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PESTS:
POSSUMS
 Removal
and Prevention
Once a possum has taken up residence in your home, you have little choice but to live with it, or remove it from the entire area. We now know that they will return to their home unless taken a substantial distance away. Because possums are territorial, relocation is not always successful. Relocated possums often die a slow death due to injury sustained during fights with other territorial possums, or starvation due to deprivation of food source. Because of this, relocating possums is illegal.
Possums
love all fruit and vegetables as well as
many plants, including gardenias, fuschias
and their favourite, roses. Once they get
a taste for these flowers it is difficult
to stop them.
Here
are some suggestions to help you deter
possums from your property
- Prune
branches that touch or overhang your
roof. If this is not possible, fit a
metal collar around the trees to
prevent possums from being able to grip
the tree trunks.
- If
the possums are using the powerlines,
attach an 80cm diameter disc over the
wires close to the
building.
- Remove
the scent left by the territorial
possums by washing the entry point with
a bleach solution.
- Keep
up with general maintenance. Ensure
that there are no loose tiles, loose
sheets of roof iron or gaps in the
eaves. Block up holes in brickwork or
woodwork.
- Some
chemicals are suggested, these being
naphthalene, or POSS-OFF (a natural
possum deterrent), or you could try
garlic, cloves, camphor, citronella
oil, Quassia spray or chips, mosquito
coils or one of the other brands of
possum deterrents available at your
garden centre or hardware
store.
- Because
possums are nocturnal, a bright light
shone into the roof space during the
day may deter them, and a bright light
during the night will send them out
into the yard, with the added bonus
what you be able to easily see their
entry point.
- Party
lights or a spot light shone on your
roses or other plants for a few nights
will discourage possums from eating
them.
- Sheet
metal collars around the trunks of the
trees may help.
- If
practical, unsupported floppy fencing
erected on top of existing fencing will
deter possums.
- Blood
and Bone, spread around the base of
plants may help.
- The
creation of a wooden nesting box may
deter possums from your roof space, and
the provision of fruit on a feeding
shelf several times a week may keep
them away from your other plants. This
allows you to live in harmony with the
possums and enjoy watching
them.
- Should
a possum become stuck inside a chimney,
a pest consultant may assist it to
escape by dangling a rope down the
cavity.
- A
possum trapped inside may be encouraged
to leave by opening a door or window
and gently coaxing it
outside.
- If
all else fails, possums may be caught
in a wire cage-type trap. These are
often available for hire from some
councils and pet shops. Chopped fruit,
bread and honey, or even a rag
sprinkled with aniseed essence will
lure the possum into the trap. Once the
possum is removed, all entry points
must be sealed.
- Remember,
it is illegal to handle possums unless
they are in your roof, home or other
type of building.
- They
must be released within 50 metres of
where they were caught.
Could
I have possums in my roof?
- Possums
have readily adapted to the urban
environment. They are nocturnal, and so
identification of possums is normally
done by observing the evidence they
leave behind.
- Possums
are messy foragers often leaving the
ground cluttered with half-eaten
flowers, leaves or fruit. Rose buds are
a favourite.
- Small
branches at the top of trees can be
broken, and often claw marks are
visible on the trunks and branches of
the trees.
- Possum
droppings may be seen. They are usually
about 2.5cm long and are covered with a
slimy film when fresh.
- Possums
are territorial, marking their
territory with secretions from glands
on their rump and also their chests.
They will fight to defend their
territory often making a great deal of
noise or leaving clumps of fur on the
ground.
- Breeding
can occur throughout the year although
it peaks in spring and autumn. Although
the females have two teats, they
usually only carry one
young.
- Possums
generally live in hollows of a tree,
but once living in an urban area, they
will often utilise an artificial site.
This could be a root cavity or some
similar space offering any warmth. This
can cause many problems.
Noise:
As opposed to the scratching and light
scampering of rats, possums thump around
in the roof cavity, communicating with
hisses, growls, screeches and cough-type
sounds.
Intrusion:
Possums will at times nest in wall
cavities or chimneys. They are well able
to get in and out without getting
trapped.
Damage:
Possums will cause a lot of damage if
cornered and while attempting to
escape.
Contamination:
Droppings from possums can find their
way into rainwater tanks causing
contamination.
Stains:
If a possum urinates in the ceiling or
inside the wall cavities, large dark
stains can appear.
Odours:
A dead possum in a ceiling will create
an overpowering stench. The only way to
remove the smell is to remove the dead
body and then place a rag soaked in Nil
Odour over the site. Similarly, sprinkle
Orris Root powder over the
site.
Disturbance:
Occasionally in much the same way as cats
do, possums will upset the neighbourhood
dogs.
Damage
to gardens: Damage to plants results
from the pleasure possums gain from eating
the many types of plants we have growing
in our urban gardens.
Neighbourhood
disputes: By allowing possums to
remain on your premises, you also expose
your neighbours to the damage and problems
they cause.
I
have Possums in my roof, what should I
do?
While
it is possible to deter possums, it is
impossible to completely possum-proof
your property. The only way to
adequately handle the situation is to
remove the possum from the premises.
This is best done by a pest
consultant.
Our 25
years' experience ... your peace of
mind
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Total
Pest Solutions
PO
Box 2083, South Plympton
South Australia. 5038.
Phone 1800 503 394
(08) 8297 4981
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