Okee Dokee, then!


On Jan 25, 2008, at 5:57 PM, Kelly McAllister wrote:

> Where is there a shread of evidence that opossums got here on their
> own? At the time of Dalquest's "Mammals of Washington," published in
> 1948, Opossums had only recently appeared in Washington and were known
> from Clear Lake in Skagit County and South Bend in Pacific County. At
> the time, it was recognized that Opossums had become well established
> in California and Oregon because of human transport and release.
> Opossums may have spread naturally into Washington from Oregon but
> they didn't get to Oregon on their own. To me, they're just as
> non-native as the Eastern Gray Squirrels and Nutria.
> ?
> Kelly McAllister
> Olympia, Washington
> ?
> ?
> ?
> ?
> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: Robert Pisano
>> To: Tweeters
>> Sent: Friday, January 25, 2008 4:58 PM
>> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Starling habitat, native mammals
>>
>> Katie,
>>
>> Unlike the Eastern Gray Squirrel, which was deliberately introduced
>> to city parks in the American and Canadian west, the Opossum arrived
>> here on its own and without the intentional intervention of humans.
>> Like the Anna's Hummers who enjoy the micro-habitats that we have
>> created and which have enabled their expansion, the Opossum in the
>> Northwest can be considered to be self-introduced and therfore, a
>> native (i.e., naturally occurring) mammal.
>>
>> Robert Pisano
>> Ravenna, Seattle
>>
>>
>>
>> On Jan 25, 2008, at 12:43 PM, Messick, Katie wrote:
>>
>>> Hi Tweets,
>>>
>>> I live in a very urban neighborhood with lots of concrete and lawn
>>> and
>>> few large trees, and subsequently we have a substantial population of
>>> starlings. However, I replaced my lawn with a "forest" of small trees
>>> (still saplings at this point) and a varied, largely native
>>> understory,
>>> and I almost never see starlings in my yard. I do have a caged
>>> squirrel
>>> proof suet feeder, and from time to time a couple starlings from the
>>> flock feeding on the neighbor's lawn will make an attempt at the
>>> suet,
>>> but that just gives me an opportunity to examine their beautiful,
>>> still-fresh plumage more closely. They always leave within a few
>>> minutes and rejoin the throngs next door. If we provided less habitat
>>> for starlings (the beloved American lawn), we'd have fewer of them
>>> around our houses. I can't make my tiny urban plot into a haven like
>>> the woods, ravines and other spreads I wistfully imagine when many of
>>> you post about your yard sightings, but the birds I do have are still
>>> many and mostly native.
>>>
>>> As for mammals -- I hate to say it, but the oppossum is no more
>>> native
>>> to the Pacific northwest than the eastern gray squirrel. The only
>>> mammals that pre-dated European arrivals I've seen in my neighborhood
>>> are raccoons. I do enjoy the antics of the eastern grays, though,
>>> especially as they persistently try and fail to access my
>>> birdfeeders.
>>> If only they were Douglas squirrels, as Dennis wished!
>>>
>>> Robert Pisano wrote:
>>> "And yes, I share your sentiments about the absence of native mammals
>>> from our urban scene. Although I did have an Opossum last week in
>>> full
>>> daylight, easily the size of a Warthog!"
>>>
>>>
>>> Katie Sauter Messick
>>> Wallingford neighborhood, Seattle
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Tweeters mailing list
>>> Tweeters at u.washington.edu
>>> http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
>>>
>> _______________________________________________
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