Possum fix brings perils | Rural

It's not a new dance move, it's not a phrase Dame Edna Everage made up and, while it might help deal to an unwanted pest, it could be a serious threat to Northland's farming health.

It's wobbly possum disease, a virus which could potentially reduce the possum population but could prove a greater evil in its potential to introduce bovine TB.

There have been unconfirmed reports of diseased possums being released in Northland as an illegal means of bio-control, says Animal Health Board (AHB) northern region co-ordinator Frank Pavitt.

Wobbly possum disease occurs in many parts of New Zealand, including as far north as Waikato, he says.

Its presence in Northland is still the subject of anecdotal rather than official reports, but the AHB is asking people not to introduce or spread it around the region. The movement of diseased possums could put wild pigs, dairy herds and other stock at risk of catching and spreading bovine TB.

"Moving any wild animals into new areas is extremely irresponsible," Mr Pavitt said. Previous surveys have indicated possums and other wildlife in Northland are free of TB.

"Even in TB-free areas, we need hunters and farmers to continue disposing of animal carcasses correctly." AHB was not concerned with possum control other than its relationship to the pastoral economy of Northland. Possum control was the concern of regional councils, Department of Conservation and other conservation agents - and they supported land user programmes, education courses and population control such as trapping and poisoning, not biological control, Mr Pavitt said.

Northland Regional Council biosecurity manager Don McKenzie said there had been a few suspected cases of wobbly possum disease in recent years, but there was no evidence the virus was being deliberately introduced.

Symptoms include a lack of co-ordination, head tremors, daytime feeding and blindness. Over a period of six weeks, the possum became weak, slept on the ground and lost interest in its surroundings. The disease is transmitted through animal to animal contact and is usually fatal.