Two Possum Species!

In 2004 it was discovered that possum has been playing tricks with science for nearly two centuries. Since it was first described by biologists in the early 1800s, the mountain brushtail possum was thought to be one species that lived in cool high forest from Melbourne to Gladstone in Queensland.

But Queenslanders being Queenslanders always had another name for their animal - the short-eared possum. Now 15 years of scientific research has proved what many people have long suspected: things are different in the north, for possums at least.

What science now knows is that there are two species: Trichosurus cunninghami south of Sydney and the newly described Trichosurus caninus, which is found from northern NSW to central Queensland.

To vindicate the Queenslanders, their animal is now known as the northern short-eared possum.
Possum expert Professor David Lindenmayer from Canberra's Australian National University, who led the research, said that although many people confuse the two animals with the common brushtail, the Trichosurus vulpecula, the mountain and short-eared possums had very different behaviour and biology.

"The common brushtail is now quite uncommon in the bush, they mostly now live in cities and suburbs," Professor Lindenmayer said. "It is also about 30 per cent smaller and lives from seven to 10 years, while these two species live up to 17.

"The mountain and short-eared possums also have quite stable, settled territories and, compared to the common brushtail, invest a lot more into rearing their young."
But he said it wasn't until they carried out body measurement and DNA analysis that they were able to prove that the northern and southern animals were different species.

Preventing possum from eating your plants!

If possums are damaging ornamental plants or fruit in your garden, build a floppy fence around the garden. Use 80cm wide, heavily galvanised chicken wire, bury the bottom 20 cm and support the remainder on vertical lengths of flexible, high-tensile fencing wire. Bend the wire to curve the upper section outwards. When the possum attempts to climb the fence it will bend over and then spring back. Use collars to protect fruit trees. Recent tests showed none of 15 repellent compounds effectively prevented possums damaging ornamental trees or fruit.

If you trap the possum, it must be released in your yard. If you were to release the possum in another area, it would have to search and compete with other possums for shelter and food in unfamiliar territory. By providing a possum house, you are encouraging the possum to stay and claim your yard as its territory. The possum will then discourage other possums from moving into your roof and yard. By making friends with a possum, you can help to conserve the species and learn about their way of life at the same time.