Examining the living with possums policy in Victoria, Australia : community knowledge, support and compliance

Studying the human dimensions of wildlife management issues is now considered to be an essential component<br />of wildlife research. This study examined the Living with Possums policy in Victoria, Australia, in terms of the policy’s<br />success in educating the community and ensuring community compliance. Postal surveys and telephone interviews<br />were conducted across three samples from Greater Melbourne. These samples included people who had experiences<br />with possums on their property (<i>n</i> = 340), veterinary clinics (<i>n</i> = 45) and the general public (<i>n</i> = 103). Significant<br />levels of non-compliance were uncovered, highlighting the need for a renewed public education campaign to take place<br />along with a continued interest in this issue from government agencies and councils. The study also revealed<br />discrepancies between the policy and public preferences for possum management, suggesting that a shift in the<br />recommended management technique may be warranted.<br />