DR. WALLACE: My 13-year-old brother has made it his life's goal to try to capture a small raccoon or possum in our backyard or the adjacent brush area near our house.

Our family has a dog day care business in our mostly rural community, so we have many oversize cages and racks available to house animals. My brother thinks that once one of these raccoons or possums has been weaned off its mother at some point, he can keep one in a cage as a pet. My father keeps telling him that he absolutely can't do this. What's your opinion on this matter? Do you think it's a big deal, like my father does, or no big deal, like my brother seems to think? — We Have Enough Animals Already, via email

WE HAVE ENOUGH ANIMALS ALREADY: I agree with your father here. The two different breeds of wild animals you've mentioned are not suitable for household pets.

Raccoons have been known to carry rabies and are basically nocturnal animals. Possums are also mainly nocturnal, as they evolved that way to avoid larger predators. Neither is going to be a good fit sitting in a cage near a lot of barking and active dogs all day.

Hopefully your father will convince your brother to give up this unadvisable endeavor sooner rather than later. For your part, explain to him what "nocturnal" means, and hopefully he can understand why his idea is folly.

DOESN'T YOUR ADVICE CONFLICT WITH THIS NEW INFORMATION?

DR. WALLACE: I'm really into health and am constantly scouring the internet and watching news and videos for health tips.

One recent health guru who definitely has the ear of some powerful people and celebrities is recommending that everyone become exposed to sunshine every day. This guru also advises various breathing techniques and walking on the grass or the raw ground to connect with the Earth and discharge various toxins.

As a regular reader of your column, I know that you often speak out against sun exposure. Isn't your advice in conflict with what some of the leading health experts are saying these days? — Health-Driven Girl, via email

HEALTH-DRIVEN GIRL: I did some research to follow up on your excellent question and believe I came across information that correlates with what you heard. Furthermore, I agree with a lot of the advice that some of these leading health professionals profess these days. Indeed, healthy exposure to the sun, in moderation, is a very good thing!

My concern with sunlight exposure, and even tanning booths, is to avoid extended exposure to the sun and ultraviolet rays with unprotected skin. The health professionals advising the overall group of suggestions you outlined mention setting the body's biorhythmic clock by heading outdoors and into sunlight upon waking up. Taking 10 or 15 minutes to do good breathing exercises and allowing your face to be pointed in the direction of the sunrise, or sun already in the sky in the morning, is the idea. Early sunlight during the day is much less intense than midday or afternoon sunshine! Absorbing 10 to 15 minutes of direct early morning sunlight, or even the sun's rays through the clouds on overcast days, does not present much of a health risk to the sun overall. The reason for this is the moderate amount of time and the low trajectory or angle of the sun at that time of day.

I believe the excellent health advice you're receiving and my advice to take caution to avoid or at least minimize direct midday sunlight exposure for extended periods of time can exist in harmony. And also note that I'm not advising anyone to not go outdoors in the middle of the day but instead to wear the proper clothing and sun protection and to use appropriate sunscreen as necessary to avoid skin damage.

Dr. Robert Wallace welcomes questions from readers. Although he is unable to reply to all of them individually, he will answer as many as possible in this column. Email him at [email protected]. To find out more about Dr. Robert Wallace and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

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