Removing Possums from Your Roof

Possums are quite common here in Australia, and they can cause serious damage to your home if they take up residence in your roof or attic. They are notoriously crafty and difficult to get rid of, and they are protected in New South Wales. You’ll need to carefully follow the requirements set out by the state regarding their removal to avoid having to pay hefty fines and penalties. Here’s what you need to know to do it right.

Heed All Regulations

There are several regulations in place regarding the removal of possums from your home. First of all, the method you choose must not harm the animals. Even if you do trap a possum in a humane manner, you must release it within 24 hours. When you let it free, it must be no more than 50 metres away from where you captured it. Finally, you’ll need to get a licence from the National Parks and Wildlife Services.

Coax the Possums Out

Possums are more clever than most people give them credit for, so they can be incredibly difficult to trap, especially when you factor in the requirement that you mustn’t harm them in the process. Instead of paying to buy or hire pricey possum traps, a better course of action is to try to get the possum to exit your roof or attic on its own.

Possums are nocturnal animals, meaning that they are typically awake at night and asleep during the day. Once the sun has started to set, watch for the possum to head out for the night. Once it does, seal up the point of entry, if possible, so that the possum cannot get back in the following morning.

Although possums sleep during the day, they still like it to be dark while they slumber. Try putting a bright light in your roof or attic for a few days. In many cases, this is enough to deter the possum from nesting there, as it will be difficult for it to get the rest it needs.

Stop Possums from Coming Back

Once you’ve gotten the possum out of your roof, you need to prevent it from getting back in. Do your best to witness the possum leaving so that you can find where it is getting in. Typically, this will be a gap in the wood under the eaves, often near a tree or structure that provides easy access.

You can cover the hole with wood or sheet metal to make it inaccessible. Although chicken wire is a more affordable option, it is usually not very effective. Because the possum can still see inside, it will try its hardest to get back in. Possums are much stronger than you might think, so they’ll make short work of a simple chicken wire barricade.

The possum will still need somewhere to live, so you’ll want to make your home the least attractive option. Trim away any tree branches that reach near your roof, and get rid of or move any objects or structures that provide access.

Possum boxes are a great housing alternative for your furry ‘friend’. You can purchase possum boxes from your local council, or you can build one yourself. When hanging the box from a tree, be sure that it is high enough above the ground that pets and other animals won’t be able to reach it. Leave a bit of fruit near the entrance of the box to encourage the possum to check out its new home.

Trust a Professional to Handle Your Possum Removal

If all of this sounds like a lot of hassle, you are not alone in that way of thinking. Rather than try to get rid of the possum on your own, let a professional handle the hard work for you. Here at Dependable Pest Control, we are proud to include humane possum removal among our services. We are fully licensed in New South Wales, so there is no need for you to worry about getting the proper permit.

We work with both residential and commercial clients throughout Greater Sydney, and we have a lot of experience dealing with possums and other common pests. When you call us, we’ll come out to your Sydney or Sutherland Shire home or business right away to conduct a thorough inspection. Then, we can provide you with a free, no-obligation estimate for the removal.

Our clients rave about our services and trust us to handle all their pest removal or extermination needs. In addition to possums, we can also assist with spiders, termites, cockroaches, mice, rats and other common undesirables. We welcome you to get in touch with us today to learn more about our services and how we can help keep your home or business pest-free.

Schedule your appointment today.