O'possums

[PurpleChicken]

Ringworm is a pain in the vent.

I'm shooting every dang possum I see!!!!


Can you eat them?

 

[amazondoc]

Quote:
You'll find lots of articles stating that possums -- like all other mammals -- can catch and sometimes *carry* lepto, but not that they are important in the *spread* of lepto. If you believe otherwise, please provide your sources. But remember: catching a disease, and even carrying a disease, are not at all the same things as TRANSMITTING a disease.

Please don't lecture Epidemiology to someone who holds a Master's degree in the field.

You may want to do some review work on the differences between susceptibility to a disease, carrying a disease, and actually transmitting that disease.

And nope, I never said any animal was "disease free".

As far as relocating the animals, you can do the legwork. I know it to be true but if you wish to disprove me, have at it.

You can't prove a negative. And you're the one who made the claim, so it's up to you to provide evidence to support the claim. Personally, I'm not interested in sifting through the regulations of all the thousands of jurisdictions throughout the country. But since you felt comfortable making such a bold claim, I kinda thought you might actually have some facts to back it up. Oh well!

Of course it makes sense that a person would get ringworm from their pets. But where do you think your pet gets it?

Other pets, usually.

Honestly, we are never going to agree on this topic or probably any topic it seems, but I'm not going to stand by silent and let you make all kinds of questionable claims that tend to mislead folks either.

So far, I'm the only one bothering to supply actual facts to back up those "questionable" claims....​

 

[bluey]

http://vetmed.illinois.edu/wmc/opossums.html

I tell ya...the lies perpetrated by veterinary medicine. And there are hundreds of these if anyone cares to check....

I'm done feeding trolls...

 

[amazondoc]

Oh cmon, surely you can do better than that??

That page says "Opossums are carriers of leptospirosis".

Yup, yesindeedy, possums can CARRY lepto. But remember, carrying is NOT the same thing as transmitting.

Refer back to my earlier posts -- you know, the ones with data on the actual risk of TRANSMISSION of lepto?

Cmon, bluey.

 

[Verboten]

You should do some research to see if the opossum is native to your area. Where I live they are an introduced pest that is competing with native wildlife. Even in the east they seem to be spreading outside of their historical range because of human activity. IMHO introduced predators should be removed.

 

[bluey]

I'm from New York City. Awhile back there was a pretty good run of lepto in the domestic dog population. They determined the reservoir to be, yep, you guessed it, opposums, which believe it or not there is a decent population.

I've never claimed that every opposum was diseased or dangerous. I merely stated that I'd rather "manage" my population by exterminating them rather than chancing their good nature. I'm a pragmatist, I'd rather be safe than sorry.

The Opossum is a pest species that is plentiful. My coop is also secure.

I do free range my chickens and I realize that you view that as irresponsible. I don't wish to have that argument again.

Let's just agree to disagree. I'm not trying to change your mind, just disputing what I feel are very misleading facts that you are offering to people who may not understand the risks, no matter how minimal you deem them to be.

Peace? (extending the olive branch)

 

[amazondoc]

On a brief search I can find several references to a 1997 lepto epidemic in dogs on Long Island -- but right now I can't see anything pinning the epidemic on possums. I'd be interested in seeing some data on that, if you have any.

Bluey, I'm all for disagreeing without being disagreeable. But do you think that calling somebody a "troll" qualifies as civil discourse?

 

[Zookeeper9000]

Quote:
I want to start by saying I really respect you, I enjoy the links you post, I learn a lot from them. That said, why after expressing your links and your difference of opinions with others, do you have to push it to the point the thread gets closed. I don't understand that. Everyone on here can check out the links and make up our own minds. We don't need the repeated attacks on those with opinions that differ from yours.

However I for one like to read a thread that goes to a natural death not one forced on it. I really mean no disrespect, I just don't understand why you can't post and let others make up their own mind. It's almost like you live to shut a thread down, at least that is what it looks like to me.

I also like to read threads that bluey responds too. I very often have the same opinion that he has not always but often. The thing here is I like to read both opinons but with out the posts you make that forces people to feel like they have to defend themselves, it forces them to argue back and forth with you till the thread is shut down. Again I really mean no disrespect just wanted to express my opinion, not everyone needs to share it.

I would also like to state again if it is your preditor it is your choice.

 

[PurpleChicken]

I'd just like to jump in and say I find Bluey and Amazon to be very
intellegent and educated individuals. There are different opinions
here and I've learned a lot from reading this thread.

Some of my closest forum friends on BYC are people I've had heated
disagreements with or folks who just hated my guts and probably still
do.

So, should I shoot the stupid possum or what???

 

[amazondoc]

Quote:
I'm not making "attacks". I didn't call anybody a troll, or evil, or nasty, or stupid, or a liar, or use any other personal insult. What I have been doing is correcting misinformation with documented facts. If facts get a thread shut down, so be it.