Last Possum Out of Banks Peninsula

They finally caught the last possum in Canterbury after two weeks of intense tracking—using scent dogs, 100 cameras, and 200 chew cards—snagging it at Kaitorete Spit. This marks a major milestone for Pest Free Banks Peninsula, which has removed 19 possums since 2022 across 5,500 hectares. These invasive critters devastate native ecosystems, devour bird eggs and chicks, damage pastures, and leave a mess everywhere. Now, with this area officially possum-free, the team is locking it down with a new surveillance network and moving on to eliminate ferrets, hedgehogs, and soon weasels, stoats, and feral cats. They’re also tackling an 8,000-hectare zone next—slow, steady, and seriously impactful for biodiversity. Support the show:Get a discount at https://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/80257811786e56bc