Dispersal of Juvenile Brushtail Possums, Trichosurus vulpecula, after a Control Operation

Abstract

Long-distance movements of juvenile brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) from three habitats on farmland in Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand, were studied by radio-tracking after a poisoning operation. In the five years after the possum population on the study site had been reduced by 90%, the population recovered to about half its initial density. During that time, about 25% of radio-tagged juveniles dispersed 2 km or more, a maximum of 12·8 km from their natal area, with no significantly preferred direction. A greater proportion of males dispersed than females. All but one of the juveniles dispersing did so before they were one year old, and most made several moves before settling. The bimodal timing of dispersal in summer and late winter–early spring reflected an underlying similar pattern of breeding. A higher proportion of possums dispersed from the low-density pastoral and cropping habitat than from the higher-density habitats of swamp and willows. The dispersal behaviour of juveniles after the control operation differed little from that before, suggesting that dispersal of possums is not strongly influenced by density-dependent factors at the natal site.