The western ringtail possum (Pseudocheirus occidentalis) is a small to medium sized leaf-eating arboreal marsupial, with adults weighing approximately 700g to 1.3kg, a head/body length of 30-40cm and a tail as long as its body. Its tail is strongly prehensile which is used to support the possum while foraging in the tree canopy.
The western ringtail possum is a threatened species under State and Commonwealth legislation. In Western Australia the species is listed as Critically Endangered fauna under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016. Nationally it is also listed as Critically Endangered under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, and internationally is on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as Critically Endangered.
Western ringtail possums are only found in the south-west of Western Australia. They can be found as far north as Dawesville near Mandurah extending down the coast from Bunbury to the Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park, in the Upper Warren area near Manjimup and east to Waychinicup National Park near Albany.
The western ringtail possum is a shy animal that is rarely seen on the ground unlike its more regularly encountered relative, the common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula). Ringtails spend most of their time in trees (arboreal), particularly in the canopy of peppermint (Agonis flexuosa) woodland and eucalypt forests. They feed on leaves and like to forage for food at night (nocturnal). They build nests or resting places called ‘dreys’ from the foliage and also use tree hollows.
In urban areas ringtail possums will live in roof spaces of houses, sheds and other buildings and eat garden plants including roses and fruit trees.
The western ringtail possum is characterised by its dark brown fur with a cream or grey chest and stomach, short rounded ears and very long, thin, white-tipped tail, with very short hair on the tail. A white tip on the tail is not a distinguishing feature for a ringtail possum as brushtail possums can also have a white-tipped tail as shown in the photos below. Brushtail possums can have a very bushy tail or a tail with hair that is the same length as the rest of the body, and the tail tip can be black or white. Both the ringtail and brushtail possum can curl their tails into a ring-like shape to hold on to branches.
Report sightings of western ringtail possums by sending us a fauna report form
If you think you have western ringtail possums living in your area there are a few things you can do to help conserve this species:
Department of Parks and Wildlife (2017). Western Ringtail Possum (Pseudocheirus occidentalis) Recovery Plan. Wildlife Management Program No. 58. Department of Parks and Wildlife, Perth, WA.
Shedley E and Williams K (2014) 
An assessment of habitat for western ringtail possum (Pseudocheirus occidentalis) on the southern Swan Coastal Plain 1.9 MB . Unpublished report for the Department of Parks and Wildlife, Bunbury, Western Australia.
Western ringtail possum fauna profile1.06 MBPossums – Damage Prevention and Control699.1 KB