Birth control 10/8/11

Possums

A plan to put possums on birth control may cost ratepayers of one city council $160,000. The brushtail possum population in Carlton North's Curtain Square is held responsible for damaging its trees. Culling the passel of about 60 possums would cost $60,000 less, but Yarra Council says it would be controversial and upset wildlife lovers. The council plans a two-year hormone implant trial to stop possums breeding in the square. Greens Mayor Alison Clarke said yesterday the square's trees were in poor condition because of possum numbers, but culling was not the answer. "We could potentially cull the possums, but that would mean a lot of people would be very upset," she said."We don't want to just kill all the possums. We want to have wildlife in the city and we have to learn to co-exist with it." Public comment will be sought on the plan, with the council to make a final decision in September. A law to ban possum feeding will also be considered.

Animal Active campaign director Rheya Linden said a cull would be misdirected and counterproductive. "Other possums will move in within three weeks and that will be after nightly fighting for control of the territory," she said. Ms Linden said possums did not damage trees. She blamed years of neglect and drought. Wildlife Victoria spokeswoman Amy Amato called for other options to be considered, such as indigenous plantings to provide adequate food. "Introducing practices that promote a healthy ecosystem, is a more sustainable, humane and long-term solution," she said. Lord Mayor Robert Doyle last year described city-dwelling possums as vermin and suggested attracting powerful owls to parks was one way of dealing with the problem. *Herald Sun