Possum Control in Shoalhaven
A possum’s natural place to live is in tree hollows. Why live in a tree when you can live in a nice dark roof space of a home?
Inside roofs are a great place for a possum to live.
Roof spaces provides warmth, protection, somewhere safe and dark to sleep.
As pest managers, the vast majority of possums we need to remove are living within roof spaces.
Possums are nice animals, and they’re native. It can be nice to have a resident possum living around your property. Possums gain access into your roof space via damaged or missing tiles/roofing, broken eaves, missing bricks, over gutters and the like.
An obvious possum entry point into a roof
How can you tell if you have a possum problem?
If there’s a possum moving around in your ceiling, it’s going to make noise.
A fully grown adult brushtail possum can weigh around 5kg. You’ll usually hear a thumping sound and a throaty hissing sound, made by male possums.
They’ll leave droppings behind also. You may see these outside on fences or pathways and particularly under trees. Possum droppings are around 12mm-15mm in length and are dark crown-black in colour.
These droppings will also be scattered through your roof.
It’s extremely important to identify the noise in your roof with 100% certainty that it’s possums.
Occupants of a home can sometimes assume that the noise they hear is rats. While rats are a common problem in roofs, assuming that its rats can be fatal for the possum.
Rats are only small so they won’t make a thumping noise when moving around the roof space.
You’ll hear a lot of scratching noises and possibly even see them inside the home. You’ll also notice smaller droppings no bigger than around 7mm in length.
The reason this is important is because possums are native to Australia, it’s illegal to harm them in anyway.
If you think you may have rats or possums, call professionals prior to doing anything.
What can be done if you suspect you have a possum in the roof?
The first thing is to call Amalgamated Pest Control and we can attend your home and do a site assessment and determine if it is a possum in your roof or not.
When we find evidence of the possum, we’ll look at the most practical and safest way to remove the possum.
We’ll look a couple of different options such as installing one way doors, sealing holes as they exit in the evening or trap and release.
If trapping needs to occur we will organise to place a possum trap in the ceiling to trap and release the possum and we can do some minor proofing to stop the possum returning and recommendations will also be given.
Basic guidelines are:
- The possum must be captured live and released back onto the property on which is was
captured unharmed.
Possums are very territorial animals and if they are relocated to another location is increases the risk of the possum not surviving. They need to be released within 150M of original capture. - The possum has to be released after sunset, preferably against a structure they can immediately climb.
- Trapping only to be perform if licensed with Office of Environment & Heritage (National Park & Wildlife)
Amalgamated Pest Control Shoalhaven is licensed.
The capture or otherwise harming of possums other than by a licensed person or commercial catch and release possum handler is illegal.
Helpful tips to help keep Possums from entering your home
- Trim or cut back any branches that are overhanging your roof to allow at least 3 metres
- Place possum proofing around the base of trees near your home
- Seal up any access points in the roof and replace any missing roof tiles
- Install high quality gutter guard
- Inspect roof and repair any broken roofing or tiles
- Provide a suitable home for the possum in the form of a sturdy weatherproof possum box and placing it high enough from the ground so that the possum will be out of reach of dogs and cats.
The box should not face towards the afternoon sun and be safely secured using a sturdy wire or chain to the tree.
If you would like to make you own possum box for you back yard you can find instructions on how to make one on the Office of Environment & Heritage website.
Suspect you have a possum problem – or just need some advice or help?
Call us here at Amalgamated Pest Control Shoalhaven today.
1300 860 970