Brushtail Possums

The Night Time Neighbours Living Above Our Heads.

A Quick Snapshot

The Common Brushtail Possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) is one of Australia’s most familiar nocturnal mammals — agile, expressive, and perfectly adapted to life in both bushland and suburbia. With their bright eyes, curled prehensile tails, and confident tree hopping, they’ve become iconic figures of the Australian night.

Meet the Brushtail Possum

Brushtails are medium sized marsupials with thick grey or brown fur, large rounded ears, and the distinctive bushy black tail that gives them their name. Their build is sturdy and athletic, allowing them to climb effortlessly, leap between branches, and navigate rooftops with surprising grace.

Key Traits

• Prehensile tail for gripping branches

• Excellent night vision

• Strong claws for climbing bark, fences, and roofs

• Highly adaptable to natural and urban environments

They’re confident animals — often curious, sometimes bold, and always alert to movement and sound.

Habitat and Distribution

Brushtail possums are found across most of Australia, thriving in:

• Eucalypt forests

• Woodlands

• Rainforests

• Suburban gardens

• Roof cavities and sheds

Their success in urban areas comes from their ability to use human structures as shelter and take advantage of fruit trees, compost, and ornamental plants.

Diet and Foraging Behaviour

Brushtails are omnivores, with a diet that shifts depending on season and habitat. They typically eat:

• Eucalyptus leaves

• Flowers and buds

• Fruits

• Insects

• Fungi

• Occasionally bird eggs or small vertebrates

In suburban settings, they’re known to raid veggie patches, nibble roses, and investigate compost bins — behaviour that often brings them into close contact with people.

Life Cycle and Social Structure

Female brushtails give birth to a single joey, which spends its first months in the pouch before riding on the mother’s back. They’re territorial animals, using scent glands and vocalisations — hisses, growls, and grunts — to communicate and defend their home range.

Despite their solitary nature, they often share overlapping territories in urban areas where food is abundant.

Why Brushtail Possums Matter

Brushtails play an important ecological role:

• Seed dispersal: They help regenerate forests by spreading seeds through their droppings.

• Pollination: Feeding on flowers makes them accidental pollinators.

• Food web support: They’re prey for owls, pythons, and large goannas.

Their adaptability also makes them a valuable indicator of how wildlife responds to urbanisation.

Living With Brushtail Possums

Because they’re so common in suburban areas, people often share space with them — sometimes happily, sometimes reluctantly. Here are ways to coexist responsibly:

• Secure roof cavities to prevent nesting

• Protect fruit trees with wildlife safe netting

• Plant native shrubs to provide natural food and shelter

• Avoid feeding — it can cause dependency and health issues

• Provide nest boxes if you want to offer alternative shelter

Brushtails are protected wildlife, so relocation is restricted and often ineffective. Habitat based solutions are always better.

Final Thoughts

The Brushtail Possum is a resilient, charismatic marsupial that has learned to thrive alongside us. Whether you encounter them in a gum tree, on a fence line, or tip toeing across a roof at night, they’re a reminder of the wildness woven through Australian suburbs. Understanding their behaviour — and supporting healthy habitat — helps ensure these night time neighbours continue to flourish.