http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20010711/od/possums_dc.html

Wednesday July 11 8:47 AM ET

Possums, Number One Pest, Become Dogfood

WELLINGTON (Reuters) - Possums, New Zealand's number one pest, are going to the dogs.

``Possyum,'' a canned pet food made from possum meat, is the brainchild of New Zealand farmer Bryan Bassett-Smith, who plans to break into the markets of Singapore and South Korea (news - web sites).

The possum, a cat-sized tree-climbing marsupial from Australia, was introduced into New Zealand in 1837 to establish a fur trade.

But with their population now topping 70 million -- 20 times the number of New Zealanders -- the furry pests represent a danger to native forests, chomping through an estimated seven million tonnes of vegetation a year.

The new petfood is already being sold in New Zealand and the company is now eyeing the lucrative export markets of Singapore and Korea, Bassett-Smith told Reuters. He developed the product with the help of a government grant.

``It smells and tastes very much like a good corned beef. It's got a nice odor to it and dogs just go quite bananas over it,'' he said.

A network of trappers collect the possums for canning.

Possum is not widely eaten by people in New Zealand although several restaurants have served up possum pie as a novelty item.

Efforts are also being made to farm possums for their meat to Taiwan, Hong Kong and Malaysia for human consumption as Kiwi Bear.

-- (Tastes@like.chicken), July 12, 2001

Answers

"We have met the enemy, and they are New Zealanders." -- Pogo

-- Firemouse (cherchy@la.femme), July 12, 2001.

Possum is greasy.

-- helen (oh@yeah.i.know), July 12, 2001.

adventurefoods.com is already selling possum roadkill. get extras for stocking stuffers!

-- Brooks (tabbies@R.us), July 12, 2001.

Was it possum that the brothers Darryl and Darryl were always trapping on the old Bob Newhart show?

-- Anita (Anita_S3@hotmail.com), July 12, 2001.