Australian Species WesternThreatened ringtail possum 2007occidentalis

Conservation status What does it look like? Western ringtail The possum lifestyle (Pseudocheirus occidentalis) has a The western ringtail possum is nocturnal. dark brown or grey coat and a strong, During the day the possum sleeps in white-tipped tail, which helps it move hollows of ancient eucalypt in the through the forest and carry nest-building tuart forest, or in ‘Dreys’, which are nests materials like leaves and twigs. Its body the size of a soccer ball made out of and tail are both 300–400 millimetres branches and leaves. It sometimes nests long and it weighs up to 1.1 kilograms. on the ground in the dense understory The western ringtail possum is very of woodlands, particularly in different from the brushtail possum, which areas where it is safe from predators such is bigger with longer fur and a brush tail. as foxes, cats and dogs. The western ringtail possum is a Where does it live? and the female usually raises one young or ‘joey’ although it can have The western ringtail possum is a highly two to three at a time. The joey stays arboreal possum, spending most of its in the pouch for three months, but is time feeding, resting and socialising high dependant on the mother for up to in the forest canopy. Historically, the seven months. western ringtail possum was commonly Western ringtail possum. © L. Jackes/Shire of Busselton found throughout the forests of the south Australian Government: west of . Populations Vulnerable (Environment Protection are now limited to three areas, with the largest one near the town of Busselton. and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999) Today, the western ringtail possum can be found living in coastal peppermint ( flexuosa) woodlands and ludlow Western Australia: Threatened tuart () (Wildlife Conservation Act 1950) forests, where it mainly feeds on peppermint leaves. p r o t e c t i n g p l ac e s , p r o t e c t i n g s p e c i e s Western ringtail possum

Threats to the western ringtail possum The western ringtail possum has disappeared from 90 per cent of its original range due to a number of threats including habitat loss due to land clearing and logging, and introduced predators such as foxes and cats. Habitat loss has resulted in remaining bushland becoming fragmented, which means the possum can’t travel safely through the bush and is more vulnerable to predation. Western ringtail possum ‘drey’. © Martin Pritchard Habitat loss also results in the lack of old trees with suitable hollows for the possum to rest in. Some of these trees take hundreds of years to grow to a Case study: Providing habitat suitable size to provide hollows. for the western ringtail possum

The most significant threat to the species currently is The Western Ringtail Action Group Grant. It aimed at assessing habitat the ongoing clearing of habitat in the Busselton area was established in May 2006, and within the Busselton urban area to for urban development. has representatives from the wider identify priority areas for protection and community, Fostering and Assistance for corridors, revegetating these areas with How does it benefit from Wildlife Needing Aid, Shire of Busselton, peppermint trees, raising awareness in protected areas? Busselton Naturalists’ Club, Department of the community, and training community Environment and Conservation, Busselton- members in surveying techniques. Protected areas, such as national parks and Dunsborough Environment Centre and conservation reserves, have a direct influence on Peppermint leaves () GeoCatch — all working towards the western ringtail possum recovery. The possum relies constitute 90–95 per cent of the western recovery of the western ringtail possum. on areas of peppermint woodland connected with ringtail possums’ diet and are also used corridors of vegetation. This allows movement between The Busselton area is one of the last in construction of dreys. Many of these patches of bush, which have become fragmented due major strongholds for the western ringtail trees have been removed from urban to land clearing. In addition, the possum also relies possum. Urban development of the area areas. The Western Ringtail Action on private land to provide habitat and form part of has resulted in loss of habitat. Protecting Group are planting 3000 peppermint vegetation corridors. It is important that these areas important areas of the remaining habitat trees to form habitat corridors, which will are also protected as the long term survival and and strengthening connective corridors provide critical habitat for the possums recovery of the western ringtail possum is linked to will increase its chances of survival. and result in improved connectivity suitable habitat availability. In 2006, the group was awarded a between remnant bushland within Threatened Species Network Community Busselton. What you can do to help ● Conserve remnant bushland for the possum by placing a covenant or voluntary management Contact Reference agreement on your property. Liz McLellan Visit www.environment.gov.au/ ● native species in your gardens to provide habitat and food for native species, particularly WA Coordinator biodiversity/threatened/ts-day/ peppermint trees in western ringtail possum areas. Threatened Species Network index.html P: (08) 9387 6444 ● Join your local community group and get involved in threatened species recovery. E: [email protected] Visit: www.wwf.org.au/tsn ● Protect remnant bushland that supports threatened species including western ringtail possum by You can find out more information fencing, controlling feral species and removing about protecting private property by weeds. contacting your state TSN Coordinator, ● Prevent injury and death of the western ringtail visiting www.environment.gov.au/ possum by controlling domestic pets and driving biodiversity/incentives/covenants. This fact sheet is printed on Revive Silk — an Australian made, recycled coated stock made from 35% Australian with care at night. html or by contacting the Department of recycled waste and 65% sustainable plantation fibre. ● Help the western ringtail possum by reporting any the Environment and Water Resources activities you see that are likely to harm them or Community Information Unit, email their habitat to the Department of the Environment [email protected], or and Water Resources — Compliance and Enforcement freecall 1800 803 772. Branch. Visit www.environment. gov.au/epbc/ compliance/index.html or freecall 1800 110 395 for more information. e Australian Government a ram of th nd WWF– sed prog Austr es Network is a community-ba alia. tened Speci The Threa