How did the brushtail possum adapt to environments changed by people?

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Red kangaroo (Macropus rufus) — marsupial Red kangaroo (*Macropus rufus*). The home range of this species spans much of Australia's interior, and it is the largest member of the family Macropodidae.

The brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) has successfully adapted to environments altered by human activity, thriving even in urban centers.1

This adaptability is primarily attributed to the species' dietary flexibility. Unlike many other marsupials that struggled following the colonization of Australia—which introduced land clearing, hunting, and invasive species—the brushtail possum is highly tolerant of a wide variety of food sources, including household refuse. This opportunistic feeding behavior has allowed it to maintain a plentiful population in human-modified landscapes, a success story mirrored by the Virginia opossum in North America.1