Protected wildlife · Possums

Possums control

Heavy thumping in the roof at night is often a possum, not a rat, and the two are worlds apart legally. Possums are protected native animals: it’s illegal to harm them, and they can only be trapped and released under strict rules. We handle them humanely and lawfully, then proof the roof so the next one can’t move in.

Photo, possums treatment
Signs you have them

How to tell it’s possums.

  • Heavy thumping or running in the roof after dark (heavier than a rat)
  • Scratching, hissing or growling at night
  • Possum droppings (larger than a rat’s) in the roof void
  • A strong ammonia smell from urine in the ceiling
How we treat it

Our approach to possums.

We confirm it’s a possum, then trap and release it lawfully within the distance the regulations require, because relocating a possum far away is both illegal and a death sentence for the animal. The real fix is proofing: we find and seal the entry point so the territory is closed off, and provide a nest box where appropriate so it has somewhere else to go.

Safety: Possums are protected under wildlife law. We work within the permit rules, which protects you legally and the animal’s welfare. We never use poison on possums, that would be both illegal and inhumane.

Possums is treated as part of our rodent control service.

Questions, answered

Possums, common questions.

Can’t you just exterminate the possum? +
No, and you shouldn’t want anyone who says they will. Possums are protected native animals; harming them is illegal. They can only be trapped and released under strict rules, and the lasting fix is proofing the roof so another can’t get in, not removing the animal.
Is it a rat or a possum in my roof? +
Possums are much heavier, you’ll hear thumping and running rather than the light scurrying of rats, usually around dusk and dawn, and the droppings are larger. We confirm which it is on inspection, because the two are handled completely differently, legally and practically.
How do you stop it coming back? +
By finding and sealing the entry point once the possum is out, and, where it helps, putting up a nest box nearby so the animal has somewhere to relocate to. Closing the roof is the part that actually keeps them out for good.
Other pests we treat

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