[HPFGU-OTChatter] re: Possums, a distraction from the WAITING

[storm]

Storm wrote in
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPFGU-OTChatter/message/27941 :

<< Organised to take the possum to the vet tomorrow >>

Possum? Short for opossum? The only native marsupial in North America?
What's it doing in New Zealand?

Catlady you ask the best questions!
In short your possums are omnivores, pouched marsupials who have multiple,
multiple young (and not generally regarded as cute). Our possums are
primarily vegetarian (though some species are not too fussy) pouched
marsupials who have between one and four young, depending on the species
(and mostly regarded as cute unless you have one living in your roof or you
live in Tasmania).

The possum in question is in Australia and is a Common Brushtail Possum
(trichosurus vulpecula). She is an old girl who has been with me now since
the beginning of December 04. This extended stay has come about because she
initially had a very bad back injury which prevented her grooming. Her back
is great now, she has full movement but she has a mite overgrowth which is
proving very difficult to treat.

There are a roughly (very roughly) 20 odd species of possum in Australia,
depending on how you cut the sub-species. They range from the 4kg Mountain
Brushtail Possum down to a 40gram Pygmy Possum. The gliders are often lumped
in with the possums. Taxonomically (try saying that out loud) not all the
possums are in the same family and some of the possum families have gliders
in them. (they are sub-order Phalangerididia - unless they have been
re-sorted - if anyone actually wants to look them up). If you are interested
(even remotely) Anne Kerle's book " Possums; the brushtails, ringtails and
the greater gliders" (ISBN 0-86840-419-5), gives quite a good overview.

The possums in NZ, as Shaun has already mentioned, are one of more misguided
(stupid) thing people have done. Possums were imported and set free to be
the basis of a fur trapping industry and have gone on the eat just about
everything in sight. They strip forests, kill many of there birds and carry
diseases they don't carry in Australia. A classic case of the wrong animal
in the wrong place.

storm, and Mum, the possum who had quite a good vet visit thank you because
there was lots of banana involved. Yum.
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