The bush was allowed to regenerate without the tops being eaten away and the undergrowth grew as it pleased.

In the 1880s, it was feared that opossums were becoming extinct due to hunting for their precious skins.

Some community members were so concerned that they wanted a three-year closure of the opossum season.

In the 1920s, opossum trapping was a huge revenue-generating operation with lots of money to be made.

But if you’re caught trapping during a closed season, you can expect all of your trapping equipment to be confiscated or fined.

Protection of possums

Invercargill July 22

Nelson Evening Mail, July 22, 1889

At a meeting of the Council of the Acclimatization Society, it was decided to ask the government to subject the opossum to the Animal Protection Act and to proclaim a season closure for three years.

Eight years ago two pairs were released into the Longwood Bush, near Riverton, by the late Captain Hankinson, and their numbers increased rapidly.

They are now being slaughtered for their skins, and it is feared that if this continues they will soon become extinct, while if protected they will become a source of considerable income.

A house expert says local furs are far superior to Tasmanian or Victorian furs, and he and MA Macdonald of Dunedin will each give £10 towards their protection.

Poaching of possums

£25 fine for two offenders

Wellington, last night

Horowhenua Chronicle, July 24, 1923

Two men were in court today, charged with illegally removing possums.

Henry Chettick and Joseph August were accused of taking opossums without a license and removing them out of season.

It was stated that the accused’s movements were closely monitored by a forest ranger employed by the Acclimatization Society.

A number of possum traps set by the defendant were discovered.

It was difficult to detect offenders in such cases and heavy fines were demanded if a conviction was recorded.

The magistrate recognized that a small fine was unnecessary because large profits could be made from this practice.

A fine of £25 each was imposed.

Opossum trapping

Makomako News

Pahiatua Herald, September 12, 1929

Most Makomako possum trappers would have been very successful.

A party in Palmerston North received more than 1,000 possums and, at the prices on offer, they should do extremely well.

Still others did not have such good blocks of countries in which to operate.

Nevertheless, the shooting ranges located behind the colony proved very interesting for trappers.

Peaches and possums

Pahia Herald, January 13, 1939

Hastings orchards have discovered a new threat to their peach trees that no amount of spraying will eradicate.

An orchardist reports that recently, last night, many of his ripening peaches were entirely or partially eaten by nocturnal visitors.

Surveillance was eventually carried out and it was found that several opossums had discovered the delights of a peach diet and were enjoying it in large quantities.

This particular orchardist says he came out at night to fight the frost and now has to lose sleep over opossum hunting.

He’s eager to find out if there’s anything else the orchards will have to deal with.

– Source: Past articles