The acute toxicity of four common poisons to the opossum, Trichosurus vulpecula

Abstract

Extract

Although a number of poisons are used for the destruction of opossums, Trichosurus vulpecula (Kerr), very little information on their acute toxic effects is available. A study of the toxicity of four poisons was therefore undertaken. Two of these compounds, sodium monofluoroacetate and sodium cyanide, are used as toxins against opossums in New Zealand, and two others, arsenic trioxide and strychnine, alkaloid, are used for the destruction of rabbits. Arsenic trioxide and strychnine were suggested as replacements for sodium monofluoroacetate and sodium cyanide by the Rabbit Destruction Council (pers. comm.). They suggested strychnine as a substitute for cyanide to overcome poison shyness and arsenic as a substitute for sodium monofluoroacetate to circumvent the danger of secondary poisoning to farmers' dogs.