by Shane Sody
Where have the possums gone? Is this a magic trick?
University of Adelaide researcher Tara McKenzie is tracking possums in your Park Lands, comparing their health and habits to their country cousins.
Last month, Tara reported that something or someone had been attacking possums in Carriageway Park /. Tuthangga (Park 17). She also reported that possums in that Park were underweight, compared to possums in the Riverland.
The State Government is prepared to destroy possum-habitat trees in your Park 2, to make way for a $135 new Aquatic Centre.
Possums have been seen many times in that Park. But Tara is faced with a mystery. What has happened to the possums in your northern Park Lands: Parks 1, 2 and 3?
Trapping, tagging and releasing: Tara McKenzie recording health data from a Park Lands possum.
Here’s her latest report:
To update you, I conducted eight nights of trapping in the northern Park Lands (across Parks 1, 2 and 3) but did not capture any possums.
It could be that numbers in this area are too low to capture them with the number of traps I have, but I will need to do some more spotlighting to confirm this.
Chris Butcher [City of Adelaide Senior Sustainability Advisor, Biodiversity] recommended I try Park 23 [G.S. Kingston Park / Wirrarninthi] after they had recently spotted quite a few out there. This has been successful (when I haven't had to rush out and close the traps as the stormy weather rolled in) and I have caught, collared and released another male possum (some photos are attached).
After I return from a trip to the Riverland this week, I will be back out at Park 23 to continue trapping to capture the last possum to capture and start retrieving the initial tracking data from the collars.
Tara McKenzie’s Ph D research includes an internship with the Adelaide Park Lands Association where her main role is to collect information about the plant and animal species that are found across your Park Lands, with a focus on those that have an important role in possum habitats.
