What Is an Interpretive Naturalist of Zoology?

Series Summary

No doubt you've walked towards your front door late one night and were horrified by the glowing gaze of a hideous, fanged beast snarling in the darkness near the trashcans. "What is THAT?" you say, fumbling for your camera-phone to get a snapshot of this elusive mythical creature, but quickly realize you've come face to face with the notorious opossum.

In this series of free videos you'll learn all about opossums. Animal expert Jody Lutz offers tips and advice on what to do if you find an opossum in your back yard, as well as many facts about opossums. Is there a difference in a possum and an opossum? What do opossums eat? Why do opossums freak people out so much? You'll learn the true meaning of the phrase "playing possum" and much more information about this fascinating animal that seems to have adapted so well to living along side humans, in our attics, trees and trashcans.

Video Transcript

"Hi! I'm Jody Lutz and I am an Interpretive Naturalist of Zoology and what does that mean. It means I am a animal expert. I give lectures and tours as a docent at the Los Angeles Zoo and I also work with a company called the Animal Guys and we do wildlife educational shows and I also rehab. I take in wild animals like an a opossum, a skunk, a squirrel; maybe they are an orphan infant and then I raise them up and put them back in the wild where they belong. I also have a company called William and Iguana Productions and that company does wildlife films as well as taking Iguanas and finding good homes for them. I am going to talk to you a little bit today with my friend Gladys who is a common Opossum and I am talking today with Expert Village. "