Wildlife Watching in Australia

Possums of Australia — Species Guide and Where to Find Them

wildlifewatchingaustralia
5–8 minutes

Possums are among Australia’s most familiar and beloved marsupials — found from urban backyards to ancient rainforests, from coastal heathland to inland woodland. Despite being common in many areas, several species are seriously threatened, and some are among the hardest mammals in the country to find in the wild. This page covers all possum species I have encountered personally, with notes on where and how to find them.

Common Brushtail Possum (Koomal) — Trichosurus vulpecula

Known in Noongar as Koomal, the Common Brushtail is Australia’s most widespread possum and the one most people have encountered — raiding a compost bin, rustling around in the roof, or sitting brazenly in a suburban tree. They are large, robustly built possums with a thick furry tail, prominent ears and a pointed face. Colouring varies from silver-grey in the south-west to darker brown in the east. Conservation status: Least Concern — though urban populations face pressure from cats, dogs and cars.

In WA they are abundant and easily found. Almost any spotlighting trip to bushland around Perth will produce Brushtails, and they are regular visitors to suburban gardens with mature trees. I’ve encountered them on virtually every spotlighting trip — from my earliest Perth possum walks to the verandah of the cottage at Dryandra Village. Thermal cameras make them particularly easy to find roosting during the day as a bright warm blob in a hollow.

Where to find Koomal near Perth

  • Any suburban area with mature trees — listen for thumping on roofs at night
  • Dryandra Woodland — abundant; regularly seen on the cottage verandah at Gnaala Mia
  • Craigie Bushland — reliably seen on a evening spotlighting walk. See the Craigie Bushland post
  • Busselton Possum Spotlighting Trail — 15+ seen on a good evening alongside Western Ringtails. See the Busselton post
  • Possums in Perth — full guide to urban possum watching. See the Possums in Perth post

Western Ringtail Possum (Ngwayir) — Pseudocheirus occidentalis

Known in Noongar as Ngwayir, the Western Ringtail is a medium-sized possum with a long, tapering, mostly white-tipped tail used for gripping. It is strongly associated with Peppermint trees (Agonis flexuosa) in the south-west, which forms one of its primary food source. Unlike the Brushtail, which adapts readily to urban environments, the Western Ringtail is far more sensitive to habitat loss and fragmentation. Conservation status: Critically Endangered — the species has declined dramatically due to habitat clearing, predation by cats and foxes, and car strike. It makes the top 20 Australian mammals most likely to go extinct without intervention.

Where to find Western Ringtails

  • Busselton Possum Spotlighting Trail, Tuart Forest National Park — the best spot I know. 30+ ringtails possible on a good evening in prime Peppermint tree habitat. See the Busselton post for details.
  • Dawesville and Mandurah — seen in Peppermint tree habitat in the coastal suburbs. See the Dawesville post and Dalyellup post.

Common Ringtail Possum — Pseudocheirus peregrinus

The Common Ringtail is the eastern Australian equivalent of the Western Ringtail — abundant in urban gardens and bushland from Queensland to South Australia and Tasmania. I encountered them on a spotlighting evening at Warriewood Wetlands in Sydney, where several were seen. Western Ringtail tends to have darker colouration and as the name suggests the common is extremely common in eastern urban areas — the eastern equivalent of what the Brushtail is to Perth. Conservation status: Least Concern.

See the Spotlighting in Sydney post for the full Warriewood Wetlands account – 11 mammal species in one evening including this species.

Honey Possum / Noolbenger — Tarsipes rostratus

The Noolbenger (Ngoogar name) is not actually a true possum at all — it is the sole member of its own family (Tarsipedidae) and is more distantly related to other possums than they are to each other. It is a tiny, striped marsupial found only in the south-west of WA, feeding exclusively on nectar and pollen. Its closest habitat is coastal heathland rich in flowering species. Despite its small size (7-16 grams) it is genuinely findable with persistence and a thermal camera. Conservation status: Least Concern, though dependent on the extraordinary floral diversity of the south-west.

I had an extended encounter with Noolbenger at Cheynes Beach near Albany over two nights — one of my most memorable wildlife experiences. See the dedicated post for the full story, tips on finding them, and video footage:

→ Noolbenger at Cheynes Beach — full post

Western Pygmy Possum (Mandarda) — Cercartetus concinnus

Known in Noongar as Mandarda, the Western Pygmy Possum is a tiny, mouse-sized marsupial with large eyes and ears and a long prehensile tail. It feeds on nectar and pollen as well as small insects and is found across the south-west of WA and into South Australia. Despite being reasonably widespread it is genuinely difficult to find — it moves fast, stays high in flowering shrubs, and is easy to confuse with a mouse in the spotlight beam. Conservation status: Least Concern.

This remains one of my key target species. I have looked for it at multiple locations without success — it is one of those animals where the conditions, timing and location all need to align. Cheynes Beach heathland and areas with abundant flowering Banksia and Calothamnus are the most likely spots. If you’ve seen one, leave a comment — I’d love to know where.

Possums FAQ

What possums can I see in Perth?

The Common Brushtail Possum (Koomal) is the most easily seen — found in older suburbs with mature trees and in many bushland reserves around Perth. Western Ringtail Possums are present in areas with Peppermint trees, particularly south of the Dawesville cut, but are Critically Endangered and less reliably found. For a full guide to urban possum watching see the Possums in Perth post.

Are Western Ringtail Possums endangered?

Yes — Critically Endangered under Australian federal law. They have declined dramatically due to the clearing of Peppermint trees, predation by cats and foxes, and car strike. The Busselton region remains one of their strongholds. Without ongoing conservation effort they face a very uncertain future.

Is a Honey Possum really a possum?

Not technically — the Noolbenger (Honey Possum) is the sole member of its own family, Tarsipedidae, and is only distantly related to true possums. It is unique in feeding entirely on nectar and pollen, and is found only in the south-west of WA. It is one of the most specialised mammals on Earth.

What is the best time to see possums?

After dark — all Australian possums are nocturnal. Head out shortly after sunset with a spotlight or torch. Brushtails are reliably active from dusk; Ringtails tend to be found slightly higher in the canopy and during the day sleep in a leafy nest called a drey. A thermal camera is useful for spotting them before they spot you.

Where is the best place to see possums near Perth?

For Brushtails, almost many bushland reservse or mature suburban garden after dark. For Western Ringtails, the Possum Spotlighting Trail in Tuart Forest National Park near Busselton is the most reliable site I’ve found — about 2.5 hours south of Perth. For the Noolbenger, Cheynes Beach near Albany is the go-to location.

common brushtail possum

Like this photo? Possum prints are available

Brushtail, Ringtail and Noolbenger prints are available to order — paper, canvas, metal, acrylic or framed, shipped anywhere in the world. Prints from US $2.

Browse prints →

All Possum Posts on This Site

You can also follow along on Facebook and Instagram for more regular updates between posts.

Page last updated August 2026. Seen a Western Pygmy Possum (Mandarda)? Leave a comment — always keen to hear where people are finding them.