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Though she possesses 50 intimidating teeth, Petunia, a 1-year-old opossum, spelled doom Friday for only a table of fruits and vegetables at the South Philadelphia Branch, 1700 S. Broad St.
A model of serenity, the ravenous marsupial captivated 30 children at the Newbold literacy location, serving as one of four helpers in the “Animals with Bad Reputations” presentation. The work of The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, the afternoon tutorial sought to counter suppositions about the creatures’ behaviors and encouraged acquiring more knowledge on other feared figures.
“It can be very easy to make assumptions about anything, but we have to take the time to learn,” Michele Bassler, an outreach supervisor for the 200-year-old academy, America’s oldest natural history museum, said.
A 14-year employee, Bassler has ventured to numerous spots, including camps, fairs, malls and schools, to stifle stereotypes and made her local stop with funding from the Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program, a key contributor to her Logan Square-based site’s Academy On-the-Go program. As the scientific haven houses more than 18 million specimens, she had ample options in educating the participants, whose anticipation swelled as she announced the first aide, an Eastern milk snake.
“That’s so cool,” 8-year-old Joseph Werbel, sitting in the front row with 4-year-old sister Evalisse, said as the harmless-to-humans reptile curled around Bassler’s right hand.
The siblings, residents of the 1100 block of Cross Street, sat amazed as they learned of the creature’s skin, tongue, constricting ability and appellation.
“Who thinks we call it a milk snake because it likes to drink milk?” Bassler asked as her compact assistant displayed its tongue, which it will do to gain a sense of its surroundings.
Seeing a few raised hands, she told the knowledge seekers that milk snakes often inhabit barns and their common proximity to cows leads many to believe they enjoy the bovines’ output. In actuality, they covet the mice who use barns as their abodes.
“While they will crush their food to death,” Bassler said, “we have nothing to fear.”
Following questions on the snake, including one from Joseph on its longevity, which Bassler said is within the 10- to 15-year range, the help grew smaller yet no less awe-inspiring when she took out an emperor scorpion. A common find in Africa, the predatory arachnid canvassed Bassler’s hands, never appearing flustered or aggressive. Reaching an average length of 7.9 inches, its brethren are among the world’s largest species of scorpion, but Bassler’s specimen seemed maybe half that size. Regardless of its expanse, its pincers and tail drew looks from the attendees.
“Can they sting themselves?” Evalisse said.
Bassler informed everyone that emperor scorpions cannot harm themselves and rarely pose risks to humans.
“This one could sting me at any time, but it would be like a bee’s sting,” she said, noting the arthropod should not induce automatic apprehension.
She revealed it will issue a warning when feeling defensive by raising its abdomen and pincers and added that sensory hairs cover the latter, enabling it to sense prey, primarily insects, through vibrations in the air and on the ground.
“It helps to control the pest population,” Bassler said, noting its affinity for bugs, next month’s highlighted academy anniversary collection. “It may look hurtful, but, with a little investigation, we find it’s not so bad.”
The Werbels joined their contemporaries in commending the inclusion of Petunia, who peered at her admirers as Bassler adorned a table with treats, including a strawberry.
“She doesn’t have a sweet tooth, so she probably won’t eat it,” the handler said as Petunia squashed her squash with the help of her prodigious choppers.
The United States’ lone marsupial, the opossum, commonly called “possum,” has more teeth than any other North-American mammal. It will hiss and flash the sharp objects when afraid yet will rarely use them aggressively. It does, however, enjoy a diverse diet, and Petunia gobbled the strawberry, a banana, a carrot and zucchini. An undeniable omnivore, an opossum also will hunger for frogs, mice, lizards and snakes. A classic predator, an opossum must work hard to avoid becoming prey, too, and Jackson Burgess knew its method for doing so.
“It plays possum,” the 11-year-old resident of the 1500 block of South Mole Street, said of the feigned death through which an opossum will often flip to its side, lie on the ground, close its eyes, extend its tongue and secrete a fluid from its anal glands.
To the delight of the children, Petunia remained active, as Bassler explained more details of an opossum’s life, including a note that a female can bear up to 13 young from one pregnancy.
“The children are the size of bees,” she said as the youngsters cupped their hands to prove how little space the additions would need.
Mammals, amphibians and reptiles highlight this month’s academy celebration. Anyone interested in learning about opossums, snakes or other applicable creatures can take advantage of the site’s two-for-one 21st of the month discount. Through a trip, they will learn that Petunia and her kind are common Pennsylvania dwellers. Last month’s visitors would have learned that Friday’s final animal, Teo, a male red-tailed hawk, also has many Keystone State allies.
The leashed bird, whom Bassler said is common in Philadelphia, has lived at the museum for 14 years. As she led him around, Teo inspected his surroundings.
“He is thinking hawk thoughts,” she said to laughter as Teo, whose red-tailed friends and he are North America’s most common hawks, arched his head.
Once she had placed the carnivore, whose ilk enjoys mice, rabbits, reptiles and squirrels, back in his cage, Bassler noticed eager looks on the young faces. Though she could not let the children interact with the animals, she brought objects for them to touch, including a crow’s feather, a red-tailed hawk’s foot, a skunk’s fur and a wolf’s skull.
“I wasn’t afraid of any animal,” Joseph said. “I feel even better about respecting all creatures.”
“That’s how I feel,” Jackson added. “I loved seeing the hawk and want to find out more.”
For children’s librarian JoAnne Woods, the 75-minute event further proved the need to court the unknown.
“It was fantastic,” she said. “I loved that the kids were able to gain knowledge.”
Contact Staff Writer Joseph Myers at jmyers@southphillyreview.com or ext. 124.
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