What is a common brushtail possum?
The common brushtail possum is a cat-sized nocturnal marsupial with a bushy tail, found across much of Australia. It has adapted so well to cities that it often lives in roofs and gardens.
Brushtails have grey, brown or black fur, large pointed ears and a thick, bushy tail that can grip branches. They weigh about 1.5 to 4.5 kilograms, with Tasmanian animals often larger and darker.
They eat leaves, flowers, fruit and sometimes insects or eggs. In suburbs, they raid fruit trees and gardens, and their loud hissing and screeching calls at night are familiar sounds to many Australians.
Living with people
Brushtail possums often shelter in roof spaces when tree hollows are scarce. It is illegal to harm them, and if they are removed from a roof they must usually be released nearby, as they are territorial. Possum boxes in trees offer alternative homes.
While common in cities, brushtails have declined in parts of inland and northern Australia because of predators and habitat loss.
In New Zealand, where they were introduced for the fur trade, brushtails have become a serious pest.
Did You Know?
Brushtail possums mark their territory with scent from glands on their chest, which can stain the fur reddish-brown.