Common brushtail possum
Scientific name: Trichosurus vulpecula
- How weight is recorded: Whole weight
Field notes
Appearance
Grey fur with reddish tinting on face and ears; white or cream chest and belly. Stocky build with a long, bushy, prehensile tail; males larger and more robust than females.
Size and weight
Males 1.6–4.5 kg, females 1.2–3.0 kg; body length 32–58 cm excluding tail.
Habitat
Inhabits eucalypt forests, woodlands, and scrublands from sea level to montane regions. Adapts readily to gardens, parks, and urban areas with suitable tree cover.
Distribution
Endemic to eastern Australia from Far North Queensland to Victoria and South Australia; introduced populations in New Zealand.
Diet
Primarily eucalypt leaves, acacia, and native shrubs; supplemented with fungi, insects, and native fruits seasonally.
Behaviour
Strictly nocturnal and solitary; crepuscular activity increases in cooler months. Arboreal and terrestrial, often descending to ground at dusk; slow, deliberate movement.
Hunting tips
Search for fresh scat on logs and branches 2–6 m high; listen for leaf-stripping and branch-cracking at dusk and night. Approach slowly from downwind beneath feeding trees; wait quietly near ground level where animals forage. Track trails show regular routes between roosting and feeding sites, particularly along limbs and trunks.
Whole weight
This species is logged by whole weight — the animal weighed entire, as taken.
Where it is hunted
Listed as huntable in 1 country in Huntify.
Names in other languages
- deFuchskusu
- frPhalanger renard
- esZarigüeya de cola de cepillo
- itOpossum vulpino
- nlVossenkoesoe
- plKuzu lisi
Current language: en
These field notes are general species knowledge, not legal advice. Always check the current seasons, quotas and firearm rules where you hunt.