efforts to help the brushtail OSUS member Dianne through the same process opossum. Brushtail opossums are Weston recently made a trip the Virginia opossum did in protected in Australia because there to New Zealand and expounded on the California until it became classified as they are natives. atrocities faced by brushtail possums an established species, instead of non- she saw there. Their fur is used, along native and offered some protection. Leslie Bale with sheep’s wool and silk (40/40/20 Thirty years ago I frequently saw opossum percentages) to make sweaters and lined mink coats advertised and when I scarves. It makes a very thick, soft and was in Hawaii, I saw an opossum purse

HELP!!! INVENTORY PERSON NEEDED!!! We are looking for someone who can it be accessible. Upon receipt of a PayPal need it to be stored in an area where no house the inventory and handle mailing order, I would forward the email to the cat will have access. I am deathly allergic out the 8-10 catalog orders we get a inventory person. If the order is mailed to cats and I am always the go-between month (except at Christmas, when that into our P.O. Box, I will scan the order when the inventory is transported from can quadruple). The volunteer would need and email it to the inventory person. The one volunteer to another. email capability and the ability to send a inventory person would then package copy of the USPS receipt via SmartPhone and mail to the customer. The inventory Contact me, Leslie Bale, if interested at text or email. The inventory is housed person would be provided with a petty (562) 804-3038 or [email protected]. in four 43” h X 15” d x 14”w rolling mini- cash account and shipping materials. We would prefer someone in the Southern drawer plastic files. The opossum toys, Orders ship out Priority Mail so a tracking California area (Santa Barbara, Ventura, T-shirts and tote bags are kept separately number is obtained for me to enter into Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, in storage boxes so the volunteer would PayPal. From Thanksgiving until four days Riverside, Orange, San Diego counties) need an indoor space of approximately before Christmas, I collect from the P.O. so that I could transport the inventory 4’ x 6’ to house the inventory and have Box every 3 days to keep the Christmas to them; it would be cost prohibitive to orders shipping out quickly. ship the inventory. For those of you who cannot commit to caring for orphan or We need someone who can make at least injured opossums nor travel and give a one-year commitment. We ask you to education talks on opossums, this is check with spouses, family members, etc. an excellent opportunity to volunteer to make sure they don’t have future plans to help. The proceeds we get from of moving back in where you’d store the the catalog sales help all our outreach merchandise or are thinking about using programs for the opossum. the space for storage themselves. Also, I

OPOSSUM vs. COUGAR https://www.facebook.com/NBCBayArea/videos/vb.55375096989/10154227235116990/?type=2&theater

As you can see in this video, a full-grown cougar is usually not interested in an opossum. Cougars are looking for something over 8 pounds to eat. Not to say a juvenile cougar who has had no luck with larger prey won’t go after a cat or an opossum. OSUS 2www.opossumsocietyus.org The Opossum Society of the United States OSUS MEMBERSHIP/RENEWAL FORM Wishes to Thank Our _____Please find enclosed my tax-deductible donation. Contributors ____I want to become a member of O.S.U.S. ($30 / year U.S/, $40.00 year int’l) ____ Please renew my membership of OSUS ($30/year) Lisa Ziebell (Check one of the above) Maya Ruettger-Cruciano Jeannine Cobb Dr. Dick Richards Name: ______Wanda Zemler-Cizewski, in memory of Carrie Fisher and Debbie Address: ______Reynolds Marcel Lemrise Telephone: ______Kerry Bossin Nancy Smyth Email: ______Debbie & Paolo Pedrazzoli Marcia Rybak Kathleen Ryan Membership is $30.00 annually Ayn Van Dyke Colleen Grzan Please mail check to: James & Nancy Crabtree Janette Walker OSUS P.O. Box 16724 Without our contributors and those Irvine, CA 92623 members whose work generates donations to OSUS, we would not be able to care for as many orphans, save as many injureds or reach so Or register via PayPal online at our website: www.OpossumSocietyUS.org many people with our information Note: The OSUS membership/email list is never given out to any other organization. on opossums. Good job, and thank It is used for official OSUS business only. Your membership renewal month due is you all! Your generosity really make a difference. the month you joined. MATCHING DONATIONS Members, please check with your payroll department and see if they offer a “matching donations program” for non-profit organizations. The Opossum Society of the United States qualifies and is registered as a non-profit tax-exempt public charity under 501c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Some of our members have already participated, sending in donations along with the paperwork from their payroll departments for us to fill out for them to match the same amount donated by their employers. Just send in the required paperwork and your donation to DOUBLE YOUR IMPACT our P.O. Box and we will do the rest. It’s a small effort to double your donations to the Society. Membership renewal fees qualify as a donation for this purpose. Ask your employers today, and re-register with your employer annually for the opossums.

OPOSSUMS ON YOU TUBE

Backyard camera catches opossum chowing down on snails https://youtu.be/e5wihiqe_vc

Backyard camera catches opossum grooming itself (must have just eaten something) https://youtu.be/W21yvvgPM3g OSUS www.opossumsocietyus.org3 Normally, the opossum would be up in two weeks. Normally, you’d have to only after dark and be wandering keep an opossum at least two weeks, around from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m. when just so you can administer that second there’s probably not as much traffic dose. and sleep during the day. Opossums do need vitamin D and will have to I am attaching our medication list. make an appearance in the sun for Consider Fenbendazole (Panacur), about 20 minutes a week. Amidacloprid Plus (Advantage Multi) or Praziquantel (Droncit or Strongid) There are opossums living in as dewormers instead. Unless a fecal Q: Hello--I work in a big, two story Downtown Disney, Knott’s Berry exam shows a particular parasite to building in the middle of an industrial Farm, schools, all kinds of unusual target. area and we are surrounded by a places that are full of insects for them parking lot and busy street. We have a to eat (70% of their diet is insects) I am also attaching Page 4 of our small enclosed patio with a little clump and a water or sprinkler system for Captive Diet Sheet which gives the of banana trees and a very young access water to water. Ivermectin, Panacur and Strongid possum is staying in a hole there, as dosages. of today. He has been outside several He/she will most likely move on at times today...According to what I’ve night, now that its favorite daytime I am also attaching our article on how read, he is probably a youngster on den site has been disturbed. to create a stimulating environment his own (about 7-8” in length). There for a blind opossum. are cars everywhere around him and Q: Our organization is considering he is wandering out...Do you have any a blind opossum for an educational I hope all this helps suggestions? animal. I need to know where to get Levamisole injectable for de-worming. Leslie A: I’m sorry, I don’t know of anyone that would respond to retrieve an And also, any additional information Q: I read the information regarding opossum unless it had already been I need in rehabbing a blind opossum. the daytime sighting of Opossums. contained in a box by you, and if Today is the second daytime (dec.21 you did that, you could just take it Jill & dec.24) sighting of the critter. My to nearest wildlife center near you husband also saw it out last night. (query our website to locate the ones A: Dear Jill, nearest you). Pest Control agencies We currently have about a 6-8” snow will come out and search for an I wouldn’t recommend using cover depth here. We’re fairly sure it’s opossum and leave a trap for a fee. Levamisole injectable as a deworming living in one of our farm outbuildings, Please confirm that they will release unless an exam specifically warranted not a problem for us. Since your and not euthanize the opossum. it and a vet concurred. It’s too easy information indicates the daytime to overdose and kill an opossum with visits indicate it may be hungry and Consider that the opossum most likely Levamisole because of the minute dose looking for food should we do anything got there on its own (unless you think used and there’s other anti-parasitics to try to help, or just leave it be? The an employee brought it to work). As that are safer and easier to use. first time it was checking out seeds you said, it’s of a size to be on its under a birdfeeder. own, so it very likely found that spot Normally, we don’t prophylactically as a food, water and shelter source use a dewormer unless the opossum A: Being a mammal, an opossum does or followed the scent trails of other has several stressors involved at once, need 30 minutes of sunlight a week opossums. The shelter it normally i.e. has babies, injured, and to top it to get their vitamin D requirement. used may have be moved or blocked off, captivity stress. Internal parasites During the winter months and the somehow. seem to be kept at tolerable levels further north you are, the angle of unless the opossum is stressed. the sun may require even a longer exposure to get the correct amount of Keeping her as an education animal sunlight to convert. makes it easy to use other dewormers, OSUS most of which require a second dose If you happen to refill your bird feeder 4www.opossumsocietyus.org at a certain time, and it’s during the Q: Hello friends of Opossums. Thanks vacation. He told us some things to day, the opossum will pick up on that for being available; maybe you can do until he got back to town. That and come out when the dinner bell answer my questions. Last year my was 2.5 years ago! She is like part of is rung. It is certainly harder to find daughter worked with a very nice the family now and has always been food under snow and the bird feeder young man who had previously healthy and happy. droppings might just be the ticket for volunteered and worked for years at a the opossum. As long as there’s no wild bird and animal rehab sanctuary We agree that she does need to be law prohibiting it, go ahead and leave in the Pacific NW. When the subject outdoors more and wonder if you a bowl of dog kibble out to help the turned to opossums, he shared that could suggest a halter that we could opossum during the heavy snow. nearly every opossum that is brought purchase for her so we could take her in to the rehab is blind for some out more. Right now we can only take Q: Hello, mysterious reason. Moreover, he said her out in a cage. that opossum blindness complications My neighbor is convinced that an and risks due to gradual blindness, is A: Depending on the opossum’s size, opossum that frequents our yards the main reason that they only live check her girth, and then go to PetCo is injured and wants to call animal one to two years and why so many or another pet supply store and buy control. They have offered to come get hit on the road (drawn often to the appropriate size harness, probably and trap the animal and euthanize. carcasses of other roadkill... Is this a small, or maybe an extra small. She He appears old and possibly ill to me. blindness problem something that won’t like it and will fight it several I would be willing to take him to a you know about? Does it happen times but should eventually tolerate veterinarian. Please advise how to everywhere? In captivity? What can it. Be sure and treat her for fleas help this animal. I am worried for his be causing it / be done about it? regularly if you take her out. Those safety. cat fleas waiting in the grass and A: I don’t know of any widely reported flowerbeds will jump on her. A: I suggest you contact your local blindness problems except where veterinarians and describe in detail opossums came from the area of Q: Good morning. I wanted to know if why you think the opossum is ill and buried toxic waste sites, like military opossums does or would eat green ash if the veterinarian would be willing bases. Opossums can’t see well, day beetles and if so, is someone partnering to treat the opossum, what he or she or night and they have no depth with Minnesota to consider these would charge and what the prognosis perception. I know a vet who used to amazing animals as a solution to their would be. Bringing in a wild animal stand behind the opossum on an exam problem? Since most of the invasion and subjecting it to captive stress is a table and toss a large cotton ball with species are being introduced at ship great strain on the animal. a trajectory that would cause it to yards, do you know if there is any pass in front of the opossum’s face, partnering discussions under way to If the opossum is old, it may just be not touching it, and fall on the floor. have opossums “inspect” pallets upon slowing down and not be as agile as If the opossum reacted to the cotton arrival? Thank you for your response. it gets near the end of its life. You ball, it meant they could see it. They wouldn’t want its last days to be rely heavily on their excellent senses A: I’m not aware of any studies of caged up in a prison, perhaps injuring of hearing and smell. They have the opossums eating green ash beetles. itself trying to get out. shortest life span of any mammal The distribution of the news would their size. There is much speculation probably start out slow, and locally, My friends and I tried to corner a as to why they have such a short life where those beetles exist. I would ask one-legged roadrunner we observed span, I’ve never heard of one of the that you contact your large universities by our hotel in Palm Desert, CA. We reasons being their poor vision. and ask if anyone is doing any studies chased that bird for an hour, never and then you could let ME know. being able to come close to it and Q: I don’t know if I explained myself 70% of an opossum’s diet is insects, treat the leg. Most times wildlife does regarding Blossom. We have had her so if the beetles are on the ground or just fine without our interference. since she was a baby. Our dogs had exposed in a tree, the opossum will be her pinned under a lawn mower. I eating them. Unfortunately, since it’s I wouldn’t worry about the opossum brought her inside and contacted our Continued on page 6 until it is no longer interested in vet and he in turn contacted a rehab eating and is prostrate and allows you specialist for us. He called us and said to approach it with no fear. he couldn’t get to us as he was on OSUS www.opossumsocietyus.org5 MAIL POUCH noticed it and placed it in the fridge. A: No, opossum spit is not toxic. Had Continued from page 6 After getting off work that day I got an opossum found your beer during home and recalled the beer in the the night, it would have drunk it and a boring beetle and opossums don’t fridge so I drank it. Within 2 hours crushed the can with its teeth. dig in trees, I would think birds would I started heaving violently and lasted be more likely to be able to access the about 2 days. I lost over 10 - 15 (When I traveled with an opossum in beetles and consume them. lbs. of muscle (maybe 20lbs total) my RV, I sometimes got into grabbing as the illness dragged on for over a contests with my opossum and my As far as training opossums to sniff (or week with specific protein deficiency glass of wine. Once, the opossum got snuff out) beetles on shipping pallets, symptoms, I.E. lack of appetite hold of an unopened can of beer and that would probably not be a good especially things containing protein. sank its teeth into it and beer went idea. Opossums can wedge into the Worse food related illness of my life spraying everywhere). They will drink most impossible spaces and then they by far and this protein abnormality alcohol, then get horrible diarrhea could become contraband themselves. lasted for months. JUST CURIOUS as a but will destroy an aluminum can by neighbor mentioned something about biting it trying to get more. Also, do Q: Earlier today I found an opossum possums in our apartment complex not leave a pouch of chewing tobacco in our window well. It was curled up it triggered a weird thought about out all night, the opossum will get and appeared to be shivering, but not this beer causing the illness as THERE into it and eat it. injured. To remove it, I covered with were no other obvious culprits. IS a flannel pillowcase, put it in a box POSSUM SPIT TOXIC ?? under these Editors Note: Questions in the Mail Pouch and left it, in box and covered, in the conditions? Is there any literature columns are printed as received and only field next door. 3 hours later, it is still on this type of contamination? It occasionally edited for content, grammar and there, curled up under the pillowcase. was violent, extreme heaving for the length. With the box and location, it is fairly first 2 days, followed by the lethargic guarded from wind/weather, but it’s recovery. supposed to be in the 20s tonight. Is there something else I should do, or leave it alone?

Thanks in advance for your help!

A: You did fine. Cardboard, wadded up newspapers and of course, a flannel pillowcase provide great insulation.

Opossums instinctually know to lay low during the day. Daylight and especially white snow makes them a very visible target for predators during the day. They are nocturnal and their gray fur is harder to see at night. He/she will stay put until they get up to forage tonight.

Leslie

Q: I got extremely ill one time and there was no correlating food illness. I left a beer (40oz) on the patio half- filled and when I woke up early I

OSUS 6www.opossumsocietyus.org DONATING TO THE OPOSSUM SOCIETY IN YOUR LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT

When you make a will, you’re ensuring that your wishes will be followed after you die. Having a will can also help lessen the confusion and even the heartache for your loved ones in their time of grief. However, if you don’t make a will, part or all of your estate may end up going to people you never intended to benefit because it will be the professional with the correct information charity. However, when it comes to law that will dictate how your estate is to when it comes time to draft your will. We making more significant changes to your be distributed. are incorporated as The Opossum Society will such as changes in beneficiaries or of California, doing business as (dba) The executors, you might be better served by Of course, you can bequeath whatever Opossum Society of the United States. creating a new will. If you’re unsure, then you want to just about anyone or Our California Corporation number is speak to an estate planning attorney. anything – including leaving a gift to a C1612847. Our Federal EIN number is 33- charitable organization that you would 0310580. Our address is P.O. Box 16724, A codicil is a rather straightforward like to support after you’re gone. OSUS Irvine, CA 92623. document in which to make minor has found themselves the benefactor in changes. However, canceling an existing the wills of a member and of a stranger, If you want to leave a gift to charity but will with a codicil may require additional both sharing an obvious love for the have already made a will, there are a documentation. When you cancel a opossum. While we don’t want to think of couple of easy ways to make changes. will that contains a codicil, the codicil losing any opossum-lovers in this world, However, the simplest way is to write does not get canceled automatically, so considering the Opossum Society in your a new will. Once written, your new will when you write a new will it may create will continues or even starts your legacy of makes any other wills you may have inconsistencies and additional legal helping opossums. There are a few things created in the past null and void. In fact, problems. To avoid this, make sure that to keep in mind when including a gift to a most new wills will clearly state that you any new will you create clearly states charity or other nonprofit organization in are revoking any previously written wills. that you are revoking all other wills and your last will and testament. If you prefer not create an entirely new codicils previously made. will, then you have the option of a codicil. If you choose to leave a gift to a good Leaving a gift to charity can be the cause and have yet to create your will, A codicil is a document that is used to perfect opportunity to reflect on what then the process to include a gift to a make changes to a will that has already has been important in your life and what charity is relatively straight forward. been created. Executed by you, a codicil you would like to see supported in the However, you must take the time to will allow you to modify, delete, or revoke future. Consider the Opossum Society of obtain the official name of the charity, anything you like in your will. It can be a California (OSUS) when making out your their address, and registered charity simple way to make minor amendments will. number so that you can provide your such as changing the amount of a gift estate planning attorney or other of money or leaving a gift to a specific

OSUS www.opossumsocietyus.org7 Opossum Society of the United States P. O. B ox 1 6 7 2 4 Irvine, CA 92623

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Phone Calls and Mail: t Quarterly Issues of ‘Possum Prints. Due to the tremendous volume of messages left t Updated diet/development/medical sheets. on our Board of Directors, t Orphan/Injured care information. Counselor, and City t Veterinarian/emergency care list. Coordinators’ answering t 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.

Here is a fun way to help opossums. Combine your two favorite hobbies - shopping and opossums! Visit our online gift catalog. Follow the links to some great shopping sites such as Amazon.com and iGive.com. Buy books, videos, music, toys, gifts and lots more! Every purchase you make helps the opossums. OSUS receives a portion of every purchase. So Spend! Spend! Spend! After all, it is for a good cause! Tell your 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 purchase. Do not go directly to Amazon or iGive.

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