Christmas Possums

[Jim Victory]

They can also overpopulate an environment that is not sufficient to support them which is not in their best interest either.

Nature has controls to help stabilize and accomodate fluxuations in a individual breed's population. An urban environment is usually not capable of providing such controls without a detrimental impact on a given species.

You may have study your possums but I have study many different species over a 45 year period of experience in Biology, environments, and animal behavior. The urban environment is not the proper environment for the gestation cycle of possums or any other wild animal.

It has been our encroachment on their environment that has caused this imbalance and unfortunately their breeding behavior hasn't adjusted to this dramatic change. The urban environment cannot support present day populations of any wild animal species without them relying heavily on refuge, and in your case, cookies and donuts.

This only perpetuates our interference with their natural existence. Thus forcing them to rely on our scraps for their survival when they would be better off in a natural environment where their population growth could be better controlled and stabilized.

[mxcat]

Originally Posted by Jim Victory

They can also overpopulate an environment that is not sufficient to support them which is not in their best interest either.

Nature has controls to help stabilize and accomodate fluxuations in a individual breed's population. An urban environment is usually not capable of providing such controls without a detrimental impact on a given species.

You may have study your possums but I have study many different species over a 45 year period of experience in Biology, environments, and animal behavior. The urban environment is not the proper environment for the gestation cycle of possums or any other wild animal.

It has been our encroachment on their environment that has caused this imbalance and unfortunately their breeding behavior hasn't adjusted to this dramatic change. The urban environment cannot support present day populations of any wild animal species without them relying heavily on refuge, and in your case, cookies and donuts.

This only perpetuates our interference with their natural existence. Thus forcing them to rely on our scraps for their survival when they would be better off in a natural environment where their population growth could be better controlled and stabilized.

Even with my donuts I have never seen a female with more than 4 riders, and no less with no donuts. I might delay their natural timeline of territory migration a bit but their natural habits play out regardless.(they are quite hardwired) Same goes for trapping them, unless you make an exterminating effort.. I've known people at war with squirrels thinking 2 will not replace the one they relocated. You can rid your property of possums only to make it prime virgin territory for just as many living 100yrds away. These are purely urban animals they've never lived in anything but this urban environment they reproduce and stabilize on their own. Trapping them might even strengthen their gene pool by creating vacancies to be filled by less urbanized and more prolific interlopers.

Study building bonfires too?

[Jim Victory]

Originally Posted by mxcat

Even with my donuts I have never seen a female with more than 4 riders, and no less with no donuts. I might delay their natural timeline of territory migration a bit but their natural habits play out regardless.(they are quite hardwired) Same goes for trapping them, unless you make an exterminating effort.. I've known people at war with squirrels thinking 2 will not replace the one they relocated. You can rid your property of possums only to make it prime virgin territory for just as many living 100yrds away. These are purely urban animals they've never lived in anything but this urban environment they reproduce and stabilize on their own. Trapping them might even strengthen their gene pool by creating vacancies to be filled by less urbanized and more prolific interlopers.

Study building bonfires too?

Sorry but you don't know what your talking about and no I don't study building bonfires. I got my degrees and knowledge in the field I'm talking about not some uneducated guess about animal behavior and environmental trends.

Having a few possums frequent your backyard and proposing to be an expert about their behavior and feeding habits is absurd. Feeding them encourages their interaction with humans which is fine if they are in a zoo but not in your backyard. It is just not appropriate or sound animal management nor is in the best interest of the animal.

If your intent on feeding them at least feed them something in their natural diet like small animals, carion, fruit, or seeds. Maybe cut up an apple or orange for them rather than donuts and oreos. Even some sunflower seeds would be better than sweets.

[mxcat]

Originally Posted by Jim Victory

Sorry but you don't know what your talking about and no I don't study building bonfires. I got my degrees and knowledge in the field I'm talking about not some uneducated guess about animal behavior and environmental trends.

Having a few possums frequent your backyard and proposing to be an expert about their behavior and feeding habits is absurd. Feeding them encourages their interaction with humans which is fine if they are in a zoo but not in your backyard. It is just not appropriate or sound animal management nor is in the best interest of the animal.

I didn't open the topic of trapping and relocating.. I'd just as soon hear about you killing anything that enters your property. Are you sure about bonfire building degrees and knowledge?

I might not be an expert but I taught one to dunk an oreo

[slickshooter]

Good shots Derek
Looks like cookies and donuts were better than the meow mix

Dennis

[RexGig]

Regarding the topic of the images, alone, I like them!

These little guys will surely squeeze inside the house, given the opportunity. Unlike rats, they seem to eat and then leave, rather than eat and stay. In a urban area which is not really very dense, such as most of Houston, the 'possum seems right at home. No matter how well-groomed the vegetation may be, 'possums can be seen on any given night, in the streets and yards, especially if there are large trees present. If I had a dollar for every "animal-vicious" call I have run, regarding a vicious possum in a yard, I could have already retired in comfort.

[justDave]

Very creative, nice work!