Brushtail Possum, Possum

Trichosaurus vulpecula is a etc etc. Introduction paragraph/s goes here.

Contents

1. Description
2. Pictures
3. Biology
4. Distribution
5. Scientific classification
6. Threats
7. Control
8. Agencies responsible
9. Comments
10. See also
11. External links
12. Further reading

Brushtail possums are cat sized marsupials that weigh between 2-4kg (up to 7kg). They have grey or black/dark brown coloured fur and a thick black bushy tail. Fur colour varies with location. Runs, pads or tracks used by possums are most often seen along the forest edge. They leave scratch and bite marks on tree trunks. Droppings/scats/pellets may be found singularly, or in groups. They are crescent shaped, pointed at both ends and 15-30mm long and 5-14mm wide.

more pictures

Biology (edit)

Brushtail possums are omnivores (eat plants and animals). They are found throughout New Zealand in densities up to 25 possums/ha. Possums have a home range (area animal covers to hunt and scavenge), of 0.5-105.2 ha, depending on habitat and the sex of the individual. Adult home ranges do not vary much over time. Possums are not territorial and their home ranges can over lap extensively. Activity patterns vary extensively in relation to weather. Births occur throughout the year, although most occur in the autumn. The mean life expectancy of a possum after leaving the pouch is six years with the oldest on record being 14 years.

Scientific classification (edit)

Distribution (edit)

Impacts(edit)

Eats this and kills that

Control (edit)

Possum control in New Zealand using poison is coordinated by three main groups: the Animal Health Board (to minimise the Tb risk to domestic stock); the Department of Conservation (to protect forests and native wildlife); and the Regional Councils (for Tb control and conservation reasons). 1080 in carrots or cereal baits is spread using helicopters to treat large areas. Smaller areas are generally treated using ground based poisoning utilising toxins such as 1080, cyanide (in paste or capsule form), cholecalciferol, and various anticoagulants. Ground based poison control is often backed up with physical methods such as trapping and shooting (Cowan, 2005).

• BinwasterX
• Zylon50-abc
• Bloggs Trap

Agencies responsible (edit)

• Animal Control Products
• Animal Health Board
• Canterbury Regional Council
• Department of Conservation
• Environment B-O-P Bay Of Plenty Regional Council
• Environment Southland
• Environment Waikato
• Federated Farmers of New Zealand (INC).
• Gisborne District Council
• Hawke's Bay Regional Council
• Landcare Research
• Manawatu-Wanganui Regional Council
• Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries
• National Possum Control Agencies
• Northland Regional Council
• Pest Management Services
• Taranaki Regional Council
• Tasman DC Regional Council
• Wellington Regional Council

Comments (edit)

1/1/2007
I own a 228-acre hill country farm in the Manawatu and am interested in finding ways to improve the sustainability of the property. Fortunately I have Bush Vitality - a very impressive work that provides a huge amount of valuable and practical information. My background is in science and technology and I can see that this book promotes an enlightened insight to smart environmental management of the future. Congratulations - make sure you get this info out there!
Joe Bloggs

1/2/3007
What a marvellous publication! This has got so much comprehensive and practical material in it that no-one will ever need to compile another bush protection/ rehabilitation/recognition guide. The things I have longed for in previous publications in vain, are sensible planting guides, good photo captioning and of course a smart and user-friendly presentation.
Dr Who

10/12/2009
This book is an important tool for landowners to assess and improve areas of biodiversity on their land. As one of the main organisations offering protection mechanisms for natural and open space areas on private land the QEII National Trust has a keen interest in this initiative and promotes the book to its covenantors.
Sally Yi

See also (edit)

• Pests
• Possum traps
• Bait stations
• 1080

External links (edit)

• www.doc.govt.nz

Further reading (edit)

• A.L. Poole and Nancy M. Adams. Possums

Information provided by (edit)

Fred Smith, Joe Bloggs, Br Who, Mary Yi, DoC.

Keyword (edit)
Possum

Last updated 2 December 2007 3.41PM by PIPI