A Brutal End

[ConcinusMan]

If I was constantly encountering possums in my daily life, I would agree.

[infernalis]

You need help.

If I was constantly encountering possums in my daily life, I would agree.

I don't think he means you need help killing them.

[guidofatherof5]

So, 2am and you couldn't have closed your door and gone back in the house. It's not like they invaded your house and you were protecting yourself.
Left alone, they leave the area. No harm on fool.

[ConcinusMan]

Oh yes, I know. Like I said, the urge to kill them on sight defies all logic. You don't understand. No harm isn't an option when I see one. It must die. I don't understand it myself. They just provoke such a deep loathing in me that just letting them go on with their business is not an option. I simply cannot stand the sight of them, and the logic to let them go on unmolested and unharmed makes perfect sense. That sense goes right out the window the second I see one face to face.

Dang squirrels invade my house, destroy my landscaping, my plants, come in my house, chew on my house and door jams, I mean, they are destructive little boogers, and yet I brought this on myself by feeding them. Logic says I should, let's see, how do I put this delicately, "reduce their numbers" and/or stop feeding them. Instead they have a steady supply of sunflower seeds outside, nest boxes to reproduce in, and I feed them peanuts at my door. Not only do I let them live, I actually support them as they do harm.

Possums do no harm in most cases. Sometimes they just scavenge seeds dropped from my bird feeders. Sometimes they sleep under my outdoor shed. No biggie. But if I happen see one crossing my yard, or a street, or anywhere.. well, you know. I'm like Jeckyll and Hyde. My potion is the mere sight of a possum.

I mean, look at this thing. It gives me the willies bigtime. I'm getting chills and grinding my teeth just looking at pictures of a possum. I simply must bash it's skull in. (not as easy as it looks, to kill one with blunt force trauma, BTW) I don't know why I react that way. Weird huh? I can imagine something similar happens with some people when they see a snake. My reaction is not based on fear, just very deep loathing. So you see, my killing a possum is like a reflex and does not reflect my overall feelings toward nature and the animals in it. Just possums as far as I know. Just the images literally give me goose bumps. If it were live and moving, in front of me it would be even worse. I wouldn't go the other direction. I'd instantly find the nearest object (rock, gun, club, whatever) and chase that sucker. If I caught up to it, I'd shoot it and/or beat it to death, and feel much exhileration and satisfaction in watching it take it's last breath. Then later, when faced with a carcass to dispose of, I'd feel guilty for killing an animal unnecessarily.

[Spankenstyne]

Steve, all anyone can do is try. Making the effort and keep educating as best we can won't work a lot of the time but it can and does make a small difference. One which hopefully then gets paid forward with someone else also doing the same.
Luckily up here we've had the gov't protect some den sites, and the Reptile Society up in Edmonton donated the funds and time to have an educational sign put up at a site. Small strides but forward progress nonetheless.

Keep up the good work & keep fighting the good fight. It's always worth it to at least say something, it might not make a difference at the moment but maybe at least plants the seed that it's not ok to kill snakes.

[infernalis]

Oh yes, I know. Like I said, the urge to kill them on sight defies all logic. You don't understand. No harm isn't an option when I see one. It must die. I don't understand it myself. They just provoke such a deep loathing in me that just letting them go on with their business is not an option. I simply cannot stand the sight of them, and the logic to let them go on unmolested and unharmed makes perfect sense. That sense goes right out the window the second I see one face to face.

You are looking at this all wrong, If I wanted to I can find a zillion scary snake pictures......What you are saying to us on a forum full of animal lovers defies logic Richard.


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[Tyrel26]

I have been hunting since I was old enough to walk (started out hunting with my father before anyone comments on a toddler with a gun lol) and I still hunt. I hunt for food and I use as much as possible from the animals I take. There is no animal I hate or just have to kill, I respect the right for all animals to live. If I find a insect in my house I release it outside even though some of them give me cold shivers lol.

I am not trying to be insulting by what I am about to say but if you do have an urge to kill that you cannot control you really do need help. Take your whole argument and at the end post a picture of a person of a different race...thats the same argument that many racists use "just look at them...ugly....useless....have to kill them" No I am not trying to compare you to a racist, I am just saying if they say they cannot control the urge to kill people of a different race does it make it ok?

I think there is a deeper meaning behind this "urge" than you realize and if you truly cannot resist killing them you may want to seek help.

This is just plain scary

QUOTE "feel much exhileration and satisfaction in watching it take it's last breath"

[infernalis]

I have been hunting since I was old enough to walk (started out hunting with my father before anyone comments on a toddler with a gun lol) and I still hunt. I hunt for food and I use as much as possible from the animals I take. There is no animal I hate or just have to kill, I respect the right for all animals to live. If I find a insect in my house I release it outside even though some of them give me cold shivers lol.

I am not trying to be insulting by what I am about to say but if you do have an urge to kill that you cannot control you really do need help. Take your whole argument and at the end post a picture of a person of a different race...thats the same argument that many racists use "just look at them...ugly....useless....have to kill them" No I am not trying to compare you to a racist, I am just saying if they say they cannot control the urge to kill people of a different race does it make it ok?

I think there is a deeper meaning behind this "urge" than you realize and if you truly cannot resist killing them you may want to seek help.

This is just plain scary

QUOTE "feel much exhileration and satisfaction in watching it take it's last breath"

That was an excellent post, and I agree fully to all of it.

[Tyrel26]

Thank you

[Hollis_Steed]

Well said Tyrel26.