DANGER OF OPOSSUMS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 3861, 23 October 1928, Page 2

DANGER OF OPOSSUMS.

“It is doubtful whether any country possesses such a history of mismanagement and lack of foresight in the introduction of fauna as New Zealand. Where man introduces mammals and birds to a new country, without exercising efficient control over them after their successful establishment, the result is usually detrimental.” Thus runs an article in the current issue of the official magazine of the Canterbury College School of Forestry, and the writer goes on to apply the arguments to the opossum. That opossums eat birds eggs is an undisputed fact, but little information has been collected as to the extent of the practice. “In the ’eighties and ’nineties,” states the article, “various acclimatisation bodies and private persons introduced the' Tasmanian and Australian opossums, and they were liberated in several different parts of the Dominion. They adapted themselves to the new conditions, which were ideal, and multiplied rapidly, spreading over many parts of the country. They were free from their natural enemies, trapping being the only thing which limited their numbers. “The effect of'the opossum on our forests, however, lias caused considerable argument. Past reports of the director of the State Forest Service state that its economic value as a fur-bearing animal much outweighs the very slight damage that it causes, and recommend the extension of the opossum trapping industry by closed seasons in overtrapped areas, and the release of animals in unstoeked regions.