Media Release
November 11 2008
Operation Possum and the possum paradox
With
ten days still to go,
Operation
Possum is already an unqualified success with more than 1500
responses to the online survey.
The “citizen science” project, being run by UniSA and 891 ABC Adelaide, is turning up some surprising data on possums and people’s attitudes toward them.
Researcher Philip Roetman says the survey responses have been insightful and sometimes humorous, leaving him and his fellow researchers wondering: are possums friends or foes?
“Operation Possum has presented us with a paradox - we are finding that most people love possums, even if they hate them, too,” Roetman says.
“Managing these animals can be difficult and can cost residents many hundreds to thousands of dollars. But the overwhelming majority of responses suggest people like having possums near their house and feel that humans should learn to live with them.”
One respondent offered a unique example of the peculiar love/hate
relationship people can have with possums:
“We were enjoying dinner at the house of friends when we heard a
possum on the roof, and urine started running down the living room wall,
apparently a regular occurrence!! Our friends were furious and cursing
and we all rushed outside, friends carrying brooms!! Then we saw the
possum - with a baby on its back! Next minute we were all outside with
small pieces of apple, trying to tempt it to eat. It was soooo cute...”
Roetman says the top suburbs for survey returns are the leafy suburbs of Blackwood, Coromandel Valley, Hawthorndene, Belair and Aldgate.
“Operation Possum runs until November 20 and we’re keen to get as many responses to the survey as possible.
“The information our citizen scientists are giving us is really invaluable in developing a better understanding of possums and the way people interact with them.”
For more information, visit the Operation Possum website or do the survey here
Contacts for interview
- Philip Roetman office (08) 8302 2359 email philip.roetman@unisa.edu.au
Media contact
-
Vincent Ciccarello office (08) 8302 0578 mobile 0434 603 457
email vincent.ciccarello@unisa.edu.au