The new feature on the Tas possum proposed plan is now live on the website – you can see it directly here - (please copy and paste this link)
http://www.animalsaustralia.org/take_action/save-tassie-possums/
But it is also on the front page so that everyone will see it.
I am sure it will result in hundreds of emails to the Minister, so lets hope he is listening. If an election is held soon of course he will be in caretaker mode and not able to sign off on the management plan – so there may be a reprieve. *Animals Australia
Monday, July 26, 2010
Possums 27/7/10
I was very disturbed by an article in your paper encouraging violence against possums (Heckler, July 23). I am a wildlife carer and have some hints on how to live in harmony with possums.
My neighbour has a very productive vegetable garden and when a possum eats his produce he puts it down to experience and works out ways to outsmart the marsupial. That is the beauty of being human and having a large brain - we can work out non-violent solutions to problems.
Australia holds the record for the highest rate of mammal extinction on the planet and habitat destruction continues apace. Consequently, our cities are often the last refuge for wildlife . This is the predicament facing the "common" possum, which is native to Australia and not an introduced pest, as it is in New Zealand.
The brushtail possum is lucky enough to be adaptable and has found ways to survive in our cityscapes. I think we will be grateful for this adaptability in years to come. There is concern that with the current rate of land clearing and climate change we will see a catastrophic loss of wildlife over the next 10 to 20 years. The federal government recently conceded that extinction for some species is inevitable, so why then are we not taking every possible step to protect our urban wildlife ? Once they are gone, we can't get them back.
As an inner city resident, I feel blessed that we have such a plethora of wildlife in our backyards and I strongly believe our lives and those of our children are made richer for their presence. So, next time you wake up to the sound of jackboots on your roof as a possum uses your house as a highway, roll over and put in some earplugs.
In the morning, trim back the branches on the trees close to your house. Not only will this encourage the possum to find an alternative route to his destination, but you will be doing your gutters a favour and reducing fire risk.
Brigette Sharp chairwoman, WIRES inner west branch, Petersham
My neighbour has a very productive vegetable garden and when a possum eats his produce he puts it down to experience and works out ways to outsmart the marsupial. That is the beauty of being human and having a large brain - we can work out non-violent solutions to problems.
Australia holds the record for the highest rate of mammal extinction on the planet and habitat destruction continues apace. Consequently, our cities are often the last refuge for wildlife . This is the predicament facing the "common" possum, which is native to Australia and not an introduced pest, as it is in New Zealand.
The brushtail possum is lucky enough to be adaptable and has found ways to survive in our cityscapes. I think we will be grateful for this adaptability in years to come. There is concern that with the current rate of land clearing and climate change we will see a catastrophic loss of wildlife over the next 10 to 20 years. The federal government recently conceded that extinction for some species is inevitable, so why then are we not taking every possible step to protect our urban wildlife ? Once they are gone, we can't get them back.
As an inner city resident, I feel blessed that we have such a plethora of wildlife in our backyards and I strongly believe our lives and those of our children are made richer for their presence. So, next time you wake up to the sound of jackboots on your roof as a possum uses your house as a highway, roll over and put in some earplugs.
In the morning, trim back the branches on the trees close to your house. Not only will this encourage the possum to find an alternative route to his destination, but you will be doing your gutters a favour and reducing fire risk.
Brigette Sharp chairwoman, WIRES inner west branch, Petersham
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