Australian possums are a diverse group of mammals, ranging
from tiny gliding possums to large agile climbing brushtails.
The Brushtail Possum is the most familiar of all the
Australian possums. The are found in most areas where
there are trees, especially open forests and woodlands.
The Brushtail has also adapted to living in urban areas,
often making their homes in any dark area, often the
space between a ceiling and roof of many buildings,
particularly family homes.
The Brushtail Possum ranges in colour from dark brown
to silver-grey on the back and cream to pale grey on
its underside. It has long oval ears, a pink nose and
a big bushy tail, brown-black in colour.
Picture thanks to Ben Hudson
The major breeding season of the possum seems to be
in autumn and the minor season of spring. Females usually
begin reproducing at the age of one year.
The young can spend up to 4-5 months in the mother's
pouch, attached to one of the two teats, where it develops
quite quickly. 1-2 months are then spent suckling and
riding about on the mother's back.
Usually after this weaning period, it leaves the mother
and makes its own way into the world. Even though possums
are at the mercy of being killed by foxes, dogs, humans
and bushfires, they are still large in numbers and they
are amongst the most familiar and popular Australian
mammals.
The diet of Brushtail possums consist mainly of leaves,
especially eucalypt leaves and also native fruits, buds
and bark in the forests. They also eat a variety of
other food in urban areas where they rummage in gardens
and exposed rubbish bins of home owners.
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Information
has been collected from various sources for the benefit
of our many visitors,
within Australia & Overseas.
Reference sources: In particular: MS Encarta, MS Dangerous
Creatures,
Websters Australian Mammals & other Reference Books.
