--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When possums were introduced in 1837 to…" description: "\"When possums were introduced in 1837 to start a fur industry, no one predicted that these Australian neighbours would naturalize with destructive enthu..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ccd/bee-dawson-60820_australian_when-possums-were-introduced-in-1837-to_898759.jpg" --- # When possums were introduced in 1837 to start a fur… ![“When possums were introduced in 1837 to start a fur industry, no one predicted that these Australian neighbours would naturalize with destructive enthusiasm, wreaking havoc on gardens and bush alike. Up to 20 million possums a year were killed during the height of the fur trade, but this barely…” quote by Bee Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ccd/bee-dawson-60820_australian_when-possums-were-introduced-in-1837-to_898759.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ccd/bee-dawson-60820_australian_when-possums-were-introduced-in-1837-to_898759.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ccd/bee-dawson-60820_australian_when-possums-were-introduced-in-1837-to_898759.jpg) > “When possums were introduced in 1837 to start a fur industry, no one predicted that these Australian neighbours would naturalize with destructive enthusiasm, wreaking havoc on gardens and bush alike. Up to 20 million possums a year were killed during the height of the fur trade, but this barely checked their rapid expansion.” [Bee Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bee-dawson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Introduced possums proliferated, causing ecological damage despite culling efforts. **In simple terms:** Possums spread quickly and harmed ecosystems. Key Takeaway Control invasive species early. Themes environment history invasive species ecology human impact Mood concerned reflective Type historical environmental When to use this quote - colonial agriculture - conservation policy - urban gardening - wildlife management Key Concepts population dynamics ecosystem disruption human-wildlife conflict Questions to Reflect On - How can we balance economic goals with ecological protection? - What early warning signs indicate a species may become invasive? A Different Perspective Culling alone cannot stop rapid invasive expansion. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Australian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/australian/) [Enthusiasm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enthusiasm/) [Garden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/garden/) [Industry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/industry/) [Neighbour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/neighbour/) [Possums](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possums/) [Trade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trade/) ## Related quotes > [The economy is still substantially that of the fur trade, still based on the same general kinds of commercial items: technology, weapons, ornaments, novelties,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/the-economy-is-still-substantially-that-of-the-fur-trade-still-based/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [Canada emerged as a political entity with boundaries largely determined by the fur trade. These boundaries included a vast north temperate land area extending…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-innis/canada-emerged-as-a-political-entity-with-boundaries-largely/) [Harold Innis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-innis/) > [“Over time, it is all too common for people to lose touch with their heritage, as the thrill and immediacy of the present crowds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-jay-dolin/over-time-it-is-all-too-common-for-people-to-lose-touch-with-their/) Eric Jay Dolin > [We could say that people who eat grits, listen to country music, follow stock-car racing, support corporal punishment in the schools, hunt 'possum, go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelton-reed/we-could-say-that-people-who-eat-grits-listen-to-country-music-follow/) [John Shelton Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelton-reed/) > [I'd come into town from the bush - after 28 years of field work in natural systems - and become an academic. So I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-mollison/i-d-come-into-town-from-the-bush-after-28-years-of-field-work-in/) [Bill Mollison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-mollison/) > [Convalescence. Such an utter weakness that you lie like an animal hibernating, playing possum. You float. You are adrift. Every current is stronger than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/convalescence-such-an-utter-weakness-that-you-lie-like-an-animal/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [You can't put this possum in a cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-jones/you-can-t-put-this-possum-in-a-cage/) [George Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-jones/) > [Horses are like giant possums that you can ride and they stare at you and have terrifying boners](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-rowland/horses-are-like-giant-possums-that-you-can-ride-and-they-stare-at-you/) [Jeffrey Rowland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-rowland/) > [I'm not really scared of a lot of things. I'm scared of possums. 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The ones…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-sugg/i-feel-like-australia-and-america-have-mixed-up-their-possums-though/) [Joe Sugg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-sugg/) > [“Hangin' upside down ain't good for nobody but possums.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diann-mills/hangin-upside-down-ain-t-good-for-nobody-but-possums/) [DiAnn Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diann-mills/) > [No, officer, I have no idea why I'm wearing this possum costume. I called you what? OH. My bad." -Nastasya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cate-tiernan/no-officer-i-have-no-idea-why-i-m-wearing-this-possum-costume-i/) [Cate Tiernan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cate-tiernan/) > [Hey Susie Derkins, is that your face, or is a 'possum stuck in your collar?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-watterson/hey-susie-derkins-is-that-your-face-or-is-a-possum-stuck-in-your/) [Bill Watterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-watterson/) > [I've eaten weird things through the course of my life. I've eaten wild game, I've eaten possum - possum's no good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-pratt/i-ve-eaten-weird-things-through-the-course-of-my-life-i-ve-eaten-wild/) [Chris Pratt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-pratt/) ## More by Bee Dawson > [For those dependent on their gardens for fresh food, it was often a case of feast or famine... 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