Possums are a major threat to New Zealand’s environment and are found across the country. Their only real predator, the feral cat, has little impact on controlling their numbers.
The common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) was first brought from Australia in 1837 to start a fur trade. That attempt failed, but a second release 20 years later in Southland succeeded.
Possums are opportunistic omnivores. They eat buds, flowers, fruit, berries, and nectar—competing with native birds and reptiles for food. When they feed on all parts of a plant, they can disrupt its growth and life cycle. They also target favourites like rātā and kāmahi, putting extra pressure on these species.
In 1993, possums were filmed eating kōkako eggs and chicks, changing public perception of their threat to wildlife. They also eat wētā and other invertebrates, and prey on native land snails like Powelliphanta. Possums often nest in tree holes that would otherwise shelter birds like kākāriki and saddlebacks.
For farmers, possums are a serious concern. They spread bovine tuberculosis and cause economic losses in the tens of millions through damage and control costs.
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