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Story: Possums

1080 carrots

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1080 carrots

Possums are controlled in New Zealand by trapping or poisoning. These carrots are being shredded and mixed with 1080 (sodium monofluoroacetate) before being aerially spread into Pureora Forest. Possums that eat the poisoned carrots die quickly through respiratory or cardiac failure.

Using this item

Department of Conservation

Reference: 10035318

by Ralph G. Powlesland

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How to cite this page

Gerard Hutching, Possums – Spread of possums, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/16888/1080-carrots (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Gerard Hutching, published 1 March 2009, updated 1 July 2015.