STUDIES ON THE OPOSSUM (TRICHOSURUS VULPECULA )

1937 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 24-32 ◽  
Author(s):  
Doris Anderson
Keyword(s):  
Trichosurus Vulpecula

scholarly journals Preovulatory follicle development and ovulation in the brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) monitored by repeated laparoscopy

Reproduction ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 110 (2) ◽  
pp. 361-370 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. L. Crawford ◽  
G. H. Shackell ◽  
E. G. Thompson ◽  
B. J. McLeod ◽  
P. R. Hurst
Keyword(s):  
Brushtail Possum ◽  
Follicle Development ◽  
Trichosurus Vulpecula ◽  
Preovulatory Follicle

scholarly journals Implications of prefeeding for the development of bait aversions in brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula)

1998 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 133 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zane N. Moss ◽  
Cheryl E. O'Connor ◽  
Graham J. Hickling
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Pest Control ◽  
Subsequent Development ◽  
Sublethal Dose ◽  
Trichosurus Vulpecula ◽  
Management Procedure

Development of aversions, or learned ‘bait-shyness’, in frequently poisoned possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) populations is becoming increasingly detrimental to the efficacy of pest-control operations in New Zealand. This experiment aimed to identify the effects of prefeeding, a common management procedure, on the subsequent development of aversions in possums. Wild possums (n = 96) were captured and acclimatised, then allocated to one of three treatments groups that for seven days received either (i) no prefeed, (ii) plain RS5 cereal baits, or (iii) green-dyed and cinnamon-lured RS5 cereal baits. The possums were then offered a standard green-dyed and cinnamon-lured RS5 bait that contained a sublethal dose (0.4 mg kg-1) of the toxin sodium monofluoroacetate (1080). The possums were tested for development of an aversion towards a toxic RS5 1080 bait, a prefeed bait, and a prefeed bait containing an alternative toxin, brodifacoum. Most (96%) of the non-prefed possums became averse to the 1080 bait after two exposures, compared with only 55% and 9% of the two prefed groups. Similarly, 90% and 92% of the non-prefed possums were averse to prefeed and brodifacoum baits, respectively, compared with 8% and 14% of the prefed possums. This suggests that pest managers can reduce the risk of ‘bait shyness’ by prefeeding. A further advantage of prefeeding is that if poison shyness develops, use of an alternative toxin such as brodifacoum in the original bait base may still be successful.

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