The population density and trap-revealed home range of short-eared possums (Trichosurus caninus) in the Northern Tablelands, New South Wales, Australia.

Investigating how the population density of a species changes over time is an integral step in determining whether that species is stable or needs assistance from conservation managers. The short-eared possum (Trichosurus caninus) is a species that has been poorly studied with only one previous population density estimate. Short-eared possums were live-trapped between August 2020 and January 2021 in the Northern Tablelands, New South Wales, to estimate their current density using a spatially explicit capture–recapture (SECR) model. The average density of short-eared possums was 0.46 possums/ha (95% CI: 0.32–0.66) in temperate rainforest and 0.13 possums/ha (95% CI: 0.06–0.28) in wet sclerophyll forest. No individuals were caught in dry sclerophyll forest. Trap-based home ranges were estimated to be 12.5 ha (95% CI: 8–19) for males and 5.5 ha (95% CI: 3–11) for females. This study provides a reference for determining trends in short-eared possum population density within the Northern Tablelands in the future. Adequate conservation of temperate rainforest and wet sclerophyll forest habitat is important to the conservation of the species. The short-eared possum has been poorly studied with only one historical population density estimate. This study aimed to assess how short-eared possum population density varies across three distinct habitat types, and we demonstrated that the species occurs at highest density in temperate rainforest. We quantify the habitat use of the short-eared possum and provide a current density estimate to enable population monitoring within the Northern Tablelands, NSW, Australia. Photograph by Jacob Crisp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]