🚀 go-pugleaf

Je�us wrote:
> Yes, those damned possums... a never-ending battle here.
> My poor fruit trees and silver birches in particular have taken a
> hammering this year.
>
> One thing I have found effective is a mixture of lard and kero - I
> wiped some around my young silver birches trunks (and any nearby
> posts) and 6 months later, no further damage thus far.
> But I can't do that to every tree, of course.
>
> Anyway, what I really want to find out is - how high can a possum jump
> from ground level? I reckon the only way I can keep my fruit orchard
> possum free is to build a corrugated iron fence around the whole
> orchard, then a large frame over the lot and cover with bird netting -
> this should keep all birds and possums out. The fence will have other
> benefits, too, such as keeping the wind out and providing a new pen
> for poultry.
>
> The only question is how high to build the fence, anyone have any
> ideas on that?
>
> Thanks.

Do you mean these

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Possum

or these?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oppossum

David 

On Mon, 1 Apr 2013 09:42:57 +1100, "David Hare-Scott"
<secret@nospam.com> wrote:

>Je�us wrote:
>> Yes, those damned possums... a never-ending battle here.
>> My poor fruit trees and silver birches in particular have taken a
>> hammering this year.
>>
>> One thing I have found effective is a mixture of lard and kero - I
>> wiped some around my young silver birches trunks (and any nearby
>> posts) and 6 months later, no further damage thus far.
>> But I can't do that to every tree, of course.
>>
>> Anyway, what I really want to find out is - how high can a possum jump
>> from ground level? I reckon the only way I can keep my fruit orchard
>> possum free is to build a corrugated iron fence around the whole
>> orchard, then a large frame over the lot and cover with bird netting -
>> this should keep all birds and possums out. The fence will have other
>> benefits, too, such as keeping the wind out and providing a new pen
>> for poultry.
>>
>> The only question is how high to build the fence, anyone have any
>> ideas on that?
>>
>> Thanks.
>
>Do you mean these
>
>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Possum
>
>or these?
>
>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oppossum

LOL. I'm an Aussie, posting on an Aussie group.
So, the former :)

Je�us wrote:
> On Mon, 1 Apr 2013 09:42:57 +1100, "David Hare-Scott"
> <secret@nospam.com> wrote:
>
>> Je�us wrote:
>>> Yes, those damned possums... a never-ending battle here.
>>> My poor fruit trees and silver birches in particular have taken a
>>> hammering this year.
>>>
>>> One thing I have found effective is a mixture of lard and kero - I
>>> wiped some around my young silver birches trunks (and any nearby
>>> posts) and 6 months later, no further damage thus far.
>>> But I can't do that to every tree, of course.
>>>
>>> Anyway, what I really want to find out is - how high can a possum
>>> jump from ground level? I reckon the only way I can keep my fruit
>>> orchard possum free is to build a corrugated iron fence around the
>>> whole orchard, then a large frame over the lot and cover with bird
>>> netting - this should keep all birds and possums out. The fence
>>> will have other benefits, too, such as keeping the wind out and
>>> providing a new pen for poultry.
>>>
>>> The only question is how high to build the fence, anyone have any
>>> ideas on that?
>>>
>>> Thanks.
>>
>> Do you mean these
>>
>> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Possum
>>
>> or these?
>>
>> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oppossum
>
> LOL. I'm an Aussie, posting on an Aussie group.
> So, the former :)

The possum of Oz is fearsome opponent, the sight of a net will make it want 
to chew holes and the sight of a fence will make it want to climb.  They do 
both very well.  Unless your fence is smooth metal that has no grip for 
strong little claws I would be running an electric wire on standoffs to 
deter it.  If they get to the bird net they will get in.  In a tree they can 
jump quite a distance, a metre or more I guess, whether they would jump from 
ground to mesh over a gal iron fence I have no idea.

D 

Je?us  <none@all.org> wrote:
> Anyway, what I really want to find out is - how high can a possum jump
> from ground level? I reckon the only way I can keep my fruit orchard 
> possum free is to build a corrugated iron fence around the whole 
> orchard, then a large frame over the lot and cover with bird netting -
> this should keep all birds and possums out. The fence will have other
> benefits, too, such as keeping the wind out and providing a new pen
> for poultry. 

Netting should effective on birds, but I doubt it will not be effective 
against a possum that gets over your fence.  You should trim or remove
trees within 3 meters of your fence so a possum can't jump from a tree
onto your netting.

NOTE: A possum is a rabbit that lives in a tree and should be given 
      the same respect with which we treat rabbits.  Eradication!

What are the laws on trapping possums?  If legal, it should be less 
expensive than the cost of the fence. I have two Rabbit traps and 
catch 3 to 4 rabbits a day - more on the weekend when I have time to 
reset the traps more often.

> The only question is how high to build the fence, anyone have any 
> ideas on that?

Given a large possum is 30 cm, I doubt they could jump over a 1 meter
fence.  But they could climb it if they could sink their nails into 
the fence.

Dick

Dick Adams wrote:
> Je?us  <none@all.org> wrote:
>> Anyway, what I really want to find out is - how high can a possum jump
>> from ground level? I reckon the only way I can keep my fruit orchard
>> possum free is to build a corrugated iron fence around the whole
>> orchard, then a large frame over the lot and cover with bird netting -
>> this should keep all birds and possums out. The fence will have other
>> benefits, too, such as keeping the wind out and providing a new pen
>> for poultry.
>
> Netting should effective on birds, but I doubt it will not be effective
> against a possum that gets over your fence.  You should trim or remove
> trees within 3 meters of your fence so a possum can't jump from a tree
> onto your netting.
>
> NOTE: A possum is a rabbit that lives in a tree and should be given
>        the same respect with which we treat rabbits.  Eradication!
>
> What are the laws on trapping possums?  If legal, it should be less
> expensive than the cost of the fence. I have two Rabbit traps and
> catch 3 to 4 rabbits a day - more on the weekend when I have time to
> reset the traps more often.

It is legal to trap possums but not to kill them (you have to let them 
go again) which is a complete waste of time,If you release them far away 
another will take their place.

>
>> The only question is how high to build the fence, anyone have any
>> ideas on that?
>
> Given a large possum is 30 cm, I doubt they could jump over a 1 meter
> fence.  But they could climb it if they could sink their nails into
> the fence.
>
> Dick
>

On Fri, 12 Apr 2013 03:07:27 +0000 (UTC), rdadams@panix.com (Dick
Adams) wrote:

>Je?us  <none@all.org> wrote:
>> Anyway, what I really want to find out is - how high can a possum jump
>> from ground level? I reckon the only way I can keep my fruit orchard 
>> possum free is to build a corrugated iron fence around the whole 
>> orchard, then a large frame over the lot and cover with bird netting -
>> this should keep all birds and possums out. The fence will have other
>> benefits, too, such as keeping the wind out and providing a new pen
>> for poultry. 
>
>Netting should effective on birds, but I doubt it will not be effective 
>against a possum that gets over your fence.  You should trim or remove
>trees within 3 meters of your fence so a possum can't jump from a tree
>onto your netting.
>
>NOTE: A possum is a rabbit that lives in a tree and should be given 
>      the same respect with which we treat rabbits.  Eradication!
>
>What are the laws on trapping possums?  If legal, it should be less 
>expensive than the cost of the fence. I have two Rabbit traps and 
>catch 3 to 4 rabbits a day - more on the weekend when I have time to 
>reset the traps more often.
>
>> The only question is how high to build the fence, anyone have any 
>> ideas on that?

G'day my local MP's namesake,

Just to be clear, I'm referring to Australian possums...

Yes, bird netting isn't much defense but I would be able to build a
corrugated iron fence around all 33 trees - just need to work out how
high to build the fence... there is no way they could climb up the
corrugated iron, but could jump over it if not high enough...

Then, either bird wire or netting over the top of the lot, sitting on
a framework. That's the plan anyway...

>Given a large possum is 30 cm, I doubt they could jump over a 1 meter
>fence.  But they could climb it if they could sink their nails into 
>the fence.

Hmm. Come to think of it, it may be they don't seem to like to jump
vertically from the ground... at least when I think about which trees
have sustained damage around the property, all have had posts or
fences nearby making climbing easy.

Cheers

On Thu, 11 Apr 2013 15:47:45 +1000, "David Hare-Scott"
<secret@nospam.com> wrote:


>The possum of Oz is fearsome opponent, the sight of a net will make it want 
>to chew holes and the sight of a fence will make it want to climb.  They do 
>both very well.  Unless your fence is smooth metal that has no grip for 
>strong little claws I would be running an electric wire on standoffs to 
>deter it.  

Yep, which is why I want to use corrugated iron, with the fence
framework and posts on the *inside* of the orchard. There's no way
they could climb up corrugated iron.

>If they get to the bird net they will get in.  In a tree they can 
>jump quite a distance, a metre or more I guess, whether they would jump from 
>ground to mesh over a gal iron fence I have no idea.

That's what I need to find out - how high can the buggers jump
vertically off the ground? There is plenty of clear space around the
orchard so they won't be able to jump from another object either.

"Je�us" <none@all.org> wrote in message 
news:lobmm89mbkkgfcp0dfcm6rvlm86aomripe@4ax.com...
> On Thu, 11 Apr 2013 15:47:45 +1000, "David Hare-Scott"
> <secret@nospam.com> wrote:
>
>
>>The possum of Oz is fearsome opponent, the sight of a net will make it 
>>want
>>to chew holes and the sight of a fence will make it want to climb.  They 
>>do
>>both very well.  Unless your fence is smooth metal that has no grip for
>>strong little claws I would be running an electric wire on standoffs to
>>deter it.
>
> Yep, which is why I want to use corrugated iron, with the fence
> framework and posts on the *inside* of the orchard. There's no way
> they could climb up corrugated iron.
>
>>If they get to the bird net they will get in.  In a tree they can
>>jump quite a distance, a metre or more I guess, whether they would jump 
>>from
>>ground to mesh over a gal iron fence I have no idea.
>
> That's what I need to find out - how high can the buggers jump
> vertically off the ground? There is plenty of clear space around the
> orchard so they won't be able to jump from another object either.

The usual rule of thumb is "A creature can jump 6 inches higher than the 
fence you erect"

This site has some useful info 
http://treelogic.com.au/facts/2007/11/possums-trees/

"
How far can a possum jump?

The bushy-tailed Brushtails are agile climbers and are able to leap 
significant distances as they traverse the urban forest. The distance they 
can jump is dependent on their take-off platform, whether they can get a 
run-up to it and also how far vertically they need to jump. The more 
vertical the distance they have to cover, the shorter the distance they can 
leap (Cavanagh, 2007).
An agile (young) possum can leap from a fixed, solid base, up to 2.5m 
horizontally or downwards, around 1.2m at an angle of nearly 50� to the 
horizontal (close to optimum of 45�) and with a run-up, 1.7 m upwards at an 
angle of around 18�. Vertical jumping appears to be less than 1m (Cavanagh, 
2007)."



And this site doesn't hold out much hope 
http://anpsa.org.au/APOL2007/may07-1.html but does provide subject matter 
for a blog.



Mike

On Mon, 15 Apr 2013 08:38:16 +1000, Jeßus wrote:

> On Thu, 11 Apr 2013 15:47:45 +1000, "David Hare-Scott"
> <secret@nospam.com> wrote:
> 
> 
>>The possum of Oz is fearsome opponent, the sight of a net will make it
>>want to chew holes and the sight of a fence will make it want to climb. 
>>They do both very well.  Unless your fence is smooth metal that has no
>>grip for strong little claws I would be running an electric wire on
>>standoffs to deter it.
> 
> Yep, which is why I want to use corrugated iron, with the fence
> framework and posts on the *inside* of the orchard. There's no way they
> could climb up corrugated iron.
> 
>>If they get to the bird net they will get in.  In a tree they can jump
>>quite a distance, a metre or more I guess, whether they would jump from
>>ground to mesh over a gal iron fence I have no idea.
> 
> That's what I need to find out - how high can the buggers jump
> vertically off the ground? There is plenty of clear space around the
> orchard so they won't be able to jump from another object either.

How far can a possum jump? 
<http://treelogic.com.au/facts/2007/11/possums-trees/>


Not having possum problems, had a quiet chuckle at this one, though I can 
understand the frustration.
See last sentence also; may be some value in contact?
<http://anpsa.org.au/APOL2007/may07-1.html>


Apparently 5 varieties of possum in Tassie
<http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/index.aspx?base=4867>

HTH. Good luck with your trials and tribulations. Trust you can find a 
possum friendly solution.

'Je�us[_2_ Wrote: 
> ;980007']Yes, those damned possums... a never-ending battle here.
> My poor fruit trees and silver birches in particular have taken a
> hammering this year. 
> 
> One thing I have found effective is a mixture of lard and kero - I
> wiped some around my young silver birches trunks (and any nearby
> posts) and 6 months later, no further damage thus far.
> But I can't do that to every tree, of course.
> 
> Anyway, what I really want to find out is - how high can a possum jump
> from ground level? I reckon the only way I can keep my fruit orchard
> possum free is to build a corrugated iron fence around the whole
> orchard, then a large frame over the lot and cover with bird netting -
> this should keep all birds and possums out. The fence will have other
> benefits, too, such as keeping the wind out and providing a new pen
> for poultry.
> 
> The only question is how high to build the fence, anyone have any
> ideas on that?
> 
> Thanks.

Agreed to you, these little possums are looking innocent but they are
very danger for crop.




-- 
thomaspoul

Je�us <none@all.org> writes:
>One thing I have found effective is a mixture of lard and kero - I
>wiped some around my young silver birches trunks (and any nearby
>posts) and 6 months later, no further damage thus far.
>But I can't do that to every tree, of course.

I've heard Graham Ross say that he is having 100% success in keeping
possums off the fruit trees in his garden with ultrasonic horns. If 
you look at some web sites you'll see these are large impressive
speakers, so they probably put out quite a screech to disuade the
inquisitive possum.

I suppose the device needn't be operating while the sun is shining, with
possums being usually nocturnal.

I'll take note next time when he mentions the manufacturer of the
unit he is using.
-- 
John Savage                (my news address is not valid for email)