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Comments from moderator
see discussion below| Insufficient or inconclusive evidence | 27 Mar 2024 | MichaelMulvaney | ||
| Phalangeridae (family) | 25 Mar 2024 | waltraud |
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A possum box screwed on Eucalyptus tree; people with bags and ladder observed walking up Clancy's track at various occasions.
6 comments
MichaelMulvaney
wrote:
27 Mar 2024
Waltraud do you suspect that this nest box is being used as a release site for possums captured at residences? and if so do you know if the people doing the release have a permit? Possums (Brushtail and Krefts Gliders) are the major predator of Gang-gang nests taking out up to 20% of Canberra's nests each year. Although this release site is about 500 metres from a known nest - Mt Majura is an important Gang-gang breeding site so not a good place for possum release.
waltraud
wrote:
27 Mar 2024
Michael I not only suspect but know for sure that these boxes are for possums; I was talking to people - usually female and male, she carries a pouch or bag, he a ladder. I have only once seen 2 people carrying a large bag with something in that looks like a box and tools. I don't know whether they have a license I only dared once to talk and ask and they were super aggressive. there are a number of organisations and people who have a license however my friend told me it is common practice that roofers when they renovate etc they take possums and release them in next nature reserve. our spot light walk organisere informed me that possum numbers have exponentially increased.
waltraud
wrote:
27 Mar 2024
MichaelMulvaney
Here are pics of more boxes: the new box Phalangeridae (family) (Brushtail Possums) was installed one years ago or so; I found the old one Phalangeridae (family) (Brushtail Possums) with the possum print on the ground not far away. Notice access with car park nearby. That was the area where I dared to ask whether the 2 people with ladder and pouch have a license to release possums... I observed 3 or 4 times people with bags / pouches and ladder at Clancy's track and north of Blue Metal Road. We probed the above mentioned new possum box twice last year and it seemed empty but we are not 100% sure.
Here are pics of more boxes: the new box Phalangeridae (family) (Brushtail Possums) was installed one years ago or so; I found the old one Phalangeridae (family) (Brushtail Possums) with the possum print on the ground not far away. Notice access with car park nearby. That was the area where I dared to ask whether the 2 people with ladder and pouch have a license to release possums... I observed 3 or 4 times people with bags / pouches and ladder at Clancy's track and north of Blue Metal Road. We probed the above mentioned new possum box twice last year and it seemed empty but we are not 100% sure.
MichaelMulvaney
wrote:
27 Mar 2024
Thanks Waltraud. A condition of any permit issued to professional possum removalists is that the possum must be released within 50m of where it is captured - so we can rule professional out - unless they are acting illegally. Wildlife licensing don't think that it would be wildlife carers but they are checking this out. I would remove the box or boxes. If you see them again i wouldn't approach them but if you can in a secretive non-confrontational way take a photo of their car numberplate and the people doing the possum dumping then you could pass these images to wildlife compliance to follow up - the maximum fines are quite hefty but I suspect a warning would be issued unless they are repeat offenders.
waltraud
wrote:
27 Mar 2024
thanks MichaelMulvaney
There are many license holders: https://www.environment.act.gov.au/parks-conservation/plants-and-animals/wildlife-management/possums. Question is how the 50m rule applies if wildlife carers find or receive a possum, such as for example https://canberra.naturemapr.org/sightings/4189435? are wildlife carers permitted to release them several 100m deep into nature reserves (and screw boxes to trees)?
There are many license holders: https://www.environment.act.gov.au/parks-conservation/plants-and-animals/wildlife-management/possums. Question is how the 50m rule applies if wildlife carers find or receive a possum, such as for example https://canberra.naturemapr.org/sightings/4189435? are wildlife carers permitted to release them several 100m deep into nature reserves (and screw boxes to trees)?
Sighting information
- 1 - 3 Abundance
- 19 Mar 2024 04:22 PM Recorded on
- waltraud Recorded by
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