Predator Profile

Possums might look harmless, but across the Whakatipu and Upper Clutha they remain one of the most damaging predators in our forests. Eating everything from leaves and flowers to invertebrates, bird eggs and chicks, they put huge pressure on native species already struggling with habitat loss and other predators.

Thanks to coordinated trapping by community groups, landowners and volunteers, possum numbers are now dropping at key sites. Early signs of recovery are emerging too; healthier understory vegetation, increased fruiting on native trees, and more tūī and korimako/bell birds being heard in places where they’ve been scarce for years.

To learn more about why possums are such a threat, what local control is achieving, and how you can get involved, check out the full factsheet here.