Possums nest in a variety of sheltered, dry, and dark places depending on the species and environment. Here are the main nesting habits:
- Ringtail possums build nests called "dreys" made of bark, leaves, moss, and sticks, usually in the crooks of thick tree branches or tree hollows. They are social and often share these nests as a family. If suitable trees are unavailable, they may nest in roof overhangs or occasionally inside roofs
- Brushtail possums prefer tree hollows as their primary nesting sites. They are more territorial and solitary. In urban areas, they often take shelter in roofs, decks, garages, or other parts of houses
- North American opossums (often called possums) do not build nests like birds but instead find existing sheltered spots such as:
- Abandoned burrows of other mammals
- Hollow tree stumps or natural tree hollows
- Wood piles, compost heaps, caves, and rock crevices
- Crawl spaces, attics, barns, sheds, and under porches or decks
- Occasionally man-made nest boxes designed for possums
They line these dens with materials like dried leaves, grass, twigs, bark, and sometimes human litter (plastic bags, clothing) for insulation. Opossums typically build several nests and move frequently to avoid predators, staying only 2-3 days in each nest except when females have young
. In summary, possums nest in natural shelters such as tree hollows and dreys or utilize human structures like roofs, attics, and sheds. They adapt to available safe, dark, and dry locations to rest during the day and raise their young
