Poisoning Possums
Using poisons are the most effective method for catching large
numbers of possums and this method tends to be less labour
intensive than all other hunting methods.
Handling poisons
When handling poisons:
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You must be a registered handler of poison and follow the
safety requirements with caution
Keep poisons well labeled, locked up and out of reach from
children
When applying poison make sure you hold your breath before
opening the lid and keep the bottle as far away from your head
as possible when applying, put the lid back on and step away
from the site before inhaling oxygen
Make sure that the poison is off the ground and out of reach of
non-target animals
Make sure all access points to the poison area are well sign
posted with your details and poison dates
When collecting poisoned possums make sure that you check
the possum before picking it up as poison maybe around the
month, on the chest area or in the claws of the possum – wear
thin gloves if possible
Be very careful if you need to touch your face at all when
handling poison or picking up poisoned carcasses
When disposing of poison baits dig a hole in the ground and
knife the poison into the hole and then cover the hole with
mud, step on the turf to force the poison into the ground
Make sure that your poison removal knife is cleaned well
before moving onto the next bait station
Different poisons used
There are six different poisons currently registered for possum
control in New Zealand - 1080, cyanide, cholecalciferol, phosphorus,
Brodifacoum and Pindone.
Brodifacoum, cyanide and cholecalciferol are the commonly used
poisons.
These poisons are usually put in bait stations, which helps keep the
bait dry and away from non-target animals.
Bait stations are pre-fed with non-toxic baits to attract possums in
large numbers prior to laying the poison. Hunters use different prefeed cycles depending on the bait takes and possum sign in the area.
Some hunters will lay a secondary poison if numbers are high from
the first kill.
Working from a 2 pre-freed and then 1 poison cycle
usually should be enough.
Brodifacoum
Brodifacoum come in green dyed cereal pellets which can be
expensive and should be used if possum number are low and you do
not intend to collect possums for harvesting fur as you will only need
to lay pallets once a month to control possum numbers. You do not
require a license to use this bait.
Using Brodifacoum:
 Brodifacoum bait must be placed in a bait station
 Place the bait stations on possum runs or in areas with good
sign or 50 to 80 meters apart
 For the first feed, fill the bait stations with about one kilogram
of bait
 Refill the bait stations a month later with about 500 grams of
bait
 You may have to refill the bait stations again the next month
with another 500 grams of bait to get rid of remaining possums
Cyanide
Hunters require a license to store, handle and use cyanide.
Cyanide can be encapsulated or in paste form.
Encapsulated cyanide:
Feratox™ is the trade name for encapsulated pellets containing
potassium cyanide. This is great for controlling high possum
numbers. Cyanide pellets can be placed in bait stations or small,
specially labeled bags stapled to trees. Space the bait stations or
bags 75 to 150 meters apart:
 Bait stations - place about six poison baits in each station.
Before using the bait, use non-toxic feed pellets to encourage
possums to feed.
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Bags - place one or more pellets in the bag along with some
non-toxic lure, such as peanut butter or Ferafeed ™ paste.
Cyanide paste:
 Place pea-sized baits of cyanide paste on a handful of flour
‘lure’ on the ground or at the base of trees. Smaller baits
generally work better than large baits.
 Place bait stations on possum runs or where there is plenty of
sign or at 50 to 80 meter intervals
 Remove and bury baits after poisoning and pick up
Cholecalciferol
You do not require a license to buy or use this product.
Feracol™ is the brand name for cholecalciferol paste otherwise
known as Vitamin D paste.
Cholecalciferol baits can be expensive to buy, but are effective in low
doses and can be reasonably cost-effective.
Feracol™ paste can be put into bait stations but is often put into
specially labeled bags and stapled to trees or posts, 20 to 30 meters
apart.
Around 25 grams of bait should be enough to kill one possum. Keep
livestock well away from poison baits.
Disposing of poisoned possums
Poisoned possums are not suitable for human consumption.
However, as dog food we have been feeding our dog’s poisoned
possums since we started harvesting possum fur.
It is very important that after skinning or plucking the possum that
you remove the head, claws, tail and guts of the possum before
feeding to your dogs. These parts are the areas of the possum that
would come into contact with the poison.