The Common Brushtail Possum is a protected species under the Nature Conservation Act 1992 and their conservation listing in Queensland is “Least Concern”.
Brushtail Possums are one of the wildlife species that thrive in an urban environment. You may notice that there are times that “your” possum is not visiting. As a prey animal, possums have 5-6 nest sites within their home range and will regularly move between them. While the availability of dens is a critical limiting factor for populations, many Brushtail Possums will happily swap sleeping in tree hollows for the roofs of houses, sheds and garages. They are territorial and use vocalisations and scent to define neighbourhood boundaries, sometimes making them noisy houseguests. Gardens also offer a smorgasbord of tasty treats, and brushtail possums can easily polish off any delicate plants or fruit and vegetables overnight. T
hey are also partial to any pet food left out overnight, or an open bin. Preventing access is usually the most effective approach to protect your backyard and includes wildlife-friendly netting, collaring fruit trees and covering produce. The website below has more tips and tricks to happily living with possums.
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Image credit: Shari English