the Possum is here!!

I have been trying to get my hands on some New Zeland Brushtail Possum fiber for several years now. I had initially found someone willing to sell me 5 kilos minimum. I tried to find some other takers, but couldn't and 5 kilos (11lbs) was more possum then I could handle. I'd probably still be buried in it! Just recently I attempted to find a source for the fiber again and was successful. My 1 kilo arrived today and I just gave some of it a bath! 

It is drying in a pillow case out in the back yard! Luckily it was a sunny, hot day here in Texas. Simba the cat was very interested in the box of Possum fur. It has a very animal smell and he needed to make sure it wasn't a potential challenger to his kitty kingdom. He wouldn't want to have to share his treats with anyone and had a moment of serious concern that might be the case. After some serious sniffing and investigating, he seemed satisfied that it wasn't going to crawl out of the box and go for his food. Just to be certain though he did do some marking on all edges of the box. 

I am excited for the fiber to dry so I can get busy exploring the possibilities of Possum fluff! I blended a sample with some yak and woolen spun it and BOY WOW!! 
Soft and springy and a soft grey halo like angora. The possum fiber has a thinner micron at it's tips and is thicker in the center, it can be as thin as 1-2 microns at it's tips! It doesn't have that pokey effect that angora can when it's next to the skin. In fact, I find angora unwearable because of that itchy poke!

Although I love how it looks. Possum is also exceptionally insulating because it is hallow and traps warm air inside. It is a short fiber and an awn hair.  Marsupials only have awn hair, unlike many of the other fiber animals which have down, awn and then guard hairs. Awn hair is for insulation and protects the down layer. Apparently it is also not a big piller and is so warm it needs to be blended, rather then used alone which is unwearable it is so warm!


The Brushtail Possum is not native to New Zealand. It was introduced in the 1830's when it was farmed for it's pelt. It was a popular fur quality and the animal thrived in there, where it has no natural predators. When fur coats went out of fashion, the possum, which was now well established with it's population kept under control by the fur trade, was left to run rampant. In the last 40 years it has decimated the balance of wild life and plants in New Zealand. The kiwi bird is almost extinct due to the possum, as well as many native plants and trees. They also spread diseases, in particular bovine tuberculosis to livestock. The irony is as these little critters overrun New Zealand they are protected in their native land Australia. I'm sure there isn't a New Zealander who wouldn't send every last one of them back home, but until they figure out how to do that, using the fiber is a way to keep the population under control and to help create a balance where there isn't one. It also provides jobs for furriers and trappers. Does that justify that they are killed to get the fur? There are many things killed for fur and food, at least this is a positive environmental impact in doing so. 
The Brushtail Possum also looks nothing like our North American Opossum!