Use of ground-level or elevated bait stations for possum control

Abstract

Bait stations were located near ground-level or elevated 1.5 ‐ 2 m above the ground, and the amounts of bait eaten from them by captive and wild possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) were measured. The percentage of possums killed by ground level or elevated bait stations containing cholecalciferol or 1080 baits was also monitored. The per capita amounts of bait eaten by captive possums was significantly higher at ground level than at elevated bait stations. Wild possums also ate more bait from ground-level than elevated bait stations, but this difference was mainly attributed to fewer possums finding elevated bait stations. There was no difference in the kills achieved with baits containing cholecalciferol and 1080. However, the kills at ground-level stations (84%, n=9) were higher than at elevated stations (52%, n=10). Because pest controllers routinely place bait stations up trees out of reach of domestic livestock and ground-birds, the implications of prefeeding elevated bait stations to improve the percentage of possums killed should be evaluated.