Warren County Conservation has a new pet ambassador this year, a Virginia Opossum. Environmental Education Coordinator Kelsey Longnecker tells KNIA News the name for the opossum will be revealed at an upcoming program, but the opossum is there as an educational opportunity for both kids and adults.

“She’s missing one eye and she is missing her tail, she was hit by a car. She’s better now, she’s all healed up, she’s doing great. She’s here to be able to talk to people about some of the dangers animals face even here in Iowa, and the importance that all of our wildlife has. Even the ones that people are a little more hesitant to meet.”

Warren County Conservation is hosting an event about marsupials that will highlight opossums in February.