Ophelia is one of the Virginia Opossum ambassadors at Busch Wildlife Sanctuary. Ophelia was being kept as an illegal pet and was found among dozens of other domesticated animals when law enforcement responded to a hoarding situation. She is too reliant on humans to survive in the wild.
Virginia Opossums are the only marsupials found in North America. Opossums have opposable thumbs on their back feet and a strong, prehensile tail, which helps them climb trees and latch onto branches. This species is often referred to as “nature’s garbage disposal,” because they eat anything & everything! Opossums help control populations of other pests, such and rodents, and curb diseases by eating insects, ticks, and even dead animals.
