Ringtail possums in Australian cities face unique welfare challenges from vehicle strikes, domestic cat predation, and habitat fragmentation.
Urban ringtail possums face multiple welfare threats. Vehicle strikes cause traumatic injuries, with survivors often suffering broken limbs or internal bleeding before death. Cat attacks cause devastating wounds from bacteria-laden teeth. Habitat loss forces possums to cross open ground in risky situations. Orphaned joeys face weeks in specialized care before independence. Connectivity gardens and wildlife corridors can directly reduce welfare harms.