Pets are always pampered at the S.P.C.A. of Erie County, but this time of year their Wildlife Department stays especially busy. In an area not generally seen by the public, an opossum is headed to surgery. Winter has taken it's toll on him and his tail was frostbitten.
The animal is sedated and Dr. Moran will trim off part of the opossum's tail and then he should be good to go. Barb Haney, director of wildlife at the S.P.C.A. says that fifteen to twenty opossums come through here each year. They are patched up and sent back into the wild as soon as possible because she says "that's where the healing takes place. they do better in the wild."
Opossums are the only marsupials in the Western Hemisphere. According to Barb Haney opossums are great consumers of pests, she says "they are the only thing that eats ticks. they are great for the eco-system because who wants ticks?"
The wildlife department at the S.P.C.A. survives only through donations. More info at the S.P.C.A. website
