Will Devonport City Council come out for a possum?

No. The council says it doesn't trap or move native wildlife, and possums are protected under Tasmanian law. Proofing the roof once the possum has gone out is the usual route.

How do I report exotic paper wasps?

Contact Biosecurity Tasmania, with a photo taken from a distance if you can. Don't disturb the nest while you wait.

Who pays for pest control in a Devonport rental?

The council says pest animals on private property are the landowner's or tenant's responsibility. Between landlord and tenant, check your lease and talk it through before anyone books a treatment.

Pest control Devonport: wasps, possums and the rules

Stings come first

Don't poke, spray or knock any wasp nest, and keep children and dogs well away from it. After a sting, wash the spot and hold a wrapped ice pack on it for 15 minutes. Call 000 straight away for noisy breathing, a swollen tongue or throat, a wheeze or collapse, after using any adrenaline autoinjector they carry.

What's different in Devonport

Exotic paper wasps across the river

NRE Tasmania names East Devonport, along with Launceston, Latrobe and Sorell, as places exotic paper wasps have been found. They're declared pests in Tasmania. NRE asks people to leave the nest alone and report it to Biosecurity Tasmania.

European wasps peak in autumn

Since their arrival in 1959, European wasps have spread to every part of Tasmania. Their nests are at full size by the end of summer, so autumn is when they crowd outdoor meals and bins along the coast.

The council won't trap wildlife

Devonport City Council says native animals, possums and birds included, are protected under Tasmanian law, and the council doesn't trap or move native wildlife. It also says pest animals on private land are the landowner's or tenant's responsibility.

Termites aren't the big worry

Termites aren't considered a risk in Tasmania under the National Construction Code, so Devonport's pest list looks quite different from a mainland one.

Found a wasp nest? Here's the order

Step back and look
From a distance, note where it is: hanging open under the eaves or a branch, or hidden, with wasps flying in and out of one hole in the ground or a wall.
Take a photo
Zoom in from well back. A clear photo helps Biosecurity Tasmania or a pest business tell what it is without anyone going close.
An open paper nest you don't recognise? Report it
Contact Biosecurity Tasmania first. If you're unsure who to talk to, NRE Tasmania's Biosecurity Enquiries team can help.
A hidden yellow and black wasp nest? Call it in
European wasp nests are one for a registered pest controller, in NRE Tasmania's words. Tap A wasp nest with your postcode.

A possum in the roof

Brushtail possums are protected in Tasmania: nobody may take or keep one without a permit, and a Special Purposes Wildlife Permit to trap them is a last resort with strict conditions. NRE Tasmania also says trapping and moving a possum generally doesn't work, because competition for food and shelter usually means the moved possum dies.

So the answer is proofing. NRE suggests working out where the possum gets in and out, then making repairs so it can't get back in. A pest business or handyman can check the roof is empty at night before closing it up. Read more on our possums and the law guide.

Renting in Devonport with a pet

Legal Aid Tasmania says recent law changes make it easier for renters to keep pets. A landlord's pet conditions can include keeping the animal's flea treatments up to date, but those conditions need the renter's agreement. A landlord can't ask for a pet bond, a bigger bond or higher rent in exchange for saying yes to a pet.

If fleas do show up, treat the pet through the vet first, then have the house done where the pet sleeps. Our flea treatment page explains why that order matters.

The licence rule in Tasmania

Tasmania's agricultural chemicals law says nobody may offer a service for a fee that involves prescribed chemical products unless they hold a commercial operator licence, with a maximum fine of 200 penalty units. There's no public register, so asking to see the licence is the check. Our Tasmania page covers the rest.

What we'd do about pests in Devonport

We'd treat an unfamiliar paper wasp nest as a report, not a job, and ring Biosecurity Tasmania. For a European wasp nest or a possum in the roof, we'd tap what it is and our postcode, and let a local pest business quote.

Want someone to look at it?

Tell us what you've seen and your postcode, and a local pest business that handles exactly that calls you to talk it through.

What have you seen?