The Possum

• is a marsupial (a marsupial is an animal that carries its young in a pouch)
• spends the first four months of their lives in their mother's pouch. By the time they are six months old the young possums are living outside of the pouch all the time.
• has sharp claws - good for climbing trees
• has a thick bushy tail
• is nocturnal (is active during the night)
• can see well in the dark
• has big ears - all the better for hearing other possums during the night
• doesn't like living in cold, damp places
• likes to live in weatherproof nests - sheds and barns, sheltered trees, hollow logs, holes in banks
• has a keen sense of smell - very useful when looking for food
• eats the juicy new leafy growth of trees and insects, berries, bird's eggs and sometimes their chicks

Is
The
Possum
Native
To
NZ?

Possums are not native to New Zealand.

The first possums were brought to New Zealand in 1837 from Australia.
Possums are native to Australia and are protected there.
Possums are not a problem in Australia.
Many trees in Australia have possum defenses such as spines, prickles or poisonous leaves.

In New Zealand possums have no natural enemies.
That is why possum numbers increased so fast.
The possum is not protected in New Zealand, it is a pest.
Most native New Zealand trees have yummy leaves and no possum defenses.
The possum is doing a lot of damage to the native plants, animals and birds.

It is important to protect New Zealand native plants and animals from pests.
So why did people bring possums to New Zealand?

Possums were brought to New Zealand to start a fur industry.
At the height of the fur trade, trappers killed 20 million possums in a year.
But that did not make much of a dent in possum numbers.
Possum numbers can build up quickly because every mother possum has a baby each year.

People didn't realise the harm possums would cause to the forest and the wildlife would be much greater than any value their fur provided.

Perhaps if people had thought about the problems that possums would cause they would not have brought them to New Zealand!

The
possum
is a
PEST
in
NZ!

Pesky Possums are a problem in New Zealand!

• Possums like to eat the juicy new growth on trees - it is very hard for the tree to grow when all of its new growth is being eaten.
• In New Zealand forests possums will go back to the same tree night after night, eating the tree to death.
• The possum's favourite trees are New Zealand natives, such as the pohutukawa, rata, totara, kowhai and kohekohe.
• Because possums are eating native trees they are eating the food of New Zealand native birds - this is not good for the birds.
• By eating native trees the possums are also eating the homes of native birds.
• Possums also disturb nesting birds and sometimes eat their eggs and chicks. Possums have been caught on camera eating kokako eggs and chicks.
• Possums have even been known to push kiwi out of their burrows so they can have a dry place to sleep!
• Sometimes possums will eat native land snails  - there are not many of these snails left.
• Possums can also be a problem for farmers. Possums can spread a disease called 'bovine tuberculosis' to cows, cattle and deer. If the farmer's animals get tuberculosis they will get sick and may die.
• Possums cause problems in city gardens too. They eat trees in people's gardens, especially apple, plum, citrus fruit, and roses. Possums are noisy and can keep people awake, and they have been known to go inside houses!

These pictures show the damage possums can do.

The tree was being eaten to death by possums, that's why it looks like it is dying in the picture on the left - that was before the possum control!

Two years later, after the possums were killed the tree was healthy again - that's it on the right with all its new leaves.

Both pictures show the same tree.

Possums are eating up New Zealand!

• in one night 20 possums can eat six kilograms of vegetation - that's enough leaves, fruit and vegetation to fill three plastic shopping bags
• in one week 20 possums can eat 42 kilograms of vegetation - 21 shopping bags full
• in one month (30 days) 20 possums can eat 180 kilograms of vegetation - 60 shopping bags full
• in one year (365 days) 20 possums can eat over two tonnes of vegetation - 1000 shopping bags full - do you think that would fill your classroom?!?

New Zealand doesn't want possums!
Millions of dollars have been spent trying to get rid of possums to protect the New Zealand environment from possum destruction.....

The staff at the Department of Conservation and Landcare have been doing research about possums to learn the best ways to kill them, but there are sooooo many possums that it is impossible to get rid of all of them. DoC staff have also been busy getting rid of possums in New Zealand's national parks and conservation land.

National Possum Control Agencies - DoC, NZ Local Government Association, the Animal Health Board and MAF (Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry) work together to educate New Zealanders about possums and reduce possum numbers.
Teachers .... The National Possum Control Agency has produced an educational activity pack for school use. Contact the National Possum Control Agency to receive a copy npca@xtra.co.nz

Regional Councils and DoC have produced fact sheets and web pages about the possum and how to get rid of them. Go to Possum - Resources to learn more.

New Zealand farmers and land owners have been working hard on their land, setting traps and laying bait to kill possums.

The number one enemy of the pohutukawa and rata trees is the possum!  In 1990 'Project Crimson' was started by Carter Holt Harvey Limited with the help of the Department of Conservation. The project encourages and co-ordinates schools, clubs and community groups in the planting and care of pohutukawa and rata trees and also educates people about the damage possums are doing to these native trees. Check out their web page to learn more  www.projectcrimson.org.nz

• Get involved with Forest and Bird activities in your area.
• Learn more about the possum problem and what is being done by contacting the Animal Health Board, your Regional Council or local DoC office.
• Do you live on a farm or orchard?  Want to get rid of possums on your land?  Learn how by contacting DoC or your Regional Council.
• Protect trees by banding them - stopping possums from climbing up and eating all the leaves.
• Teach other people about pesky possums so more people will be able to help stop possums from eating up New Zealand!

Need more information about possums?
Want to contact a group mentioned in this fact sheet?
Go to Possum Resources

The possum information was written in November 1999. Updated April 2001.