Possums are marsupials. Marsupials are typically from Australia, New Guinea and America. They are mammals that are usually carried in their mother’s pouch. There are 330 species of marsupials and two thirds of them live in Australia!

Brushtail possums are the second largest possums and grow up to 4.5 kilograms. They are between 32 and 58 centimeters in length with tails of up to 40 centimetres!

We know that the possum population exploded in New Zealand and this is partly due to the fact that they don’t have a particular mating season although it peaks in the Spring. The male possums are quite promiscuous often fathering multiple young at a time.

Possums are pests not only because of the threat they pose to the ecosystem but also because they are carriers of bovine tuberculosis which is highly contagious and can be life threatening to cattle.

Possums are omnivores which means they eat both meat and vegetation. Plants tend to be their predominant food source.

When possums find vegetation they like, they selectively gouge on that until it’s completely depleted. Besides vegetation, possums eat invertebrates such as weta and snails.They also eat the chicks and eggs of native birds such as; kokako, kereru, fantail, and tuis.

Possums are known to scavenge and will eat off carcasses of deer, rodents and other possums. When it comes to farmland, possums like to seek out clover. They also eat stock food crops such as barley and rye. Their ultimate delicacy is roses!

Possums may be smaller marsupials but in hordes they can destroy vegetation and have a massive impact on our natural habitats.

In a single night a passel of 20 possums can eat six kilograms of vegetation - this may not sound like much if they had a feast once a week but over the course of a week the 20 possums can eat up to 42 kilograms which is 21 shopping bags full!

This passel can destroy 180 kilograms over a month and two tonnes over a year.  In one night New Zealand’s possum population eats their way through nearly 12 tonnes of vegetation. Over a year they devour four million tonnes.

Not only are possums eating the flora and fauna of New Zealand, they also have no natural predators so their population accelerates while destroying the habitats of our natural species.

And there is more…

Possums eat the flowers off native trees, stealing food sources from New Zealand birds such as tui, bellbirds and kokako. When they demolish the trees themselves they are also destroying these birds’ homes.  Disturbing nests is one of possums' habits and they have been known to eat the eggs, young chicks and even adult birds. Weta and snails are also part of possums diets. This threatens the species because a single possum can eat up over 60 native Powelliphanta snails during the course of the night. Plus it swipes a reliable food source from native creatures.