| Home> Mammals> Living with possums Living with wildlife is not always easy! We will be adding to the collection of pages (some of which we acknowledge have been 'borrowed' from other sources) on how to get along with some of our 'peskier' fauna. This page has information on possums. For living with magpies .. Click HERE Possums Why possums want to move in
In the wild the Common Brushtail possum makes its den in tree hollows. In urban areas, there are few tree hollows remaining, so it adopts the space in roofs for daytime shelter. The Ringtail possum usually builds a nest or 'drey' of twigs and leaves in dense foliage a few metres above the ground, and seldom enters house roofs.
Food for urban possums
Both species of possum eat leaves, flowers and fruits from a wide variety of native and exotic trees and shrubs. The Common Brushtail possum may also eat insects and meat. Possums do not need food provided by humans, which can cause dietary imbalance. Possums that rely on your food supply may be unable to find enough natural food if you stop feeding them.
How to live with possums Make or buy a nest box and install it in your garden as an alternate den site for the possum. Click here to see how to build a possum-box. Possums are territorial. If one adopts the nest box, it is likely to keep others away from your garden and roof. -
If the possum has built a nest in your roof, locate this and remove it. Place it inside the new possum-box to encourage it to move in to the new location. -
Try putting a little fruit (apple or banana) into the possum box to encourage it to investigate. -
Block access to your roof by placing collars made from 60 cm wide sheet iron, around the trunks of trees giving access to the roof. Consider lopping branches which lead to the roof. -
Spread camphor blocks or mothballs in the roof (not both) to repel the possum - they really dislike these smells. -
You can also place a light in the roof and leave it on for three days (and nights). The combination of light, smells, and an attractive alternative home should do the trick! -
Once you are sure the possums have left your roof, block any known entrance points and wipe around entrance points with household bleach to remove possum scent. -
Ornamental plants or fruit being eaten by possum may be protected by placing blood and bone fertiliser around the base of plants or by spraying a watered down solution of hot English mustard on the fruits or foliage. (Collars may also be used to keep possums out of fruit trees.) -
If all fails, you may have to consider trapping the possum as below.
Why trapping and removal of possums is not recommended it seldom solves the problem, since another possum usually moves in to occupy the vacated territory and den site in your roof. -
released possums may displace other wildlife, such as owls or gliders, from hollows. -
released possums are at high risk of being killed by cars, foxes or dogs, or battle with the local possums for a den site. Possums are protected, like all other native animals under the Wildlife Act 1975. They must not be harmed in any way.
If you decide to have a possum removed Contact the local wildlife rescue organisation such as NANA, the National Parks & Wildlife Service, or an authorised pest control company. The possum trap can then be set. Once caught it is up to you to block all entry points. In almost all cases, the trapped possum will be released in your property at dusk, so it is important to have blocked up all entry points, and to provide alternate 'lodgings'. One advantage is that the possum, once settled into a possum box, will claim your backyard as its territory and keep other possums away from your house.
For more information on possum houses (possum boxes) click here! With thanks to the Department of Conservation & Environment and the National Parks & Wildlife Service. |
