Possums

The opossum was first introduced to New Zealand in 1837 to establish a fur trade, and has been an ongoing pest ever since.

Possums thrive in the New Zealand habitat as there are no predators, dingoes, bush fires etc and lots of palatable vegetation for them to eat. Now there are over 30 million possums in New Zealand and they are the number one pest, economically and ecologically.

While possums mainly feed on leaves, they also eat; bark, buds, carrion eggs, ferns, flowers, fruit, fungi, invertebrates, native birds, and snails.

Possums are a pest, due to the damage they inflict to our native forest and wildlife. They only eat the new growth, which vegetation is dependent on for life. They also eat insects and berries the food of birds – making it harder for the birds to survive. They also disturb nesting birds and eat their eggs and chicks. Possums are also a nuisance to dairy and deer farmers as they spread bovine tuberculosis. They can also damage suburban gardens.

All landowners / occupiers are responsible for possum control on their properties.

Leg traps and live cage traps are ideal for possum capture.