Tag Archives: Ringtail possums

Ringtail Possum and tree decline Western Port News, December 1

Eucalyptus trees (in particular Eucalyptus radiata & Eucalytus ovata) across the Mornington Peninsula and beyond are undergoing decline, and Ringtail possums are to blame, according to Dr Jeff Yugovic.  The “overbrowsing” of the possums is being declared the reason for the trees’ demise, with little scientific data and other alternative causes have barely considered.

Our indigenous native herbivores are easy prey when it comes to being accused of causing environmental flora destruction, and as “pests”.  Kangaroos are blamed for “over-grazing”, koalas are accused of over-populating, and possums are accused of any demise of native trees – because they eat them!

Yugovic says that, “Without predators, entire tree canopies can be lost to folivores such as monkeys and possums and whole areas can be denuded by grazers such as goats or rabbits. Also, without top predators the mid-size mesopredators such as raccoons or foxes are more abundant and take more small fauna than before”. 1

Wonder what evidence there is of these mid-sized mesopredators  in the Mornington Peninsula?  There is evidence of a sustainable number of Powerful Owls and a full compliment of avian predators, snakes, roads and introduced species such as cats (domestic, feral & stray) and dogs.

Other forms of tree mortalities are considered, and dismissed, as being “minor”.  Dense scrubby undergrowth is allowing possums to hide from their predators, foxes.  Yugovic says that major predators of the Ringtail possum are locally extinct, so there is an “overpopulation” of the former.

Mornington_Peninsula_Map

(image: Mornington Peninsula showing heavy urbanisation.  Nick Carson)

Environmental Care, Mt Eliza, agrees that the Ringtail possum is the problem. However, wildlife experts such as Mal Legg, Hans Brunner and Craig Thomson disagree.  Their concerns are dismissed as they “don’t live in the area”!  However all three live, work and volunteer on the Mornington Peninsula. Besides ecologists and naturalist don’t have to live in the areas they study.

Ecologist Hans Brunner has already written a response in Candobetter.net.  He says that “the expectation that an increase of predators may reduce a few possums would surely be badly out-weighed by the risk of losing proportionally even more of our rare, native wildlife species”.

While researchers found few brushtail possums in bushland reserves, Dr Yugovic said brushtails browse significantly on trees in gardens where they are near buildings with shelter.

“Brushtails eat adult leaves which thins the foliage throughout trees, while ringtails are more damaging by being smaller and able to reach their preferred shoots and young leaves at the end of branches,” Dr Yugovic said.2

The simple answer, according to Yugovic, is to thin the understorey, and the trees will recover!  Possum numbers will thus decline, as the possums will need to come to ground, where the foxes will predate on them. Possums might be at the scene of the crime, but not necessarily the criminals.

Foxes are everywhere and partly replace the dingo as predator? What evidence is there that dingoes and foxes provide the same ecological function on the Peninsula? It would be a fair comment to say dingoes are an apex predator, while foxes are a more opportunistic predator.

There are other possible and likely alternative reasons for the dying of the trees.

  • -spraying herbicides, such as metsulfuron, that is a broad leaf herbicide that adds salt to soils. This can persist in the soil for up to 18 months
  • -soil pathogens like cinnamon fungus that have previously tested positive on sites in question
  • -overload of weeds that poison the soil and reduce natural regeneration
  • -highly urbanised environment, Removal of vegetation for sub-divisions and house extensions. Impacting on the hydrology and fragmentation of vegetation.  This means roads, power-lines, cars, emissions and the edge-effect
  • -climate change and drought, with heat stress predicted to be a major cause of native species’ deaths.

The study, written in 2014 by Ecology Australia, commissioned by the Mornington Peninsula Shire, was meant to rectify the problem.  There seems to be little examination of other alternative causes, or refined research, to reach the conclusion to the guilty verdict for Ringtail possums.

Ecology Australia provides services for environmental management, ecological services, and planning and approvals!  They sound ominously like their focus is on corporate services, management of native vegetation and species to fit human activities, rather than conservation, wildlife rescue or holistic, custodianship of our unique natural heritage – and concern for the welfare of native animals.

1 http://www.berg.org.au/wp-content/uploads/alien_vs_predator_native_predator-prey_imbalances_in_south-east_australia_october_2015.pdf

2.Fox seen as answer to possum problem

Australian Wildlife Protection Council, committee

Ross house, level 3

247 Flinders Lane, Melbourne 3000

(featured image: Common Ringtail possum, Brisbane 2007, by Glen Fergus)

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Ringtail Possums – protecting, advancing and appreciating them!

Australia is renowned for its unique wildlife and as such it plays a large part of our sporting teams are named after them, are pictured on our currency, artist draw inspiration from them, businesses use their aggressive species. This is why dreys are used a lot more.

Unfortunately too many people have a habitat of taking our wildlife for granted. Sadly we, as a nation, have already lost a large number of species in a relatively short period of time. Even worse, our behaviour as a species is more than likely to see more of our unique fauna to become extinct unless we take some drastic actions.

– This loss of species, is a loss for us all. It robs our children and future generations and deprives them of their heritage. Our natural environment becomes ecologically out of balance, which then in turns leaves us vulnerable to pests, diseases and a natural imbalances. Sadly, there are members of our communities across Australia who view our wildlife even as pests. This couldn’t be further from the truth and it is totally unacceptable. This sort of attitude is the reason why so many of our fauna have become extinct or are threatened with extinction. We as a society need to understand that our fauna provides many other benefits beside the aesthetic values and so, we must get a better understanding of our wildlife’s needs and behaviours.

sleeepingcommon_ringtail_possum

(image: Asleep in daytime roost. Common ringtails usually build nests. This one prefers the open air.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_ringtail_possum)

Ringtail Possums

A small arboreal marsupial that lives along the east coast of Australia. Fortunately, they are well adapted to the urban environment. As social animals, they live in family groups and can have a number of dreys (nests) within a close proximity.

Life cycle

Ringtails can live up to 8 years. They start breeding from April and will generally have up to 2 offspring. Mums are not great parents as they will throw the young away if they feel threatened. This is a most unusual method of survival.

Diet

Ringtails have adapted well to the urban environment and their diets can vary in different areas depending on what is available.
They consume leaves and flowers from a variety of plants including both indigenous, native and exotic which is now their preferred diet. Fruit is also a favourite food for Ringtails. Occasionally insects are eaten, however this is probably not intentional. It happens when insects are on the plant material that they feed on.

Habitat

If small hollows in trees are available ringtails will use them. However since there is a lack of hollows particularly in urban areas, they are usually kicked out by larger or more aggressive species. This is why dreys are used a lot more. Dreys are a nests made out of sticks and leaves in trees and dense shrub layers. Ringtails will also live in house roofs, sheds, garages and above roller doors but only if there is not enough habitat left for them outside because too many trees have been chopped down or cleared. In this case artificial habitats can be installed for them such as nest boxes. However, it is important for people to know that both ring tail and brush tail possums are too often blamed for noises and droppings in their roof when in actual fact they are black rats.

Ecological Benefits

All our wildlife species play an important ecological function. In the case of ringtails they
provide;
– fuel reduction, by consuming diseased leaf that would otherwise fall to the ground
increasing fine fuels, which is a great threat for bushfire.
– Decomposition from their scats which enhances the breakdown of fine fuels.
– Pest control by consuming the overabundance of damaging insects in trees.

Threats

While many natural predators have become mostly locally extinct in urban areas, some still exist such as the Powerful Owl. However there are a whole new range of unnatural predators and dangers that now exists in our urban environment which are;
Electrocution is quite common amongst possums as they use power lines to get around
to feed and move to and from their homes. Similarly, barb wire fences are also a problem
to ringtails as many of them get caught in the wire.
Habitat fragmentation is clearly the greatest threat to their environment and leaves
wildlife like ringtails stranded in isolated pockets
Cats and dogs (domestic), and in particular cats. Please keep your cats in at night as they
kill ringtails or cause horrific injuries to them.
Foxes and feral cats
Fruit netting thrown loosely over bushes or trees. If you are going to put a net over a fruit tree, make a box around the tree and tightly place a net with a fine mesh over it. If you don’t eat fruit from the tree, please reconsider the need for a net.
Poisoning and trapping is an issue that should not exist but unfortunately too often illegally occurs. Ringtail possums are a protected species.
Then there is climate change, heat waves and storms which are becoming major issues. Ringtails really suffer from heat waves, their dreys provide no protection from the heat.
As a consequence they become dehydrated, their kidneys shut down and thousands will die. With more frequent heatwaves and storms, there is an increasing loss of possums and their habitat.

 

What you can do

– Membership, please JOIN the Australian Wildlife Protection Council so we can continue to advocate on behalf of our wildlife.

– Rescue, if you see an injured ringtail please call your local wildlife shelter for assistance. On extreme hot days, water plants early in the morning and leave water out. Please don’t feed possums.

Retain large trees and shrubs. When these are removed, fauna like ringtails are left homeless. This is why ringtail and brushtail possums often move into people’s roofs.  If you have no other option but to remove or cut back large remnant vegetation, please install a couple of nest boxes,

– Plant indigenous plants which provide habitat and food. The possums will have a `variety of food and it will also provide habitat for other species of wildlife.

– Responsible pet ownership is really important, not only for ringtails, but also a great variety of wildlife including micro bats, but mostly to birds, frogs, reptiles and sugar gliders which could be killed or injured especially by cats! Pet regulations will vary from council to council. However it is recommended to keep your pets confined to your property and keep cats inside at night. This is not only good for local wildlife
but for your pets too, as they are less like to get lost, killed or injured and cause your family unnecessary anxiety, vet bills or pound fees.

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