Brushtail and Ringtail possums are the most common possums you will see in South Australia. They are native to Australia and are a protected species. We have 3 other species which are the Western Pygmy, the Little Pygmy and the Eastern Pygmy possum.
You cannot keep a Possum without a Wildlife Carer’s Permit from DEW (Department for Environment & water).
We have experienced permitted carers for Possums from pinkies, joeys to adults.
JOEYS
If found, immediately phone SA Native Animal Rescue (SANAR) on (08)7170 3924.
If the joey is by itself, please look around to see if you can locate the mother so we can try and reunite joey and mum. This is based on if the joey and the mother are ok. It can only be done by an experienced possum carer that is experienced in reuniting. Mother’s milk dries out after a few days so reuniting needs to be done within the first day or so.
If possible, provide warmth with a pouch, beanie or sock (depending on the size of the possum). A hot water-bottle with a towel wrapped around it or any other heating source (heated wheat bag etc.). Please do not put the heating source next to or underneath the pinkie or joey as it may become overheated and scolded).
DO NOT offer cow’s milk or any other milk substitute as wildlife are lactose intolerant and this will cause severe gut issues. Please do not give them water as they can aspirate the water if not given correctly.
If found with the dead mother, take both mother and Joey to a veterinary practice that is recommended by the SANAR Hotline.
The Joey needs to go to a specialised permitted Possum Carer for ongoing care, as joeys are extremely sensitive and can die without expert care.
ADULTS
If found, immediately phone SA Native Animal Rescue (SANAR) on (08) 71703924.
Possums can bite and scratch. They have very sharp claws and teeth and will use these when frightened, especially when they are injured or stressed. You can pick up a possum by using a blanket or towel and placing it over the possum, scoop it up and place it in a box and close the lid. If the possum is contained, you can take it to the Adelaide Koala and Wildlife Centre or to your nearest vet.
All possums on the ground need to be seen by the vet.
Scientific Name: Pseudocheirus peregrinus
Lifespan: 5-8 years
Weight: 550 g-1.1 kg
Length: 30-35 cm (head and body), 30 cm (tail)
Appearance:
The fur of the ringtail possum is grey (can also be red-brown), with orange-brown tinges on the tail and legs. Its belly, behind the eyes and the tip of its tail (last third) is white (and underside of the tip of the tail is hairless). They have short and rounded ears.
The long prehensile tail is used similarly to a fifth limb (carrying nesting material and aid with balancing). Which enables it to climb as well as jump between branches. Ringtails have 5 toes on each foot. They have 2 thumbs on the front foot to help them climb. Possums have a gap between the second and the third finger on their forefoot, which helps them to hold onto branches securely.
Distribution:
They can be found from the eastern coastline of Australia to the southwestern corner of Western Australia, as well as in Tasmania. They are able to live in temperate areas as well as tropical areas, and rarely will be found within drier areas. They are usually found in dense brush forests, with plenty of eucalyptus trees.
Habits and Lifestyle:
Ringtail Possums are not solitary, they form groups (usually one male with one female and the offsprings from the previous breeding season). They live in nests (called dreys), which are “soccer” ball sized nests built metres high in the dense foliage of trees. They are nocturnal (active during the night). They vocalise between each other to communicate. They are rarely on the ground, as they are adapted to live in the trees. They are also very territorial, marking their territories with a scented secretion.
Diet:
Ringtails eat a variety of leaves, flowers and fruits from a variety of native trees and bushes. They are also caecotrophs (eat a special type of faeces that is produced during the daytime)
Reproduction:
They are monogamous, and reproduce between April and November, they usually have twins or triplets. Gestation lasts for 20-26 days. They are born hairless, and the size of a ‘jellybean’. They crawl into the pouch and latch onto a teat. They do not leave the pouch until 7 weeks later. They are weaned at about 6 months of age. Both the male and the female care for the young.
Scientific Name: Trichosurus vulpecula
Lifespan: 13-15 years
Weight: 1.2-4.5 kg
Length: 32-58 cm (head and body); 25-40 cm (tail)
Appearance:
It is the largest possum found in Australia. It has large, pointed ears. It as a prehensile (hairless ventral patch at the end) bushy tail, which is adapted to grasping branches. Brushtails have 5 toes on each foot. They have 2 thumbs on the front foot to help them climb. Possums have a gap between the second and the third finger on their forefoot, which helps them to hold onto branches securely.
Its fur varies in colour depending on the subspecies. It is more commonly found to be silver-grey, brown, black, red or cream in colour. The Tail is usually brown or black and the ventral area is lighter in colour.
Similarly to any marsupial the female Brushtail possum has a pouch that is forward opening. Both females and males have scent glands on their chest that stains the surrounding fur.
Distribution:
Brushtail Possums are widely distributed across Australia and Tasmania. They are found in varied habitats such as savana, dry eucalypt forest and woodland.
Habits and Lifestyle:
Brushtails are solitary animals that live in trees (arboreal). They spend most of their daytime hours resting in hollow trees or logs.
They communicate using a variety of sounds (clicks, grunts, hisses, screeching, guttural cough)
Diet:
Brushtail mainly eat leaves, fruits and flowers, they supplement their diet with seeds.
They are also caecotrophs (eat a special type of faeces that is produced during the daytime)
Reproduction:
They are polygynandrous. They reproduce between April and November. THe gestation period is 16-18 days. They have one joey per litter. The little joey climbs into the pouch of its mother. It will stay in the pouch for 4-5 months, after which it will backride its mother until weaning at 7-9 months of age.
Ringtail Possum:
- It uses its tail as a fifth limb, carrying nesting material.
- Ringtails are caecotrophs like a rabbit. It eats its daytime faeces. The Possum does that to get the maximum amount of nutrients from the leaves of the eucalyptus.
- Ringtails have Twins and occasionally they even have triplets.
- Ringtails are the only possum species that has the male help in the care of the young joeys.
BRUSHTAIL POSSUM:
- Brushtails are caecotrophs like a rabbit. It eats its daytime faeces. The Possum does that to get the maximum amount of nutrients from the leaves of the eucalyptus.
- They are Solitary animals, they live by themselves, once they are weaned off.
- They are able to rapidly moves between and within trees, by leaping between branches.
- They communicate with a variety of sounds. including screams, hissing and growling
- During the day, they will sleep in hollow tree trunks, branches, fallen logs, termite mound or in rock cavities.
- Brushtails spends 10% of their time grooming; 16% feeding; 30% travelling and 44% sleeping or sheltering
- Brushtails Possums will be of varying sizes or colours depending on where they live. If they live in cold wet areas they are large and dark in colour. Whereas is they are in warm weather, Brushtails are small and a light grey-fawn colour.
- The Scientific name Trichosurus vulpecula means “furred tailed” in Greek and In Latin it means “little fox”