Possum control topic of expert's lessons

NICOLE GOURLEY/The Southland Times

HANDS-ON LEARNING: Lincoln University science outreach co-ordinator Sue Unsworth shows James Hargest College year 12 pupils Tessa Young (left) and Alice Alsweiler, both 16, how to make a wax reference of a possum bite during a biology lesson this week.

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An expert from Lincoln University is in Southland and South Otago this month to teach year 11 and 12 biology and agriculture pupils about effective possum control on a limited budget.

Lincoln University science outreach co-ordinator Sue Unsworth has been visiting schools in Invercargill, Gore, Winton, Tapanui and Wanaka teaching seminars about how to target possums.

"The idea is to enhance the teaching of an NCEA Achievement Standard and this activity concerns the possum problem in New Zealand."

Lessons involved some practical activities, one of which was teaching the pupils how to identify areas where possum numbers might be the most dense.

"The thing with science is it's government by economics," Ms Unsworth said.

"The idea is to keep possum numbers down for the longest period of time for the smallest amount of money."

The Department of Conservation's most effective possum control method was 1080 because it was effective and the least expensive.

"We don't like 1080 but we have to use it because we've got nothing better."

This was why it was important to find out where possums were the worst so the poison could be isolated to specific areas only.

Ms Unsworth's tour includes Southland Boys, Southland Girls and James Hargest, Gore High, Menzies College, St Peter's College, Central Southland College, Blue Mountain College and Mount Aspiring College.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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