Possums are adaptable nocturnal marsupials commonly encountered in diverse environments, including urban and suburban settings. These creatures navigate their surroundings with remarkable agility and stealth.
Adaptations for Climbing
Possums have physical characteristics that make them adept climbers. Their four feet are equipped with sharp, non-retractable claws that provide strong grip on rough surfaces, allowing them to dig into bark or textured materials. Each hind foot features an opposable “thumb” or digit, which enables a powerful grasping ability for holding onto branches and other objects. This opposable digit can even support the animal’s entire weight.
Their strong, flexible prehensile tail functions as an additional limb. It is used for balance, support, and can even grasp objects. While young possums might temporarily hang by their tails, adult possums are too heavy to do so for extended periods without risk of injury; instead, they use their tails for stability and to assist in navigating branches. Their powerful legs and muscular structure also aid climbing, allowing them to pull themselves upward efficiently and even jump between surfaces.
What Structures They Can Scale
Possums can scale a variety of structures. In their natural habitats, they frequently traverse trees and dense vegetation, where their claws and grasping feet provide secure holds on bark and branches. They often seek shelter in tree hollows or abandoned nests, preferring an arboreal lifestyle.
Possums adapt well to man-made structures. They can easily climb rough surfaces like brick walls, stucco, stone, and unfinished wood siding because these textures offer ample purchase for their sharp claws. Fences, including wooden and chain-link varieties, are commonly scaled by possums. They can also utilize vertical pipes and downspouts if the material provides enough texture for their claws or if they can wrap their prehensile tail around them for leverage.
Smooth surfaces, such as painted concrete, metal siding, or glass, are more challenging or impossible for them to climb unless there are imperfections, vines, or adjacent structures that provide a grip. They often access roofs via overhanging branches or existing structures, sometimes seeking shelter in attics. Homeowners can deter climbing by trimming tree limbs, removing vines, and installing smooth metal sheeting around tree trunks or lower house sections to prevent grip.