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Opossums Overrun Brooklyn, Fail To Eliminate Rats

Posted by samzenpus on from the urban-opossum-blight dept.

__roo writes "In a bizarre case of life imitates the Simpsons, New York City officials introduced a population of opossums into Brooklyn parks and under the boardwalk at Coney Island, apparently convinced that the opossums would eat all of the rats in the borough and then conveniently die of starvation. Several years later, the opossums have not only failed to eliminate the rat epidemic from New York City, but they have thrived, turning into a sharp-toothed, foul-odored epidemic of their own."

4 of 343 comments (clear)

  1. Remember the old lady by egandalf · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Did they learn nothing from the story of the old lady who swallowed a fly?

    Poor thing. I hear she died.

    --
    Those who have telepathy have no need to RTFA.
  2. Wild Animals Should Stay In the Wild by Bing+Tsher+E · · Score: 5, Insightful

    We had to deal with a bold, insane, possibly rabid raccoon on the front porch last week. Believe me, it's scary when the wild animals decide they're not afraid of you at all.

    1. Re:Wild Animals Should Stay In the Wild by vux984 · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Yep, because discharging a firearm at night in an urban setting to kill rodents and small mamalls is an intelligent thing to do.

  3. Re:possum is a food group here in alabama. by lexidation · · Score: 5, Insightful

    They just show their teeth and hiss? What the fuck would you do if someone trapped you in a garbage can and started poking sticks at you? You expect the little fucker to greet you?