|
|
Brushtail
possums (Trichosurus
vulpecula) are one of the most common native animals in Queensland's cities and towns and can often be
seen in the suburbs of Brisbane.
{mos_fb_discuss:no_discuss}
In urban areas, Brushtail possums
take advantage of broken tiles, loose sheets of iron or unfinished work to
shelter in ceilings or between floors of houses and so the Brushtail possum only
gains entry to homes that are in disrepair or have unfinished work. At night,
they can often be heard thumping across corrugated iron roofs or sheltering in
ceilings. You might also see them tread carefully yet quickly along telegraph
lines which give them excellent access to your roofs and the tops of tall
buildings.
What
does the Brushtail possum look like?
Brushtail
possums have a black bushy tail, a silver-grey coat, light grey paws, and large
pointy ears. Males also have reddish-brown fur on their shoulders.
They are the size of a domestic cat, with a
head and body length of 50cm and a tail length of 38cm. Males weigh between 1.3
and4.5kg and females weigh between 1.2 and 3.5kg. The possum's tail can't
support its weight and is only partly capable of grasping. But its tail, sharp
claws, and opposable first toes on its hind feet are useful for climbing. The
colour and size of Brushtail possums will vary widely depending on location.
If you hear
deep guttural coughs and sharp hisses in the middle of the night, you might
just be being visited by a Brushtail possum!
Where
do Brushtail possums live?
The Brushtail possum is found in most parts of Queensland, preferring treed areas such as
open forest and woodlands. In its natural habitat, the possum lives in fallen
logs, tree trunks or dead branches. While a Brushtail possum spends most of its
time in the trees, it also does lot of travelling a lot on the ground.
What
do Brushtail possums eat?
The Brushtail possum's favourite food is the leaves, flowers, and fruits of
native plants as well as fruits like bananas and pawpaws. Some of their
favourite types of leaves are very toxic so it's a good thing that the Brushtail
possum has a very high tolerance to plant toxins.
Brushtail possums also help to control the
spread of parasitic native mistletoe plants. If this plant thrives, it can kill
a eucalypt tree. Brushtail possums regularly feed on these plants and so help
protect the same trees they rely on for food and shelter.
How do Brushtail possums breed?
Most Brushtail
possums have a major autumn and minor spring breeding season. A female Brushtail
possum has a forward-facing pouch containing two nipples and can breed after
she is one-year-old. During the breeding period, Brushtail possums become more
territorial, as males use glands under their chin, on their chest and near the
anus to scent-mark their territory.
The female
gives birth to a single baby possum 18 days after mating. The baby will spend
between four and five months in the pouch, attached to one teat. Young possums
spend another one to two months suckling and riding on the mother's back before
being fully weaned.
Threats
to the survival of the Brushtail possum
Each year, the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service receives
hundreds of calls for help to remove Brushtail possums from homes. Simply
catching a possum and releasing it in another area won't work as Brushtail possums
are fiercely territorial by nature. A trapped possum has to be released within
50m of capture and is often replaced by another nearby possum as soon as it's
removed. Even worse, possums that are removed usually die as they can't find a
new territory.
Because it
is a protected species, a permit is required to trap or remove a Brushtail
possum. The Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service doesn't supply
traps, but many pest controllers are experienced in removing Brushtail possums
and are licensed to use harmless traps if required. But the best idea is to fix
the house rather than try to completely remove the possum from its habitat.
Living
in Harmony with the Brushtail possum
To make sure your house and garden is protected from possums, follow these
simple steps:
- Find out where the possum is
getting in and out. Cram loose wads of waste paper into suspected entry
points during the day. After dark, the resident Brushtail will push its
way out, showing you where it gets in and out.
- Make repairs to prevent entry.
This can be done at night 8-10pm when the possum is feeding.
- Splash the old entry areas
liberally with a strong smelling substance such as disinfectant. The
possum's scent glands will have marked the entries to its den. If you
don't destroy the scent, the possum will try to re-enter the den.
- Seal the entry points.
- Hang wooden nesting boxes or
hollow logs in trees nearby to give the possums new homes.
|
Brisbane Shopping
|
The new DFO at Jindalee opened 16 November 2007. There are many outlets at Jindalee's DFO. Here is a list to help you find what you need (and want).
|
|
|
Fun Stuff
|
When looking to dine out in Brisbane, it is helpful to understand the different
precincts for
restaurants in Brisbane.
|
|
|
|
|
