Blog: Possums - pest or potential?

Possums: cute but a pest. Also warm to wear

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The snow has been making winter fun, but the cold is not so great. Whilst looking for new additions to my winter wardrobe during my travels around the South Island of New Zealand, I've noticed a new trend, garments made from merino/possum mixes.

This week is Conservation Week (in New Zealand), so it seems fitting to write about this.

For those people who aren't familiar with possums, they are a marsupial (think kangaroo family), which are native to Australia (and a few islands).  They were introduced to New Zealand in the mid 1800s when their pelts were valued.  Unlike our Australian neighbours, who 'protect' them, the possum is considered a pest in New Zealand.

I have to say that at first glance, they look rather cute and equally cuddly.  But, as I mentioned, possums are not loved by New Zealanders. This is because they devour native trees, destroying the trees themselves, along with the habitats of our native birds. 

Possums have also been known to eat bird eggs, causing even greater decline in endangered species numbers. They also carry bovine tuberculosis (TB), which is passed onto cows and deer.  Some say that the introduction of possums in New Zealand, has resulted in as much of an ecological disaster as the introduction of rabbits in Australia. The damage, which is continuing to be caused by possums, has well out-weighed the benefit of being introduced all those years ago for the fur trade. 

Since the fur trade diminished, they have been able to thrive, as they have no natural predators. Their numbers are estimated at between 70 and 80 million currently, and these possums collectively consume around 20,000 tonnes of vegetation each night.

There has continued to be a small market for possum pelts over the years for hats, scarves, wraps, trims on jackets etc. But use of the fibre is a fairly recent innovation. It is now being mixed with a personal favourite of mine, merino wool.  Possum fur is hollow and when mixed with fine merino "produces a fabric unsurpassed for softness and warmth", creating light and 'wearer friendly' items, as Fibre Zone, a manufacturer and retail outlet for merino/possum blend products, states.

This is due to the air which is trapped within the fur, along with the attributes of fine merino. I've also read that this combination allows manufacturers to produce knitwear that doesn't pill.  Commonly between 15 and 30% of the blends are possum fibre, with some pieces containing up to 40%.

With possum fibres not only providing warmth, but possibly a viable and sustainable way to reduce possum numbers in New Zealand, why not get on board?  Do your bit for conservation and buy our merino/possum blend and fur products.  For myself, do I want to wear it? 'No, not yet'. My conditioning that possum equals pest is a real block.  But do I think that the ideology behind this is great and justifiable?  Absolutely.