Post by Kawishiway on Nov 16, 2004 21:40:01 GMT -5
Horse People.
Saturday after crawling out of the sack, I knew I was in need of wilderness time. After the stresses of day to day activities I knew I needed to be outdoors to unwind. While hiking in a local park, back in a mile or so into the woods of Netwon Hills sate park. South Dakota I ran into a couple on horseback, enjoying a wonderfully warm November Day. The leaves had all fallen and the ground were a carpet of degrading leaves softening the impact made by man (and horse) on these trails. I let the couple pass politely as at the time the horses were at somewhat of a trot. After they passed my thoughts went back to the events of last week.
Last week my boss came to work rather excited. He explained that he had a possum a box in the back of his truck, and soon they would go off, finding a gravel road too shoot it. As my office is in the country, this is not a hard thing to do. Now being a nature lover I thought abut attempting to talk him out of it. But living in the Northern Midwest, I don’t get too offended by some of our reasoning behind our ways.
My boss, Darin woke hearing his Siberian Husky, “Zoah” bark. He was not sure why as Zoah only barked if something was wrong. Darin went out to his back yard in South Dakota. Darin called to his dog “Zoah” for him to come in the house. Zoah would not. Zoah had another mammal cornered and soon a fight began. The fight was brief but soon Zaoh had the mamal in his jaws and was prancing around the back yard with his head held high proud of his achievement. Zoah, in his glory. brought the animal to Darin and dropped it at his feet. It was a possum, now dead.
Darin found a box and put the dead animal in it. He decided not to tell his wife as he’d rather not get her excited. But Zoah followed Darin into the house and Darin’s wife noticed that Zoah’s nose had been bitten. Darin then explained what had happened, and then took a shower getting ready for work. In the mean while, Darin’s wife hopped on the internet to find out facts about possums. She discovered they are rarely rabid but, are masters of the art of playing dead.
After Darin had dressed she asked to see the possum, explaining their uncanny abilities. So the couple went out to view the corpse. Darin opened the box and poked the possum with a stick. It rolled over. Darin quickly closed the box, now knowing their teeth are razor sharp, from his wife’s internet search.
Darin drove to work, not sure exactly what to do, but then consulted with Gerald, a man in the cabinet shop that I work for that makes sure jobs come together, capturing the fine details of our woodworking art. By night, by afternoon by hobby, Gerald Cowboys loves Rodeo, wears the hat, the boots and all that comes with that life style.
Gerald suggested to Darin that the possum should be shot. Gerald’s reasoning was simple. Horse people always control the possum population. It seems that possums like to poo on hay for some reason. Hay that is tainted with possum poo spreads a disease to horses when they eat it. This disease affects their nervous system and causes them to cramp up so badly they can’t move.
The decision was made to shoot the poor possum. Darin and Gerald drove off a mile or so, finding a gravel road. After Darin opened the box, the possum took off in a run and Gerald shot it dead with his dear rifle many times to make sure it was no longer just acting.
Today after getting in a much needed hike and meeting these folks along trail riding these fine animals that they love so, I understood why horse people do the things they do.
This is a photo of Darla and Kenny after I crossed there path again, now deeper into the park. I asked for there permission to take and post this photo. I also gave them our board page addy as they wanted access to the pic. I’m hoping they join us, as they love the outdoors as much as we all do. It's just not possible to cover all the hay over winter times. Yes we live a different life style. We are not kind to the Coyotes or the Mountin Lions either. It's still the wild ol midwest. Our apologies Sierra Club. My apologies to you that view this as an agressive nature that should perhaps be corrected. We understand you views too.
www.opossumsocietyus.org/frequently_asked_questions.htm#I%20heard%20horses%20could%20get%20EPM%20from%20opossums.%20True?
www.kiva.net/~kiwi/opossum/opossum.htm
www.bertc.com/possum.htm
k
Please note..this is not complete yet as i still have a photo to add and having some trouble again with my digital cam. I'll add the pic soon I hope. Working on it.
This thread is open to coments and sugesstions. Do you have a possum tail to tell? Please do. Sad tail, but true.
k
Saturday after crawling out of the sack, I knew I was in need of wilderness time. After the stresses of day to day activities I knew I needed to be outdoors to unwind. While hiking in a local park, back in a mile or so into the woods of Netwon Hills sate park. South Dakota I ran into a couple on horseback, enjoying a wonderfully warm November Day. The leaves had all fallen and the ground were a carpet of degrading leaves softening the impact made by man (and horse) on these trails. I let the couple pass politely as at the time the horses were at somewhat of a trot. After they passed my thoughts went back to the events of last week.
Last week my boss came to work rather excited. He explained that he had a possum a box in the back of his truck, and soon they would go off, finding a gravel road too shoot it. As my office is in the country, this is not a hard thing to do. Now being a nature lover I thought abut attempting to talk him out of it. But living in the Northern Midwest, I don’t get too offended by some of our reasoning behind our ways.
My boss, Darin woke hearing his Siberian Husky, “Zoah” bark. He was not sure why as Zoah only barked if something was wrong. Darin went out to his back yard in South Dakota. Darin called to his dog “Zoah” for him to come in the house. Zoah would not. Zoah had another mammal cornered and soon a fight began. The fight was brief but soon Zaoh had the mamal in his jaws and was prancing around the back yard with his head held high proud of his achievement. Zoah, in his glory. brought the animal to Darin and dropped it at his feet. It was a possum, now dead.
Darin found a box and put the dead animal in it. He decided not to tell his wife as he’d rather not get her excited. But Zoah followed Darin into the house and Darin’s wife noticed that Zoah’s nose had been bitten. Darin then explained what had happened, and then took a shower getting ready for work. In the mean while, Darin’s wife hopped on the internet to find out facts about possums. She discovered they are rarely rabid but, are masters of the art of playing dead.
After Darin had dressed she asked to see the possum, explaining their uncanny abilities. So the couple went out to view the corpse. Darin opened the box and poked the possum with a stick. It rolled over. Darin quickly closed the box, now knowing their teeth are razor sharp, from his wife’s internet search.
Darin drove to work, not sure exactly what to do, but then consulted with Gerald, a man in the cabinet shop that I work for that makes sure jobs come together, capturing the fine details of our woodworking art. By night, by afternoon by hobby, Gerald Cowboys loves Rodeo, wears the hat, the boots and all that comes with that life style.
Gerald suggested to Darin that the possum should be shot. Gerald’s reasoning was simple. Horse people always control the possum population. It seems that possums like to poo on hay for some reason. Hay that is tainted with possum poo spreads a disease to horses when they eat it. This disease affects their nervous system and causes them to cramp up so badly they can’t move.
The decision was made to shoot the poor possum. Darin and Gerald drove off a mile or so, finding a gravel road. After Darin opened the box, the possum took off in a run and Gerald shot it dead with his dear rifle many times to make sure it was no longer just acting.
Today after getting in a much needed hike and meeting these folks along trail riding these fine animals that they love so, I understood why horse people do the things they do.
This is a photo of Darla and Kenny after I crossed there path again, now deeper into the park. I asked for there permission to take and post this photo. I also gave them our board page addy as they wanted access to the pic. I’m hoping they join us, as they love the outdoors as much as we all do. It's just not possible to cover all the hay over winter times. Yes we live a different life style. We are not kind to the Coyotes or the Mountin Lions either. It's still the wild ol midwest. Our apologies Sierra Club. My apologies to you that view this as an agressive nature that should perhaps be corrected. We understand you views too.
www.opossumsocietyus.org/frequently_asked_questions.htm#I%20heard%20horses%20could%20get%20EPM%20from%20opossums.%20True?
www.kiva.net/~kiwi/opossum/opossum.htm
www.bertc.com/possum.htm
k
Please note..this is not complete yet as i still have a photo to add and having some trouble again with my digital cam. I'll add the pic soon I hope. Working on it.
This thread is open to coments and sugesstions. Do you have a possum tail to tell? Please do. Sad tail, but true.
k
