Possum Removal Melbourne

Victorian Law For Possum Trapping & Removal

Possums are native wildlife protected under the Victorian Wildlife Act 1975, and the rules around handling them are precise. A Common Brushtail Possum may only be trapped in an approved trap that does not harm the animal, and it must be released on the same property, within 50 metres of where it was caught, no later than sunset on the day of capture. Common Ringtail Possums must not be trapped at all. Driving a trapped possum to a park or a patch of bush across town sounds kind, and it is both unlawful and usually fatal — a possum dropped inside another possum’s territory has nowhere to den and rarely survives its first weeks there. Harming a possum, or trapping one outside these rules, carries serious penalties.

Those rules shape how genuine possum control works in Melbourne. Because the animal legally stays in its home range, lasting control comes from getting it out of your building, sealing every way back in, and giving it a lawful place to den nearby — which is exactly how our licensed technicians run the job. It also helps to make your property less inviting in the first place:

• Securing your pet’s food efficiently and storing/disposing of food and waste effectively
• Netting trees or plants with edible fruits
• Installing plastic barriers around the tree to prevent them from climbing up
• Adding spikes to fences to prevent their movement further on your property

How We Get Possums Out — and Keep Them Out

Because the law keeps the possum in its home range, the lasting fix is exclusion: let the animal out, close every way back in, and give it somewhere legitimate to den. Our technicians run that as a set process.

• Inspection and entry-point mapping. We inspect the roof void, roofline and subfloor to find the den, the droppings and every opening. The usual culprits are lifted or broken roof tiles, gaps where the roofline meets the fascia and eaves, unmeshed vent pipes and whirlybirds, openings along valleys and ridge capping, wall cavities and gaps under decking. A brushtail fits through a gap of about 9 cm, so the list is always longer than the one hole you have noticed.
• One-way door on the main entry. Every other opening is sealed first, then a one-way flap goes over the entry the possum actually uses. It lets itself out at dusk to feed, finds it cannot get back in, and moves to an alternative den. No trapping, no handling, no stress on the animal.
• Confirm the void is empty, then seal permanently. Once fresh activity stops we confirm the roof is clear, remove the one-way door and close the final opening with materials that hold — heavy-gauge galvanised mesh, timber and metal flashing matched to the roof.
• A lawful new den. A possum excluded from your roof still lives on your block, so we install a possum nest box on a tree nearby — within its home range, away from the house. Trimming branches back from the roofline removes the access ramp that let it up there in the first place.
• Trapping only where it is needed. Where an animal cannot use a one-way door — trapped behind a wall cavity, for example — we trap and release it under the DEECA rules: on the same property, within 50 metres, by sunset that day.

Possum proofing carries our six-month installation workmanship warranty: if a possum gets back in through a point we sealed within that period, we return and repair the proofing at no charge.

Common Hiding Places of Possums

If you suspect you are dealing with a possum infestation, then there are a few common spots you need to check to confirm their presence. They are:

• Your rooftop
• Backyard
• Garage
• Under the flooring
• Inside your property
• Treehouse (if you have any)
• Traps (if you have set up any around your premises)

Professional possum removal Melbourne services can help identify and eliminate infestations quickly.

Know Your Enemy – Here are the Types of Possum

Common Brushtail Possum

Like its name suggests this type gets its name on account of its obviously furry tail and is native to Australia. As a nocturnal animal, it can easily find its way around in the dark. Part of this is linked to other distinctive traits like how it lives among trees as well as on the ground. Its diet consists mainly of leaves especially eucalyptus leaves and sometimes small mammals like rats. This species is the second largest among possums and can be spotted in silver-grey, brown, black and gold colour variations. Another noticeable feature is their tail’s ability to grasp and aid them as they swing from tree to tree.

Common Ringtail Possum

This species is grey in colour with a cream-coloured stomach and white patches under the eyes. They too have a prehensile tail and use it to grasp for better mobility, however, the tail has a noticeable white tip that occupies nearly a quarter of the tail’s length. The ringtail possum has sharp molars with pointed cusps, making them scarier when they bare their teeth. These creatures weigh anywhere from 550–1100 gms and are about 30–35 cm long (excluding the length of their tail).

Facts about Possums

• Young possums are called joeys, females are called jills and males are called jacks.
• Being nocturnal creatures, possums are active during the night and come back to their nesting area during the day to sleep.
• The common ringtail possum constructs nests in trees or shrubs called dreys, but the majority of possums reside in tree hollows.
• Totally, there are around 23 different species of possums found in Australia.
• The two most common types of possum found in Australia is the ringtail and brushtail possum.
• Their lifespan ranges anywhere from 6–7 years but in some cases can go up to 11 years too.
• Their diet includes munching on nectar, eucalyptus, fruits, and flowers.
• While most species are solitary, ringtail possums are always found with a family of more than three possums.
• They can scratch, grunt, hiss, growl, screech and make all kinds of sounds.

Dead Possum Removal

Possums are a protected species and hence it is not legal to actually poison them no matter how much of a nuisance they are to you. However, there are cases where they die due to consuming rabbit bait, collision or attack by a dog/cat and can be caught in the roof or another part.

Sometimes the carcass could also be behind a wall. In such scenarios, it can be difficult to locate the carcass. The first sign, of course, is a foul stench that can last up to 2 months and the accumulation of flies. You will need to call for a professional who will locate and get rid of the carcass while causing the least amount of damage to your residence and expense for you. Secondly, he will deodorise the area with an eco-friendly deodorant to get rid of the stench.

Process for Removing Possums from Melbourne Homes

At Protech Pest Control, we have a fixed process for removing possums from your property. That process is broken down into 3 steps:

• Inspect: We find the den, confirm the animal is a possum and map every entry point around the roofline, walls and subfloor.
• Exclude or release: A one-way door lets the possum out without handling it. Where trapping is genuinely needed, the possum is released on the same property within 50 metres of capture, by sunset that day, exactly as the Victorian rules require.
• Seal off: Every entry point is closed with materials that hold, so the possum — and the next one — stays out. The proofing carries our six-month installation warranty.

Quick & Trustworthy Possum Box Installations

• Tree Nest Box Installation: It can be installed on a tree top to increase the chances of quickly capturing possums.
• Control Box: To reduce the destruction, our team installs a control box for confining possums for a while.
• Possum Nest Box: Also, these specially designed cages attract them effectively so we can easily trap them for a quicker release back into the wild.

What is the Price of Possum Removal?

When it comes to pricing, there are several factors that come into play. Removal services are determined by a variety of these factors. We also take into account how many holes we must patch or seal. Possums can be caught in a variety of methods, some of which can be costly. It is usually advised to hire a professional for possum removal from the property. Our possum proofing is backed by a six-month installation workmanship warranty, confirmed in writing before the job starts.

Why Are These Possum Removal Services Essential?

Unexpectedly, a possum infestation near your property may have wide-ranging effects. You can understand why possums can harm your health and cause financial issues by considering the following reasons:

• Possum droppings contain bacteria that can cause human flesh-eating ulcers.
• People who are exposed to possum droppings may develop a chronic functional impairment.
• Possums in semi-urban and rural areas like living in trees. But in cities, they attempt to live on roofs, often causing damage to the roof tiles.
• If they get into your house, they’ll try to eat anything they want, damage the insulation and ductwork, leave stains and strong smells, and more.
• Possums can be violent towards your pets and frequently bring in ticks and fleas from the outdoors.

Did you know that removing a possum requires great caution and that it is against the law to kill them in Australia? Because possums have keen teeth, they may attempt self-defence when ensnared. Consequently, you ought to avoid attempting possum removal by yourself. Furthermore, ringtail possum removal requires a permit. As soon as you need us, Protech Pest Control provides emergency possum removal services in Melbourne.

Why is Possum Control Permissible in Melbourne?

Possum control in Melbourne is permissible due to a few reasons that make it an efficient solution, they are:

• The Wildlife Act allows a Common Brushtail Possum to be trapped in an approved trap of the right size and construction, so the animal is never harmed in the process.
• Once a possum is trapped, it must be released on the same property, within 50 metres of where it was caught, no later than sunset that day. Moving a possum to unfamiliar territory is a criminal offence.
• Since possums prefer to live in their natural habitat, installing a possum nest box on a tree within its home range gives the animal a lawful place to den once the roof is sealed.

Why Choose Us For Possum Removal in Melbourne?

• Quality: The standard of the services are never compromised by our team of experts. An unskilled individual has the ability to devastate the situation and make it worse. This is the reason we work with professionals who have the necessary skills, knowledge and experience.
• Value for Money: Our team of professionals provide the greatest possum removal services at reasonable and competitive costs. You spend less while receiving the highest quality of services.
• Assurance: Our goals are to manage the property’s current state and offer suggestions to keep possums off the land. The proofing we install is designed to keep possums out for good, and it is backed by our six-month installation warranty.

So call us today for same day service that gives you an effective solution for your possum related problems. And if a possum gets back in through a point we sealed within six months, we return and put it right at no charge.