Possum

As a form of local pride, Kiwis have been educating me about their unique wonders. Stop calling it flax, it’s Phormium or Harakeke. No, that’s not a lizard, it’s a Sphenodon or tuatara. And do not confuse the New Zealand brushtail possum, Trichosurus vulpecula, with its North American country cousin Opossum, Didelphus. Let’s focus on the brushtail possum, the most despised predator on the Department of Conservation (DOC) invasive species list. Their population is estimated to be 70 million. The possum is the scourge of farmers, orchardists, and conservationists. The brushtail possum was introduced to NZ by opportunistic trappers seeking to replicate the material bounty of beavers and minks. Unfortunately for the environment, the possums said thanks and be seeing ya and ate trees and bird eggs and bred like rabbits, no, like possums. They ravenously chow down on only the tastiest buds of the tree, leaving it unable to grow, and then move on to the next tree without finishing up the whole tree. The DOC employs full time possum killers, but what has worked best against the possums is higher tech. The DOC used a crop duster to airdrop poisoned cereal bait in possum-infested areas. That did away with many possums, but the by-kill included birds and household pets. Now we see little poison houses and humane electric current zapper traps attached to trees.

I am a tourist, so I don’t carry traps and a hammer to dispatch possums I encounter. Unlike in the western US, where opossum roadkill is ubiquitous and is rumored to taste like chicken, NZ food scientists are working to create possum recipes both tasty and nutritious. They are hampered by tedious process of skinning and butchering. One possum means hours of work for less than a kilo of meat. On the other hand, possum fur blended with merino wool is unique to New Zealand. Wear your Kiwi pride with possum-blend wool socks!