Photo: Rafael Ben-Ari/Chameleons Eye/ 123rf
The Greater Wellington council is asking people to stop adopting possums as pets.
Manager of environment operations Myfanwy Hill said the regional council had become aware of small numbers of people taking possums into their homes and attempting to domesticate them.
"Possums pose a serious threat to native birds and plants. No one in the community should consider them pets," Hill said in a statement.
"Domesticated possums may escape and destroy wildlife and keeping them undermines our broader conservation efforts."
Predator Free Wellington project director James Willcocks said it jeopardised years of work.
"People keeping possums as pets could deal a major blow to the hard work of so many in our communities over decades," he said.
"Possums damage our trees, eat birds' eggs and can spread tuberculosis. With Greater Wellington we've made great strides, removing possums from our region, so we ask that people look at the bigger picture, instead of trying to domesticate pests."
The council encouraged residents in Miramar, Kilbirnie, Lyall Bay, Rongotai, Hataitai and Mt Victoria to report any sightings of rats, stoats, weasels and possums.
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