New Zealand Journal of Zoology abstracts
Comparison of the attractiveness of acoustic and visual stimuli for brushtail
possums
P. W. CAREY
Department of Biological Sciences
University of Waikato
Private Bag 3105
Hamilton, New Zealand
C. E. O'CONNOR*
Animal Behaviour and Welfare Research Centre
AgResearch Ruakura
Private Bag 3123
Hamilton, New Zealand
R. M. MCDONALD
HortResearch Ruakura
Private Bag 3123
Hamilton, New Zealand
L. R. MATTHEWS
Animal Behaviour and Welfare Research Centre
AgResearch Ruakura
*Author for correspondence.
Abstract Population control of the brushtail possum using
poisons and traps relies on their interaction with baits and trap mechanisms.
It follows that lures that can consistently attract possums will help increase
killing efficiency. We tested the effectiveness of two different types of
stimulus (white light and an electronic pulse sound, "beep") for attracting
possums. Seventeen wild-caught possums were given a choice between two boxes,
one of which had one of the stimuli associated with it and a plain control box.
Attractiveness was assessed by scoring the incidence of three specific
behaviours: approaching box, putting head into box, or entering box. Most
animals interacted with at least one of the boxes, although there was a
tendency for increased interest in both boxes when the light box was present.
An equal number of possums entered the light and beep boxes, but a significant
number repeatedly entered the beep box more often. Acoustic and visual lures
may have a role in increasing the attractiveness of traps, thereby improving
their effectiveness.
Keywords Trichosurus vulpecula; possum control; lures;
sound; light; trap
Received 24 January 1997; accepted 2 July 1997
New Zealand Journal of Zoology, 1997, Vol. 24: 273-276
0301-4223/2404-0273 $7.00/0 (c) The Royal Society of New Zealand
1997
PDF file of entire paper: medium quality (340K); (scanned from paper original: notes about this process)
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