Tag Archives: Possum

Militant on the Mainland

Militant on the Mainland

“It sucks to be a possum in New Zealand,” according to The Atlantic’s Rachel Gross. “Cars swerve to hit you. Guns point toward you. People feed you little green pellets that taste like cinnamon;…

Impressive Pest Control

Impressive Pest Control

Sheep, rugby and kiwi were what the director of Canada’s McGill University’s Office for Science and Society Joe Schwarcz associated with New Zealand, not possum, weasel, ferret or rabbit. “I certainly did not connect…

Out Damn Pests

Out Damn Pests

New Zealand’s possum population has halved over the last 20 years down from 70 million in the 1980s to approximately 30 million. Possum control is carried out over 13 million hectares, which is about…

Guilt-free Fur

Guilt-free Fur

NZ possum fur features in a Guardian article on “weird and wonderful” examples of eco-friendly products. Imported from Australia in 1837, possums have been wreaking havoc on NZ’s native flora and fauna ever since. “We support killing…

Let Them Wear Possum

Let Them Wear Possum

The Independent reports on NZ’s thriving (and environmentally kosher) possum fur trade. “Elsewhere, designers who work with fur earn the wrath of animal rights activists. But in New Zealand, they are considered national heroes.” Imported from Australia…

Something Good Comes from Possums

Something Good Comes from Possums

Scientists at NZ’s AgResearch and Otago Medical School may have found the cure for a common prostate problem and it is largely thanks to NZ’s no.1 environmental pest: the brush-tailed possum. According to a study published…

Environmental Oxymoron

Environmental Oxymoron

NZ’s possum epidemic has made unlikely bed-fellows of environmentalists and fur-trappers. New Scientist looks at a globally unique situation, where groups such as WWF actively support the trapping of an animal for its fur and meat as…

Fur-envy

Fur-envy

Inspired by the success of NZ possum-fur products, Australian designers have incorporated the “soft, mink-like” pelts into their own winter collections. Most notably, Lisa Ho imported NZ skins for her range of winter stoles…

Guilt-free Fur

Guilt-free Fur

Ah, to be able to wear fur without fear of red paint. The possum’s status as NZ’s chief environmental menace has encouraged the fashion industry to use its fur for everything from bags to…

Possum Fur-y Unfashionable

Possum Fur-y Unfashionable

”I should break your other bloody arm.” At a Prada party Daily Telegraph fashion editor, Hilary Alexander, famously incurs the wrath of a PETA activist Dan Matthews for wearing a possum-fur sling. ”I was…

Nipple Insulation

Nipple Insulation

Cold nipples – slip on some possum skin nipple warmers to ensure you don’t stand out from the crowd.  

Vege Contraceptive

Vege Contraceptive

Scientists at Canterbury’s Lincoln University are trialling GE carrots as possum birth control.  

Furry Good Idea

Furry Good Idea

The fur is soft, warm and stylish. The leather feels so good you can wear it as underwear; Tiger Woods refuses to play with a glove made of anything else. It’s true: the best…

Furry Love

Furry Love

Wellington residents disturbed by amorous possums engage in chemical warfare to keep the peace.

Family Planning, Possums!

Family Planning, Possums!

David Heath of the Wallaceville Animal Research centre is developing a GM bug that secrets a substance designed to curtail possums’ fertility.

Immunising Roadkill to Protect Livestock?

Immunising Roadkill to Protect Livestock?

Imagine a countryside filled with possum traps, not designed to kill, but to entice the pesky pest in for a quick facial spray to vaccinate them against bovine TB. Hailing some edge thinking the Guardian writes: “It…

Playing Possum with Beachwear

Playing Possum with Beachwear

New Zealand has finally found a use for their pesky marsupial pest. Possum leather bikinis are the sexy, fashionable and expensive Kiwi import about to hit Australian beaches.