Imported Roadkill

Our first night in NZ, we were told that when the Maori arrived in NZ 1200-1300 years ago, hey were the first land mammals to arrive. The only other mammals were bats. No snakes, only one poisonous spider. No land animals basically. So all the furry wildlife is imported. All the sheep, cows and deer in the farmer's pens were all originally imported. And all the ferrets and possums. I understand ferrets were brought as pets and the possums were brought for their fur I believe. Nothing says high clas like a possum sweater. Then somehow, people got tired of both critters and released them into the wild where A)the ferrets kill the Kiwi and b)the possums become roadkill. I guess the Possum is ever doomed to be road pizza no matter where they are.

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