Ranging behaviour and duration of survival of wild brushtail possums (<i>Trichosurus vulpecula</i>) infected with<i>Mycobacterium bovis</i>

Abstract

Most tuberculous possums died within their activity range and in scrub, representing a risk of transmission of M. bovis to wildlife and livestock that forage in scrub. Smaller proportions dying on pasture represent a less frequent, but highly visible risk. Tuberculous possums were clustered on the study site, and localised possum control operations would be more effective if focussed on such areas.