If you’ve ever been woken up at 2am by what sounds like a toddler in boots stomping across your roof, there’s a good chance you have a possum problem. It’s a pretty common issue for Australian homeowners, particularly those with older homes or established trees near the house.
The good news is that possums are mostly harmless. The less good news is that they can cause real damage to your roof and ceiling if left unchecked, and they’re protected by law, which means you can’t just set out a standard trap and call it done.
Here’s what you need to know.
Are There Different Types of Possums in Australia?
There are actually 27 species of possums in Australia, though you’re most likely to encounter one of two around your home. The common brushtail possum is the one most people picture: roughly cat-sized, with a thick bushy tail and a habit of making itself at home in your roof cavity. The ringtail possum is smaller and has a long, thin curled tail, sometimes with a white tip. Both are nocturnal and both are protected native animals across Australia.
Is It Illegal to Kill or Trap Possums in Australia?
Yes. Possums are protected wildlife under Australian law, which means you cannot kill them, harm them, or use inhumane traps. If you do need to trap one, it has to be a humane cage trap, and you’re required to release the possum within a short distance of where you caught it (the rules vary by state, but the general idea is that relocating a possum too far away is actually harmful, as they’re territorial animals and will struggle to survive in unfamiliar territory).
Given all of that, the best approach is prevention rather than removal.
How to Keep Possums Out of Your House
Remove Food Sources
Possums are opportunistic eaters. If your garden is offering up easy meals, you’re going to attract them. Keep your rubbish bins securely closed, feed your pets inside, and clean up any food scraps left over from outdoor meals and barbecues.
If you have fruit trees, try to pick ripe fruit before it falls. Fallen fruit on the ground is basically a free buffet. Covering compost bins with a heavy lid or securing them with chicken wire also helps.
Block Entry Points
Possums typically get into your roof through gaps in tiles, open vents, or broken eaves. Have a look around your roofline and check for any openings they could squeeze through. Footprints and droppings near these areas are a good sign of where they’ve been getting in.
Once you’ve found the gaps, seal them up. Use heavy-duty materials like metal sheeting rather than light timber or plaster, as possums will claw through weaker materials to get back to a nest they’ve already established. Also trim any tree branches that hang over or close to your roofline, since these act as a ladder.
Use Natural Repellents
There are a few smells possums don’t like. A spray made from garlic, onion, vinegar or peppermint applied around likely entry points can discourage them from getting too comfortable. You can also find commercial possum repellent sprays at hardware stores.
If you have a dog or a cat, their scent alone can be enough to put a possum off. It signals to the possum that a predator is in the area.
Try a Possum Nesting Box
This is actually one of the more effective long-term solutions. By giving the possum an alternative place to live, one that isn’t your roof cavity, you can redirect them without having to fully evict them from the property.
A timber nesting box placed a few metres up in a tree, away from direct sunlight and not overhanging your roof, can work well. Hardware stores sell them, or you can find plans online to make your own. If the possum has already moved into your roof, you can encourage it to move into the nesting box by blocking the roof entry points after it has left for the night.
Use Lights or Motion-Activated Sensors
Possums are nocturnal and tend to avoid bright lights. Spotlights pointed at the trees they use to access your roof can deter them from coming back. Motion-activated lights, sprinklers or even sound sensors can also give them enough of a fright to look elsewhere.
How to Deal With a Possum Already in Your Roof
If one has already moved in, the most common approach is to wait until night when it leaves to feed, then seal up the entry point so it cannot return. You can put a one-way flap or netting over the opening so the possum can get out but not back in.
This needs to be done carefully. If there are young in the nest, sealing the entry during nesting season can cause real problems. It’s worth checking whether a wildlife carer or local council can advise on the best timing.
If you’re not confident doing this yourself, or if the possum has been there for a long time and is well established, calling in a licensed pest controller is the most reliable option.
When to Call a Professional
If you’ve tried the above and the possum keeps coming back, or if you’re dealing with a whole family of them, a professional pest control service is probably the easiest path forward. They know the local regulations, have the right equipment for humane trapping, and can identify and seal entry points you might have missed.
Many pest control services also offer a warranty, which gives you some peace of mind if the possum finds another way in.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I relocate a possum myself? In most Australian states, you need a licence to trap and relocate a possum. Even with a licence, the relocation distance is usually restricted to within 50 metres of the capture point. Contact your state’s wildlife authority for the specific rules in your area.
Why do possums make so much noise? Possums are vocal animals, especially during mating season. They also make a lot of noise just moving around, particularly on metal or tile roofing. If the sound is coming from inside your ceiling, it is most likely a possum rather than a rat or mouse, as possums are considerably heavier.
What time of year are possums most active? Possums are active year-round, but they tend to be more noticeable in autumn and winter as they look for warm spots to nest. This is also when they’re more likely to move into roof cavities.
Do possums carry disease? Possums can carry parasites, and you should avoid handling them directly. However, they are not considered a significant disease risk to humans in the way that rats or bats can be.
