Question

1. even though jiao understands that possums have their part to play in the ecology of the earth, she does not want to see any on her property, especially around her horses. if jiao sees signs that a possum family has moved in, she will put out traps to get rid of them. which statement best explains why jiao feels so strongly about possums?

possums have been known to infect horses with equine influenza.
possums are the number one reason that horses get rabies.
possums can scare horses, causing their stomachs to develop colic.
possums carry protozoa that cause epm in horses.

Explanation:

Possums carry protozoa that cause Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis (EPM) in horses, which is a serious health - risk concern for horse owners like Jiao. EPM can lead to neurological problems in horses. While the other options may have some level of misinformation (possums are not the main cause of rabies in horses, and there is no strong evidence for the other claims), the EPM - causing protozoa is a well - established risk.

Answer:

Possums carry protozoa that cause EPM in horses.