A COMPARISON OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF 3 NECK-HOLD KILLING TRAPS IN OCCLUDING CAROTID ARTERIES IN THE NECK OF THE BRUSHTAIL POSSUM

Aims. To compare the potential humaneness of three types of neck-hold killing traps in terms of the blood vessels that are occluded, and to examine the anatomy of the blood vessels that supply blood to the poss um's brain. Method. The prevalence of occlusion of the common carotid arteries and the trachea was examined in 33 possums which were caught with Timms, LDL and Conibear 160 traps. The anatomy of the blood suppl y to the brain was examined in six possums using a resin casting techn ique. Results. The prevalence of complete bilateral common carotid art ery occlusion was 77% for the Timms trap, 45% for the LDL trap and 22% for the Conibear 160 trap. The major route for blood supply to the br ain was via the common carotid arteries. Conclusion. Where the aim is to kill possums quickly by ischaemia of the brain, the Timms trap is t o be preferred over the LDL and Conibear 160 traps.