In Situ Training of Brushtail Possums to use Microchip-automated Doors

Individually-targeted resource supplementation for wildlife is difficult to achieve due to the challenge of excluding nontarget animals. The use of microchip-automated technology has the potential to improve conservation outcomes globally by facilitating targeted food and nesting, offering a refuge from predators, and decreasing competition. Eight wild-born brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) were trained in situ to use commercially available microchip-automated doors installed on nest boxes placed within 5m of their most used nesting site. Training to use the microchip-automated door was conducted in 3 stages where the position of the door was lowered in sequential stages until it was fully closed at stage 3. Training was deemed complete at each stage when the possum entered the nest box on 2 separate nights. Seven of the 8 possums completed training. Successful training demonstrated that free-living possums can be trained to use microchip-automated technology in situ, thus avoiding stress, costs, and biosecurity risks associated with bringing wild animals into captivity for training. Training methods can be extrapolated to a wider range of species to assist with wildlife management from reintroductions to sustaining reduced populations.