Ep. 155 - Lisa Walsh and Contemporary Range Expansion of the Virginia Opossum

The Virginia Opossum is of the most amazing mammals on the continent. These marsupials are slowly but surely expanding their range northwards, despite winters which can be so hard on the Opossum that they can freeze, or starve to death. Why are they expanding their range? Are they adapting beyond their traditional climate niche? For this show we talk to Dr. Lisa Walsh, a mammalogist and biology educator about the wonderful natural history of the Virginia Opossum, how anthropogenic changes to the landscape are influencing their behaviours, and of her research about the processes of their ongoing range expansion.   More info: Contemporary range expansion of the Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana) impacted by humans and snow cover.