The Ultimate Guide to Possum Removal: Protect Your Home and Garden in Australia

As homeowners in Australia, we are no strangers to the occasional visits from curious and potentially destructive wildlife. Among these creatures, possums are quite common, especially in gardens and homes' attics. While cute and fluffy, these critters can cause significant problems for you, your garden, and your home. For this reason, it's crucial to be well-informed about possum removal and control methods so that you can respond accordingly when an unwanted guest pays a visit. In this ultimate guide, we'll cover all you need to know about possum control to protect your home and garden in Australia.

Possum Removal

Understanding Possum Behavior

There are two main species of possums found in Australia – the common brushtail possum and the common ringtail possum. While they share some similarities, their habits are quite different. This section will help you understand their behavior, which will make possum removal more effective.

a. Brushtail Possums

- This species is larger and has a bushier tail compared to the ringtail.

- They are highly adaptable and can be found in both urban areas and the wild.

- They are mostly nocturnal and sleep during the day in tree hollows or your roof space.

- Being primarily herbivores, they are attracted to gardens and fruit trees.

b. Ringtail Possums

- Smaller than the brushtail, they have a prehensile tail with a white tip.

- They prefer dense foliage and wooded areas but can adapt to urban environments.

- They construct nests (called dreys) in trees or dense vegetation.

- Their diet consists of leaves, flowers, and fruits.

Signs of Possum Infestation

Being aware of the signs of possum infestations can help you take action sooner. Some common indicators include:

- Scratching noises in the roof or walls at night.

- Damaged insulation, wiring, or wooden structures in your house.

- Overturned garbage bins or raided compost piles.

- Presence of possum droppings, which are about 1cm in diameter and cylindrical in shape.

- Damaged plants or chewed-off fruits and vegetables in your garden.

Preventing Possums from Entering Your Home

Possum-proofing your home is an essential step in effective possum control. Here's how to keep them from getting inside your house:

- Close off all potential entry points, such as damaged roof tiles, vents, or holes in the walls.

- Install possum-specific guards around trees or power lines connected to your house.

- Trim tree branches that are close to your roof to prevent possums from climbing over.

- Use galvanized steel mesh to cover any gaps or entrances.

- Block off any access to your roof space with secure screens on vents and chimney.

Possum-Proofing Your Garden

To protect your garden from possums, you can take several precautions, such as:

- Installing motion-activated lights, as possums are deterred by bright illumination.

- Using scents they dislike, like tea tree oil, camphor, or garlic.

- Installing fences at least 1.5m high, with a curved top or an electric wire to prevent possums from climbing over.

- Planting species resistant to possum attack, such as rosemary or lavender.

- Securely covering fruit trees and vegetable gardens with netting.

Possum Removal

Trapping and Relocating Possums

It's possible to trap and relocate possums on your own, but it requires caution and adherence to legal regulations. Here are some steps you should follow:

- Purchase or rent a possum trap that is suitable for the size and species you're dealing with.

- Place the trap in a shaded location and bait it with fruits or vegetables. Ensure there is a source of water in the trap as well.

- Check the trap daily and release the possum within 24 hours of capture.

- Wear protective gear, such as gloves and a face mask, when handling the possums.

- The release location should be at least 100 meters from the capture site and feature appropriate vegetation for the specific species.

The Role of Pest Control Professionals

If you're unsure about handling possum removal yourself, it's wise to consult with a pest control professional. They have the knowledge and experience to handle the situation appropriately and can provide advice on prevention measures. Additionally, they're familiar with the legal aspects of possum removal in your region.

Legal Aspects of Possum Removal in Australia

In Australia, possums are protected species, which means harming, killing, or keeping them without a permit is illegal. Each state has its regulations regarding possum control, so it's essential to familiarize yourself with the local laws prior to taking any action. Trapping and relocating possums may require a permit, and the use of chemical deterrents is often strictly regulated.

Conclusion

The key to effective possum removal and control is understanding their behavior and habits, taking preventive measures to protect your home and garden, and being aware of the proper methods and legal regulations involved. If you're unsure about your ability to handle a possum problem or require expert advice, consult with pest control professionals to ensure that the issue is dealt with safely, humanely, and in accordance with local laws. By following this ultimate guide, you'll be well-equipped to protect your home and garden from unwanted possum visits.

How to Get Possums Out of Your Landscape?

Possums aren't the cutest animals around, but when they're in their native habitat, they're usually rather harmless. Even though they resemble rats and other rodents more, they are marsupials like our beloved kangaroos and koalas. Sometimes, their presence can be a nightmare.

Possums adore creating secret nests in the hollows of trees. Unfortunately, homes are gradually taking the place of the trees that originally served as possums' habitat. As a result, it is not unexpected to discover possums in your vegetable garden or, worse, in the crevices of your roof.

Damage identification

Before discussing possum control strategies, let's unfold more details about them. Opossums are the only marsupials found in the United States, which may surprise you. They can be extremely annoying bugs, so that might be the only cool thing about them. Opossums come in various species, yet they all share a similar appearance. They can weigh up to 15 pounds and are 1 to 4 feet long.

They have long, hairless tails and silver or gray fur as fur. The opossum is seen as a pest because of behaviors including ruining gardens and yards, rummaging through rubbish, and stealing food that has been left out.

Opossum Removal Instructions

Opossum repellents and trapping are two frequent control strategies for possums in backyards. Fencing is an additional choice.

Anti-possum products

Many products are available on the market designed to deter these wild creatures. These, however, rarely provide any solace. Motion-activated sprinkler systems, which can surprise and terrify the animals, are one of the other possum control strategies.

Traps

Opossum trapping is another popular possum control strategy. It's not as difficult to capture an opossum as it is to figure out what to do with it after you catch it. In most places, this calls for translocation by a certified (licensed) wildlife expert.

Chemical sprays

Plants can get seriously injured or even killed when possums repeatedly feed on them, especially when the new growth is continuously destroyed. Sprays that offer protection are useful in this circumstance. D-Ter and Poss-Off are just a few commercial products used for growth (such as new shoots, buds, and leaves).

These don't affect plants, possums, or pets because they are a deterrence rather than a poison. They must be used frequently because they might be destroyed by rain, irrigation, or even heavy dew.

Remove hidden areas

Opossums prefer environments with lots of covers. Wooded regions, abandoned burrows, beneath steps, under decks, tree crevices, brush heaps, fields near water, and outside structures like sheds are common places where they set up residence. You should eliminate as many of these as possible to deter opossums from entering your yard.

This includes maintaining groomed grass and vegetation, clearing trash, keeping brush piles away from habitations, and patching cracks in shed walls. Keep your garden clean and clutter-free because opossums are typically reluctant to enter well-kept gardens.

Moving upward Deterring

Make it difficult for possums to climb fences or other vegetation. Make the structure tough to climb if the possum uses it to access the plant. Wrap posts and beams of structures, such as pergolas, in galvanized iron sheets. This will prevent the possum from using its claws to grasp the surface.

• To do the possum control from descending from the structure, you must ensure that there are no trees or plants nearby.
• Another option is to use a plastic trash can with the bottom removed and the side slit. Put it around the tree's trunk to prevent the possum from climbing.
• To make climbing the tree more challenging, you might wrap sheet metal around the tree trunk.
• You might also round the trunk with a thick net. Possums won't climb because the netting will trap their feet.

How do possum deterrents function?

Repellents are substances or tools that impair an animal's sense of taste, smell, or hearing. Since killing possums should only be used as a last resort, using repellents is a more environmentally acceptable method of possum control.

Some repellents contain elements from a predator's urine that cause pests to become afraid. Electronic repellent is another kind; it is set to scare away bugs with light or sound.

Conclusion

Trapping and removing the possum is a common solution used by gardeners to handle their possum issue. Following local regulations when trapping and moving possums is crucial because there are some limits. Frequently, a new possum wanders in, aggravating the situation rather than resolving it.

Although it may seem counterintuitive, the best course of action is to put up with the possum you already have. You might even construct a possum box for it in a large tree. Possums are territorial, so this one will keep other possums away, plus you already know what it likes to eat!