Pest Control in Sydney
Possums are part of living in leafy Sydney, but one setting up home in your roof means thumping at dusk and dawn, urine stains on ceilings, smells and droppings. The good news is it can be fixed humanely and legally, and the possum can stay in your garden instead of your ceiling.
Possums are protected in NSW
Common brushtail and ringtail possums are native animals protected under the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016. The NSW Government says it's illegal to kill or relocate a possum, or to trap and release one without a licence. When a licensed handler does trap a possum from a roof, it must be released after dusk, no more than 150 metres from where it was caught, near something it can climb straight away, like a tree. Possums are very territorial, and ones dumped in unfamiliar areas usually don't survive.
Signs you've got a possum (not rats)
- Heavy thumping or running in the ceiling around dusk and just before dawn.
- Larger droppings than rats leave, and yellow-brown urine stains on the ceiling.
- A strong smell in the roof space.
- Possums seen on the roof, fence line or overhanging branches at night.
What possum removal usually involves
- Inspection of the roof void and roof line to find how the possum gets in and confirm it's a possum.
- Rehousing. Often a possum box is fitted in a tree on your property so the possum has somewhere to go.
- Exclusion using one-way flaps or licensed catch-and-release, carried out within NSW rules.
- Proofing: sealing entry points such as gaps under roof tiles, eaves and fascias, and trimming branches near the roof, so it can't get back in.
When possum problems peak
Possums can move into roofs at any time of year, but many people notice them more in cooler months when the roof space is warm and dry, and during breeding times when young possums are looking for their own territory.
What you can do today
- Don't feed possums, as it encourages them to stay close to the house.
- Trim branches back from the roof line.
- Watch at dusk to see where the possum comes and goes.
- Don't block the entry point while the possum might be inside. A trapped possum can die in the roof.
Frequently asked questions
Can I trap a possum and release it somewhere else?
No. In NSW it's illegal to trap, relocate or kill a possum without a licence. Licensed handlers must release roof possums after dusk, within 150 metres of where they were caught, near something they can climb.
Do pest controllers handle possums?
Only operators with the right NSW wildlife licence can catch and release possums. When you send the form, tick Possums and the professional who contacts you will confirm they're licensed for it.
How do I stop the possum coming back?
Proofing is the key: once the possum is out, every entry point in the roof needs to be sealed, branches trimmed, and ideally a possum box provided nearby so it has somewhere else to live.
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