RESPONSES OF CAPTIVE AND WILD POSSUMS TO LURES USED IN POISON BAITING

Possum hunters believe that scented flour lures possums to cyanide poi son paste baits, resulting in better kills. We tested 20 odorous compo unds for attractiveness to possums in pens, then field-tested five of the most effective (cinnamon, aniseed, plum, cherry, and orange). Only cinnamon increased kills achieved with cyanide by acting as a lure an d improving bait palatability. However, neither cinnamon nor any of th e other four attractive compounds masked the hydrocyanic acid gas that is released by cyanide paste and detected by possums. When cinnamon w as tested as a lure for attracting possums to bait stations, the numbe rs of possums visiting bait stations did not increase. Cinnamon functi ons as a lure only over short distances (i.e., up to 2 m). However, th is may be useful. in guiding possums to cyanide baits used by hunters or aerially sown baits, many of which become hidden in the vegetation. Most compounds commonly used by hunters are unlikely to improve kills .