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Comment:
Public misguided on lowly possum
by Lynn Cuny, San
Antonio Express-News
Tuesday, October 3, 2006
After the first of several phone calls to
Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation on Monday, I was compelled
to read the incredibly biased report on one of the most benign
species of urban wildlife in this state.
The front-page article "Not the place
for possums," fraught with quotes from individuals who
hate this animal, was disturbing, unfair and irresponsible.
The picture painted by these people was that of a disease
infested animal who is filthy and serves no purpose.
These unique and interesting animals are not
filthy; they are quite fastidious in their self-grooming habits
and have been serving the purpose of eating rats, mice, roaches
and others that most people consider pests for centuries.
They also happen to be highly resistant to rabies and other
diseases. Regarding the statement of the woman who was bitten
by a flea, I would be interested in learning how anyone could
know which animal a particular flea had been living on.
The possum is one of the oldest mammals living
on this planet; they have been doing so quietly and harmlessly
for literally millions of years. The problem is that we humans
are not very understanding, nor are we forgiving, of an animal
we simply do not appreciate.
Because possums resemble rats, they are often
mistaken for rodents. Because their only means of defense
is to open their mouths, bare their teeth and then involuntarily
play dead, they are seen as vicious. Nothing could be further
from the truth. I have worked in service to this animal for
more than 30 years and have learned just how distinctive the
possum is.
Like me, they are native to San Antonio, and
we should be thankful they are. It is important to note that
if the possum were not part of our urban environment, we would
easily be up to our knees in the carrion they remove as part
of their regular diet.
Like all wildlife, this is not an animal to
be maligned. This is yet another species we should appreciate
and protect.
Urban wildlife have the daily struggle of
dealing with cars, dogs, cats, traps, poison, BB guns and
all manner of tools we can find to kill them. Now, thanks
to this article, the blameless possum will, no doubt, face
a new onslaught of each of these.
It would have been reasonable for the reporter
to contact Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation. We would
have been happy to enlighten him on the wonders of this creature.
This is the time of year when mother possums
are doing their best to care for their young. The decision
to place this story on the front page will make that already
daunting task even more challenging.
It is not enough that urban encroachment and
a devastating drought are taking their toll on what should
be a cherished faction of our population, our native wildlife,
who now have to add to their list of problems the fear that
the misinformation in this article will generate.
Lynn Cuny of Kendalia is founder and executive
director of Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation.
Copyright © 2006 San
Antonio Express-News
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