Frequently Asked Questions/Information about Possum activity and removal.

I've been receiving some unusual questions lately when people call, and I feel this is from other websites that have been written by artificial Intelligence or just by people that don't know what they're doing.

I don't know whether these company's websites are real businesses or people looking to rip you off. Regardless I wanted to inform people of possum activity, methods of removal and just general information on possums in Melbourne and surrounds or generally any city, suburb or town in Australia living with possums be it Brushtail possums or Ringtail possums.

Do possums eat pet food?

No! Possums are herbivores.

I have had one case in 20 years where a possum entered the home to eat pet food. Like humans we're all different and this possum was very different!

Your pet's food is full of meat and meat by products. This is not an attractant for possums if something is eating your pet's food it will be birds, rats or mice.

But please if you have footage of possums eating your pet's food, I'd love to see it.

Possums will lift tiles to get into roofs!

No.

If you're willing and able to lift a tile on your roof, do it. With all safety and caution. You'll see it's not easy to do.

Possums cannot simply walk up to a roof lift a tile and get in. If they could every roof in Melbourne or any city would have a possum in it.

Possums are opportunists, if there's a hole they'll find it, be it tiles that have slipped out of position from house movement, storms etc. or poor workmanship. I have possums entering old buildings and new buildings.

What is a possum exit/one way door?

A possum exit is much like a cat flap or a doggy door. The way it is designed is to allow the possum to only go one way. That way is out of your roof. The Possum Professionals possum exits have been designed as such that the possum cannot claw the door back open. With over 20 years' experience I have adapted with what these intelligent creatures are able to do.

Possum infestation in my roof!

Infestation? Big scare word, isn't it?

Possums do not infest roofs. If you have possum noise in your roof. It will most likely be one possum possibly two if they are Brushtail possums and Possibly 1-5 if they are ringtail possums but that will be a family Mum, Dad Babies and will stay together and move together in the roof.

Possums breed once a year. They are not like rodents that will rapidly reproduce causing an infestation.

An infestation suggests an abundance of possums in your roof. Possums are territorial. Once they set up their home its theirs and no one else's. They won't invite their friends and neighbors over. Your roof is marked as their territory, and no other possums are welcome. You may run into territorial disputes when possums are sorting out their living arrangements. But you won't have 100 possums in a roof. Thats not to say they can't sound like there's 100 possums in there. This is also relative to the size of your roof and if you have allowed the possums to live in your roof for many, many years.

Possums have to be trapped and taken away to sort the issue for good!

No.

If you trap and remove the possum from its natural territory. And dump it in another location you have most likely killed that possum. It doesn't know its new location, food and water sources and is now dealing with unknown territory of other possums and predators it will spend more time on the ground which makes it easier prey for cats, dogs, foxes and other predators.

If you haven't repaired your roof after trapping and relocating the possum you have just started a war in your roof, this is now an empty territory up for the taking. Your problem will become worse.

Trapping and removing a possum from its location is also illegal and carries large fines.

Trapping is for amateurs, it's the old, outdated way of doing things.

The most efficient way of dealing with possums is via possum exits.

I have removed 7 Brushtail possums in one night with the use of possum exits, 4 Adults and 3 Juveniles. But that is a rare occurrence. This is why possum exits (one-way doors) are fantastic, 7 possums were prevented re-entry into the roof and the homeowner was possum free in one night. The possums were kept in their territory, knowing the food and water sources of their surrounds. A possum trap would never have sorted out that many possums in one night!

How do I know if I have possums in my roof?

Possums are creatures of habit. Their movement in your roof will be routine. They tend to wake at the same time every day. Depending on your possum type it could be at dusk or an hour or so after. They usually reside in a wall cavity; they see wall cavities as tree hollows. They will walk to their exit/entry point and leave the roof. Then an hour or so before dawn they will return home, back to their nice cozy warm wall cavity.

So, the noises you will hear will be routine times of activity.

If your noise is throughout the roof happening through the night and day at different locations and not routine (happening every now and then) it could be a sign of rodents. But before going and baiting your roof get it inspected, you don't want to accidently kill a possum.

Possums and rodents can co-exist in a roof, so it is possible to be hearing both. Rodents work as the cleanup crew and will eat possum feces. Either way The Possum Professional can help.

Do I need to be home for you to conduct a possum removal and possum proofing of my building?

No, as long as I have access around your property that is all I need. Be it you're at work, or your property is an airbnb, stayz or holiday house etc. I can undertake all works needed.

I have large and small ladders onboard allowing me to scale fences and gates to undertake a thorough inspection. I do all the work from the outside of your property. I do what the possums do, look for openings into your roof and any weak points.

I repair all of these areas to make your building possum proof. I put a 3 year warranty on all works but I expect to never hear from you again once all works are completed.

I make sure no gutters; valleys are blocked all roofing materials used are waterproof and the house is repaired properly without taking away from the look of your building.

I do not need to enter your home or go up through your manhole. Unless for inspection of other little creatures is needed.

Before and after pictures are provided with every possum removal so you know exactly what has happened at your property.

Can possums enter rooftops from ground level of a building?

Yes they can. Possums have adapted incredibly well to all building types if there is a way to get into a nice warm cozy building possums will find it. Thats why a thorough inspection is needed at ground level as well as roof line.

Thank you for reading

more to come...