There is no shortage of possums in built-up areas of
Dunedin, judging by the response to a request from AgResearch
scientists wanting to capture the animal alive.
AgResearch Invermay scientist Bernie McLeod said a week after
a report seeking live possums appeared in the Otago Daily
Times, he had been overwhelmed with offers of 80 places
to trap possums.
Offers came from Taieri Mouth to Purakaunui, with many from
people living in urban Dunedin.
When contemplating a public appeal, he thought he may have
had 20 to 30 trapping places.
The battle to rid the country of the disease bovine
tuberculosis, of which possums are a primary carrier, has
severely reduced the availability of healthy, live possums
for research to find a new toxin and other ways to reduce the
pest numbers.
Possums are also being used for prostate research.
Dr McLeod said technicians would work through the list of
people who had contacted them, then visit to set box traps
and return to remove it and any possum caught.
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