How and Where Possums Sleep: Everything You Need to Know

Possums (Phalangeriformes) are primarily native to Australia, where they are widely distributed in woodlands and urban areas. They are also found in New Guinea, Sulawesi, and some Indonesian islands. The common brushtail possum has been introduced to New Zealand, where it has become a major nuisance. There is a common misconception about possums and their sleeping position. Contrary to popular belief, possums do not sleep by hanging upside down from a tree limb with their tails. Possums do not possess enough strength in their tail to hang this way. Possums are primarily active at night, and they sleep during the day. Continue reading to discover where these nocturnal marsupials take their rest.

Where Do Possums Sleep?

Possums sleep in nests in hollow trees or dens inside caves, attics, and abandoned buildings. They don’t like the light, so they usually find places that are well covered during the day to sleep. Typically, any well-covered space that is safe from predators is perfect.

While some possums are arboreal and only come to the ground to search for food, others sleep on the ground and only climb trees to search for food. Possums will typically sleep near their food source.

Possums will use the abandoned nests or dens of other animals, such as moles or armadillos, for sleeping.

In urban areas, possums make nests between buildings. They carry materials from outside to build their nest in the spot they have chosen. Possums can also be found nesting in attics, which are warm and dark.

Possums that live near farms will use barns to create nests for sleeping. They use the hay found in the barn as material for their nest. Trees with hollows are another perfect nesting place for possums. Although many possums sleep on the ground, some species are arboreal and sleep in trees.

Different Species of Possums and Their Sleeping Habitat

There are approximately 70 species of possums native to Australia/New Guinea, and each one has a unique place and way of sleeping. Some examples are:

This ringtail possum (Pseudocheirus peregrinus), native to South Australia, sleeps in nests inside hollow trees.The nests are made up of stacks of dry leaves.

The rock-haunting ringtail possum (Petropseudes dahli) is native to the rocky region of Western Australia, and it usually sleeps on rock ledges that are well protected.

The Little Pygmy/Tasmanian Pygmy Possum (Cercartetus lepidus) is one of the smallest possums in the world, and it can be found mainly in Tasmania and parts of mainland Australia. These arboreal possums sleep on dome-shaped nests made up of tree bark.

The Common brushtail possum is the second-largest possum in the world, and it is native to Australia. This solitary and arboreal mammal sleeps in tree hollows, caves, and roofs of houses.

The Western pygmy possum (Cercartetus concinnus) is native to Southern and Southwest Australia. This possum sleeps in nests made up of tree bark and nests made by the babbler (Pomatostomus), a type of bird.

Also known as the pygmy gliding possum, the feathertail glider possum (Acrobates pygmaeus) is the smallest gliding possum in the world. It can be found in Eastern Australia, and it sleeps in nests in tree hollows. The nests are made up of leaves and tree bark.

The common spotted cuscus (Spilocuscus maculatus) is native to New Guinea, and the Cape York Peninsula in far Northern Australia. It sleeps among rocks, on branches of trees, and sometimes under tree roots.

Do Possums Sleep In One Place For Long?

Because possums cannot adequately protect themselves from predators, they do not stay in one place for very long. The only possums that remain in a specific nest for an extended period are females with babies. Other possums move their nests frequently to prevent predators from locating them.