When I was younger I worked in three different museums that all had
wildlife rehabilitation units. Once you received an animal you were
required to take care of it. To do otherwise would put the museum in a
public relations nightmare that we didn't want to think about. To say the
least of jeopardizing our County/City funding.

I don't want to think about how many debates I have been in about baby
Opossums. The Laws of Nature don't translate well in public discourse. They
are much too messy. It is interesting to consider the phrase, "An animal's
right to live." in a prey predator world. I try to estimate the validity of
the concept. I like John Dewey's comment that the Laws of Nature do not
exist, except as an object of inquiry.

Jim Rosso

At 10:26 PM 5/12/99 -0700, S. Downes wrote:
>First of all THANK YOU Tom for saying what most of us were
>probably thinking. Opossums and other non-native wildlife should not be
>taken to Wildlife Rehab centers are their care will help to perpetuate a
>species who existent natives could defiently live without. While
>warm-fuzzies may gather some "soooooo cute" reactions I doubt those same
>people would bother to take a baby Starling or House Sparrow to the rehab
>center (at least I hope not). I'm not saying if people should actively
>kill non-natives, thats other discussion we have had before and do not
>need to repeat. I would personally leave it alone and if the mother is not
>around a predator will get it as it should be. I hope that rehab centers
>try to maximize their time for Native Wildlife and if so, we should not
>take up their time with exotics, if not to kill them directly then at
>least don't help them.
>
>Scott Downes
>sdownes at u.washington.edu
>Seattle WA
>
>"Birds don't read bird books. (That's why they are seen doing things they
>are not supposed to do)." -Mary Wood
>
Jim Rosso
Issaquah, Washington
425-392-8440
jrosso at mediaseek.com