Survival of Wild and Hand-reared Ringtail Possums (Pseudocheirus peregrinus) in Bushland near Sydney

Abstract

Radio-tracking studies of ringtail possums (Pseudocheirus peregrinus) were carried out in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park at its border with suburban Sydney. Hand-reared and relocated ringtail possums released into the study site survived an average of 101 days and wild ringtail possums resident in the study area survived an average 182 days. Of the 118 individuals whose fates were determined, all but eight were killed by predators, 52% by foxes and 29% by cats. Within the study area both introduced and wild ringtail possums used dreys (nests) more frequently than tree hollows, and nests on the ground were used about 7% of the time.