Possums

The common brush-tailed possum is the most familiar and abundant of the Australian possums. It is a large animal with a bushy tail and pointy ears. Usually silvery grey with a black band across the snout, they have a white to brownish-yellow belly. Adults can weigh around 1.5–4kg. The combined head and body length is between 35 and 55cm and tail length is 25–40cm.

Habitat and distribution

Common brush-tailed possums are found in wooded areas along Australia's east coast, eastern South Australia and south-west Western Australia. They have adapted well to living with humans. You can find them in urban areas, suburban backyards, campgrounds and sometimes in the ceilings of houses.

Life and behaviour

Brush-tailed possums are nocturnal animals, coming out after dark to feed on flowers, fruit, buds and leaves of native plants. Mistletoe, one of their snacks, is a parasite that can kill gum trees. The possum helps protect gum trees by controlling the mistletoe. Insects, eggs and meat may also be an infrequent part of their diet. In suburban areas the species may become an opportunistic feeder eating almost anything they can find. They spend their days in a den in a hollow dead branch, tree trunk, fallen log or even on the ground.

Communication is by sound and scent. Deep guttural coughs and sharp hisses are frequent forms of communication, particularly in the breeding season. You may sometimes hear this sound as they scamper across your roof at night when they move between feeding areas.

The possum breeds throughout the year, with the majority of births occurring between March and November. Females reach sexual maturity in approximately 1 year and males in their second year. Adult female possums have a large, forward-facing pouch.

A single furless young is born after a 17.5 day gestation, weighing 200mg and measuring approximately 15mm. The young makes its way from the birth canal to the large forward-facing pouch where it will attach itself and suckle from 1 of 2 teats. It makes its first pouch exit at around 121 days and permanently leaves the pouch at around 150 days.

Problems with possums?

People regularly report problems with possums crawling into their roofs.  Possums often move into roof cavities looking for a safe, dry place to sleep during the day before venturing out at night in search of food. If a possum in your roof is causing problems there are a number of things you can do to possum-proof your house.

Injured possums

All sick or injured animals, including possums, should be reported to the RSPCA on 1300 ANIMAL (1300 264 625). They can arrange for an animal carer to come and take the animal for medical treatment and rehabilitation.