possum control

Possums were first introduced to New Zealand in 1837, with the economic benefits of a fur industry in mind. It is really over the last 100 years however, that the possum has taken its clawed grip. This animal has been able to adapt to almost every environmental condition in the country, and with no natural checks, the population has swollen to around 70 million (best current estimate). Most native New Zealand plant species are highly palatable to possums, which are consuming about 21,000 tons of plant material each day. Also, it is common belief that these ‘cute fury animals’ are herbivores, when infact, they are readily taking native insects, and the eggs and chicks of many native, and endangered bird species. Numerous organisms now suffer from the continued competition with possums, an animal that seriously threatens the biodiversity of our country.
In various ways, the possum is also of economic concern. All up, the annual cost of possum control is about $80 million- a sum whic...