What WA's rules and DBCA say
Native fauna is protected
In WA it's an offence to intentionally or recklessly kill, injure, trade, keep or move native fauna unless a permit allows it. DBCA, the state's wildlife department, says only trained people with the right licence should handle possums.
Moving a possum isn't considered humane
DBCA says relocating possums is not considered a humane means of control, because relocated possums can die from predation and stress soon after release. It also says scaring them off doesn't work, and shooting possums is not permitted.
Proofing is what works
DBCA says preventing access is the most effective way to stop a possum nesting in the roof: every gap but one is closed, and the last one is shut after sunset once the possum has gone out to feed.
Hurt or orphaned possums
For a sick or injured possum, DBCA says to call the Wildcare Helpline, which can point you to a registered wildlife carer.
Is it a possum at all?
DBCA says the common brushtail and the western ringtail are the only two large possums that naturally occur in WA, and both have adapted to living in towns. Brushtails are usually the noisy ones in a roof. Western ringtails are about half the size, dark chocolate brown to dark grey, with a short-furred, white-tipped tail at least as long as the body. They're listed as Critically Endangered, and DBCA asks for sightings to be reported.
Rats and mice get mistaken for possums too, especially in winter, and goannas and phascogales can also scratch and skitter. Check the droppings: DBCA says possum droppings are usually more than 2 cm long, rat droppings about 1.5 cm, mouse droppings under 1 cm. If they're small, our Perth rats and mice page is the one you need.
How a possum proofing job usually runs
Find every way in
The technician checks the roofline, eaves, broken tiles, gaps around pipes and any branches touching the house, and notes the gap the possum actually uses.
Close the rest
All the other gaps are sealed with sheet metal, timber or wire mesh, leaving the possum's own entry open.
Wait until it has gone out
After sunset, once the possum has left to feed, the last gap is closed. DBCA says you'll know if it's still inside from its noisy attempts to get out, and then the gap has to be opened again.
Give it somewhere else to sleep
DBCA says a nest box or hollow log nearby may encourage the possum to stay in the area without nesting in the house.
Cut off the highway
Possums can only jump about 1 m high, DBCA says, so trimming branches that overhang the roof and fitting metal collars to tree trunks stops them climbing back up.
Questions to ask before the work
- How will you make sure the possum is out before the last gap is closed?
- What will you seal each gap with, and is the repair permanent?
- Is a nest box part of the quote, and where would it go?
- If it's a western ringtail, does anything change about how you work?
If it were our roof in Perth
We'd watch from the garden at dusk to see where it comes out, then get the proofing done properly in one go. Tap Possum or birds and mention whether you've seen the gap it uses.
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.
