The White Hat Guide to Possums in Melbourne

One of 100 great things to do in Melbourne for under $10
the White Hat guide

Possums are the great survivors. They were in the Melbourne area in the time of the dinosaurs, and they in the ceilings of many a suburban house today. They have adapted to the many environmental changes over those years, and many a Melbournian has spent sleepless nights becoming acquainted with the mating habits of the possums in their ceiling.

You will find possums in many of our major parks and feeding the possums is a relaxing way to start the evening. 

Possums start feeding around dusk - don't be surprised to see them fossicking in the rubbish bins. You can see them from dusk through until midnight and beyond, and many will come quite close if you are offering food. Recommended foods are fruit and vegetables cut into bite-size pieces. Please feed them well - that may discourage them eating all the tomatoes and herbs in my vegetable garden before I can. In public parks, you will often find metal or plastic collars around the trunks of trees to prevent them from being climbed (and stripped) by possums. However, they are cunning little blighters, and it is very difficult to stop from wreaking havoc in your garden once they have taken up residence.

The most commonly seen possum in Melbourne parks is the brushtail possum, but you may occasionally see a ringtail possum. If you visit St Paul's Cathedral, see if you can see a ringtail possum depicted in the elaborately carved blackwood screen near the entrance.

When feeding possums, move slowly and quietly. Be warned that the claws of a frightened possum can be dangerous.

Some of the best places to see possums are the Flagstaff Gardens, Treasury & Fitzroy Gardens, Carlton Gardens and Fawkner Park.

However, possibly the best place of all is the Catani Gardens in St Kilda. Here you will probably see Ron the Possum Man with possums crawling all over him.