Annual Brasstown Possum Drop Canceled

Kelly Burke | kelly@burkelasseterllc.com 

 

In a

shocking bit of news from our friends in North Carolina, the annual Brasstown

possum drop on New Year’s Eve has been cancelled because PETA objected to the

inhumane treatment of the animal. You already know that I don’t make this stuff

up. Apparently the judicial system in North Carolina has plenty of free time.

When reading the story, I assumed, quite naturally, that they were literally

dropping the poor booger from some crane onto a hot skillet below, where he met

his demise. I further assumed that they then ate the tasty critter as part of

their New Year’s Day tradition, instead of the black eyed peas that I get

subjected to each year. Alas, we all know what happens when we assume

something.

Turns out that the fun celebration, a twenty year event, provided that

the little marsupial not be harmed in the least. He, or she, would be lowered

to the ground in a plexiglass cage. The celebration would ensue and he would be

rewarded with a meal, presumably a nice ripe permission. He would then be

released to the wild, unharmed, and most importantly for him, uneaten.

Now, to be fair, the judge ruled that had the organization simply killed the

nocturnal beast, that would have been okay. But displaying him in such a

profound and disrespectful manner was a violation of North Carolina law. Were I

an opossum, I would respectfully disagree with the judge’s holding, as being

groomed, fed, caged momentarily and then freed to pursue my 15 minutes of fame

seems far better than being eaten. Alas, no one asked the possum.

I had the urge to check Georgia law for a statute on the handling of possums,

but I decided that there is no way that a Georgian would let a possum off so

easily. Possum fritters anyone?

Kelly Burke, former district attorney and magistrate judge, is engaged in

private practice where he focuses on personal injury cases. These articles are

not designed to give legal advice, but are designed to inform the public about

how the law affects their daily lives. Contact Kelly at kelly@burkelasseterllc.comto comment on this article or suggest articles about the law that you’d like to

see.

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