Testing a modified electric farm fence as a possum-specific barrier

Zero Invasive Predators (ZIP).

Zero Invasive Predators (ZIP) carried out extensive testing on a modified electric farm fence developed by the Otago Peninsula Biodiversity Group (OPBG) as part of their efforts to eradicate possums from the Peninsula by 2023. The fence aims to slow down possum migration across rural farmland.

ZIP tested the fence at their predator behaviour facility in Lincoln. They adapted the original fence design, which featured a 900 millimetre tall wire-mesh fence fitted with three single hot-wires into an octagonal testing pen. They tested the fence against 16 wild-caught possums (8 female and 8 male) by releasing them into the pen overnight and recording interactions on video camera.

Overall, they found the pen contained 63% of all individuals. Male possums were more likely to escape than females and the most common method of escape was the “jump and climb”. This is where a possum would jump past the first hot-wire onto the mesh, then climb over or under the middle and upper hot-wires. The fact more male possums were able to escape my be related to their ability to jump higher than females.

Read more about the study on ZIP’s website.