The Australia brush-tailed possums is considered to be major ecological and agricultural pest throughout New Zealand.
Possums feed on a variety of native and introduced vegetation.
By continually browsing on certain trees possums can eventually kill the trees thus altering the structure of the forests so that they are less suitable as a native wildlife habitat. Possums strip fruit from orchard trees, damage shelter belts and feed on crops, flower and vegetable gardens. Before implementing any control methods correct identification of the pest responsible for the damage is necessary. The stalk and midrib are left in broadleaf species Small branches may be broken near the top of the tree. When moving from one area to another possums may leave track marks, particularly through grass.