We are leafy Lane Cove and with lots of trees to climb, we also have numerous possums in our neighbourhood. Possums are adorable marsupials to some, and to others, their nocturnal wanderings on or inside your roof are not welcome.
We often see people ask on Lane Cove Chat by ITC, how do I get rid of a pesky possum?
The first thing to remember is possums are protected fauna in NSW. This means catching one yourself without a license is illegal.
Licences to trap possums on your property are issued free of charge from your local National Parks and Wildlife Services (NPWS) office.
Traps may be available for hire from some licensed wildlife rehabilitation groups or pest control companies or you can engage a licenced possum catcher to trap and relocate the possum. Wildlife rescuers have told ITC that it is not an easy job to trap a possum and highly recommend you engage a professional. Before you think about hiring a trap, you may like to email Sydney Wildlife Rescue for more information. They have a list of trusted licensed possum catchers (be careful as there are some “licensed possum catchers” who may overcharge).
Relocating the Possum
Just because you have trapped the possum does not mean it is bye-bye and they are off on an adventure to some bushlands.
The law states a possum must be released at dusk no more than 150 metres away from the point of capture and near something it can immediately climb, such as a tree or tall fence, otherwise it will not survive.
After releasing the possum make sure you immediately fix up where they have been entering your roof otherwise they will be back in the next night.
How to Remove the Possum Without Trapping
If you have a ladder and a handyperson able to do the job – here’s how to remove a possum.
Stake yourself outside the house at dusk and for about an hour or so after – to watch where the possum is coming out for the night foraging. Once you pinpoint the spot/s and the possum has left, your handyperson can go up to fix the hole as strongly as possible (eg. a sheet of timber or metal covering the hole and anchored well).
When the possum returns at dawn or earlier, he can’t get back in. Job done! You might need to tidy up the fixing job in daylight the next day.
You could also have possum boxes in your garden as described below – with some fruit enticement to help the possum find the boxes.
Prevention is Better than Trapping
Here are some tips to stop the possums from getting into your roof or your house.
- Check Your Roof
- Seal any potential entry points in your roof to prevent possums from entering in the first place.
Possum Boxes
Provide a possum box in your yard as an attractive alternative to your roof cavity. The Lane Cove Council and Men’s Shed occasionally run sessions where a possum expert talks to you about possums, and the Men’s Shed provides a free possum box. Make sure you book as soon as you see the session advertised in our newsletter, as the sessions book out quickly.
Learn More About the Brush Tail Possums
The NSW Department of Heritage and Environment is a good resource – click here for more details.
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