Sunday, February 20, 2011

POSSUM HUNT IN THE CAPITAL 1945


Unthinkable today but nearly 70 years ago 'open season' was declared on the humble Possum in the city area of Canberra. Many residents readily took to the new 'sport' and in a two month period 2000 possums were dispatched in a one mile circumference of the city center. The following two clippings relate the announcement of the open season and two months later the results. Imagine the uproar today...

The Mercury (Hobart) - 30 July 1945



And the Results...

The Canberra Times - 27 September 1945



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2 comments:

  1. AnonymousFebruary 20, 2011 at 12:50 PM

    A very interesting post, thank you Dave.
    I seem to recall it was open season on possums in NZ some time back too. I wonder if that is still the case.
    Keith.
    http://woodsrunnersdiary.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  2. David R. ReidFebruary 20, 2011 at 12:54 PM

    Actually Keith when I was over there Souvenir type Possum fur products were abundant. My favorites were in a petrol station on the South Island - Possum fur nipple warmers - I had to laugh. Cheers

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