A Brutal End

[shaunyboy]

I think that's a bit too general. Some people love the outdoors and nature in general but have a fear or loathing of certain creatures. Spiders and snakes being two of the most common. I can understand the emotional response involved in many cases. I don't mind most spiders and I certainly love snakes but the second I lay eyes on a possum, I am overwhelmed by intense loathing and an urge to kill it. I don't know why. I just can't stand them. This emotion overtakes all logic. I must kill it even though it makes no sense. I'll even chase it down to kill it. Fortunately for the possum, most of them are able to get to safety before I get a chance. The last possum family of 4 that crossed my yard at 2am were out in the open. They weren't so lucky. Once they are dead, I kind of feel bad about it but the next time I see one, there it is again, the urge to kill it. I have no control over it.

ive never heard as much crap in a very long time.you really expect me to believe that you have no control over your reaction when you see a possum.grow up mate or better still grow a pair,act like a real man.you go about killing these little defenseless creatures then claim to have no control over it.so what your saying if a group of kids were near by and you saw a possum you would run over and club it to death in front of these kids ? i looked in your signature and you appear to be an educated guy with a decent interest in herpetolgy.so why on earth would you allow yourself to act this way ? more to the point why would you write the gory details on a garter forum where animal lovers and kids read the posts ?

my apologys to all other forum members for my post.i am usually a polite,mannerable,helpfull person.this guys post just pressed all the wrong buttons in me.i am still trying to work out,did he post it for attention,effect or more scarily is this really how he is ? if so i wouldnt want to live next door to the guy.i have always believed that there is no place for violence in society.with the one exception,to defend you or your family against an attacker.i am not a violent person but witnessing the unneccesary killing of a creature in this way would cause me to break a rule of a lifetime.
cheers shaun

[ConcinusMan]

I don't expect you to believe anything. It is what it is and it doesn't matter if you believe it. I don't like it any more than you do.

[mtolypetsupply]

I've found that the best hunters only make reluctant and reverent kills.

That said, ConcinnusMan, I have to applaud your bravery for being so honest about your feelings when I'm sure you could anticipate a negative reaction. I don't agree with your stance, but it is refreshing to see someone so honest in the face of probable and ongoing criticism.

I have a friend who has a very similar loathing of possums. Hers also extends to raccoons and foxes. To her, they are Kill On Sight. Her loathing and killing of these animals stems from keeping chickens. They do steal eggs and eat chickens. She needs to protect her livestock.

I also know some cranberry farmers. They feel the same way about deer. Deer come into the bogs, lay down on the bushes, and kill the bushes. The farmers are given permits to hunt them year round, as they damage crops. I do feel the farmers have the right to protect their crops.

I feel the same way about mosquitos. And any other bug in my house. I do not take spiders outside. I do not release bugs to their native habitat. I do kill them and don't see anything wrong with that. Spiders can bite, and cause infection. Flies are dirty. Mosquitos bite and spread disease. I don't bother them outside, so I don't have any qualms about killing the few I find in my house.

ConcinnusMan, if they aren't vermin to you, killing your livestock or damaging crops or spreading disease, I can't understand the Kill On Sight mentality. However, I do thank you for being so bold as to tell your truth.

[ConcinusMan]

It's not exactly a mentality. I don't know why I react that way. Its different than a hate for a creature that builds up over time because they are destroying your crops, or hate that is taught. Honestly, possums have never done anything to make me hate them, except exist.

I guess what I'm trying to say is, the reaction is like an instinct to squint when the sun is in your eyes. It just happens and I have no say in the matter.

In that way, it is a lot like how some people react to snakes and that was the whole point in telling everyone about it. And everyone knows, intense therapy is the only way anyone can overcome something like this. You can talk to them 'till you're blue in the face, educate them about snakes, etc., and most of the time it won't make any difference. It would be like trying to convince someone to NOT shiver when they are cold and then getting angry and insulting at them for not being able to do it.

[Kevinh583]

I don't think people are born with a hatred towards an animal. It develops either through negative experience or because of fear. I absolutely hate cats (though I do still posses enough self control to not kill every cat I see). However, friends and neighbors know I'm the person to call if their cat needs to be put to sleep with a lead injection.

I think I developed this because when I was about 4 yrs old a neighborhood cat killed some cute and cuddly pet ducklings of mine. I remember actually roaming through the neighborhood with a big stick in a quest for revenge. Maybe your uncontrollable hatred for possums is the result of a traumatic childhood experience. A psychologist or hypnotherapist could probably help you out if it is as out of control as you say.

[GartersRock]

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.

Ok... Now not that I am comparing people to animals... But you literally have no control over these feelings? So if a serial killer has the same feelings and can't control them. Does that make it ok or normal AT ALL?
If someone had these feelings towards a human. Or even say a dog. Wouldn't you expect them to control it?

[ConcinusMan]

Like I said before, I don't see possums often enough to bother with therapy. I think the last time it happened was about 8 years ago.

BTW, I really dislike cats too. Pretty much for the same reasons you do. As a kid, I had one cat. I also raised wild baby birds, pigeons, cockatiels, and of course, garter snakes. They just don't mix. The possum thing is totally different. It's more like a reflex. In some cases it's the same thing with people and snakes so don't make snap judgements about what kind of person they are.

[GartersRock]

If I had a pet possum that I loved very much and it was in front of you. Would you come after me to kill him/her? I am curious as to how out of control these kinds of feelings people have really are...

[ConcinusMan]

I would expect that I would probably know about your pet before you put it in my face, and avoid the situation altogether. Or maybe, like I've done with "charming" snakes, if your possum was all that charming, maybe you could help me overcome it.

[GartersRock]

But if you didn't? I am not trying to stir anything at all. I am just curious.