OPOSSUMS

Southland Times, Issue 19461, 28 January 1925, Page 5

OPOSSUMS

I THEIR PLACE IN THE BUSH. ARE THEY A MENACE? i The question whether opossums are a , menace to the New Zealand bush or perI fectly harmless is apparently still in doubt. I The case against the further introduction iof these animals, at any rate until more ' conclusive evidence is obtained, is stated in [ a letter recently addressed by the lion. sec- ! rotary of the Native Birds Protection So- | ciety (Captain Sanderson) to the UnderI Secretary for Internal Affairs. Captain I Sanderson suggests that at least a further I period be allowed to elapse before applicai tions for distribution of opossums are granted, in order to better ascertain the results accruing from the presence of the animals in the forests. ‘ With the exception of Professor Kirk,” the writer continues, “it appears to be only ‘ those who are receiving an immediate finan- ; cial gain, or are hopeful to receive such, i who champion the opossum. Some of these gentlemen rarely, if ever, visit our forests. ’ ihe acknowledged damage done in the way | of trapping is a factor that requires earnest I concideratuon and much more drastic efforts jin checking than are at present in evi- } dence. '■ "‘Your Department ' is, of course, fully j alive to the great responsibility a decision will have on this matter when it is coni sidered how very seriously already our forests are endangered by the presence of deer, goats, wild cattle, opossums, etc., all of which are at variance with Nature. The income to be derived from the sale of skins is all very nice, but what will be the eventual balance, credit or debit? Rabbits re- : turn something like 10 times the income ! opossums do, and yet we do not want them, i A change in the fashion for furs would in- • deed have an unfortunate bearing on the i question.” Captain Sanderson quotes vari- . ous statements as to the damage done to ; opossums, also the following opinion ex- • pressed by a West Coast acclimatisation j society: “The opossum on the other hand, : is destroying some of our larger trees, and ; it is quite common to sec a number of i dead trees on the hillsides, and the ani- ■ mats are increasing in every year. • The opossum seems to pay particular at- | tention to the rata. My council always has, I and will, place the welfare of the forest ■ before its own immediate interests, and will | co-operate with other bodies to protect ' i same, but not in the manner your society ! ' suggests by hampering the legitimate trap- ! : per, but by encouraging him in every manj net to get rid of or keep in check one of ! the greatest pests ever liberated in New Zealand.” I “The opinion so often expressed that I opossum's are easily exterminated will certainly be found to be a fallacy, should the occasion ar.se for such an attempt (Captain Sanderson continues). Traces of the animals are to be found, away up in the back ranges, in places only accessible under favourable weather conditions. The opossum , has no natural enemies, and we think you ' will agree that extreme caution should be | exercised before permits are given for furI ther distribution and further observations made by disinterested authorities. FreI quent reports reach us from our members, 1 none of which favour the opossum.”