The possum is one of the best threats to our natural setting.

Description

The prevalent brushtail possum, Trichosurus vulpecula, is endemic to Australia and was very first launched to New Zealand from Australia in 1837 to establish a fur trade. This launch was unsuccessful in addition to a 2nd release in 1858 at the same Southland area was expected for them to ascertain.

The brushtail possum could possibly be mis-named being an opossum, Didelphis sp., which is an American animal not current in New Zealand.

The possum features a thick, bushy tail, thick physique fur, a pointed snout and large, pointed ears. There are two colour sorts of the species - grey and black, with a lot of variations in overall look. Possums can stroll, soar and sure and its prehensile tail aids it transfer close to tree branches.

The size and excess weight of possums varies across New Zealand. usually, adult possums are sixty five to ninety five cm long and weigh 1.four to 6.4 kg.

Possums are nocturnal and can Are living wherever exactly where There may be shelter as well as a various food stuff supply. They're now common throughout the vast majority of New Zealand. The main habitat is forest, and website possum densities may be especially substantial in podocarp-broadleaf forests. Margins the place forest satisfies pasture will also be well-known habitat and aid quite dense populations.

The danger

Possums have a substantial influence on a lot of New Zealand’s natural ecosystems. They manifest in large figures as well as their own predators, like feral cats, don't have A great deal effect on managing possum populace dimensions.

Leaves are the leading portion in their diet plan, but possums are opportunistic omnivores, and take in indigenous birds as well as their eggs, land snails like Powelliphanta and as invertebrates such as weta. They try to eat buds, bouquets, fruit/berries and nectar, which implies they contend with native birds and reptiles for food items resources. The growth and existence-cycle of a tree or plant is drastically influenced when all portions of it are eaten. Possums even have ‘favourites’ for example rātā or kamahi trees, resulting in a fair better effect on these species.

Possums generally occupy holes in tree trunks for their nests which would otherwise be used by nesting birds for instance kākāriki and saddlebacks.

Dairy and deer farmers provide the extra stress of possums spreading bovine tuberculosis. The value of financial reduction in Major output for damage and control of possums is inside the tens of hundreds of thousands.

Evidence demonstrates stoats and possums are ingesting kea. scientists making use of nest-cameras have witnessed the gruesome fact within defenceless kea nests invaded by stoats and possums in South Westland.

You may help to regulate possums

typical predator Manage might help to manage possum figures and have us nearer to the Predator cost-free 2050 target.

DOC's work

DOC is charged with the treatment of New Zealand's native vegetation and wildlife. The survival of complete ecosystems is impacted through the possum.

we're one of many lots of businesses that handle possum Manage - other companies involve OSPRI, regional councils plus the Ministry for Principal Industries.

DOC commits assets to possum Manage at priority websites to make sure lengthy-phrase survival of species plus the ecosystems that assistance them.