Injurious Wildlife Species; Brushtail (Trichosurus vulpecula)

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service adds the brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) to the list of injurious live mammals. By this action, the Service prohibits the importation into or transportation between the continental United States, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or any territory or possession of the United States of any live brushtail possum. The best available information indicates that this action is necessary to protect the interests of forestry, human health and safety, and wildlife and wildlife resources from adverse effects that may result from purposeful or accidental introduction and subsequent establishment of the brushtail possum populations in the ecosystems of the United States. Live brushtail possums can only be imported by permit for scientific, medical, educational, or zoological purposes, or without a permit by Federal agencies solely for their own use; permits will also be required for the interstate transportation of live brushtail possums currently held in the United States for scientific, medical, educational, or zoological purposes. However, this action prohibits interstate transportation of live brushtail possums currently held in the United States for purposes not listed above.