Possum Prevention in Your Home & Garden

Possums are protected native animals. It is illegal to trap possums in any state of Australia unless you are licensed to do so. Even if possums are trapped legally, they must be released on the same property – yours not your neighbours. The prescribed release distance is usually a maximum of 50 metres, but this distance varies depending on which state you live in.

If a possum is moved too far from its territory it is likely to die. Possums are highly territorial. If a possum is moved from a roof void it won’t be long before the same possum or another possum takes up residence there. This is why prevention is the only way to go when dealing with possums.

Rather than removing possums we need to deter them from entering the roof voids of our houses and prevent them from damaging plants in our gardens. There are many practical things you can do around the house and garden (see Prevention) to prevent possum incursions.

Yates Possum Repellent Spray is a patented formula developed by scientists from Melbourne University. When sprayed on the foliage of susceptible plants it will deter possums from eating them. You may need to respray after rain. As always, follow label directions.

Possums are nocturnal tree-dwelling marsupials that are found in most parts of Australia. The two most common species that may cause issues in and around home gardens are Common Ringtail Possum (Pseudocheirus peregrinus) and Common Brushtail Possum (Trichosurus vulpecular).

Ringtail Possums

Ringtail Possums occur in all eastern states from Cape York to Tasmania. There is also an isolated population in the far south-west of Western Australia – opinions vary as to whether this western Ringtail Possum is a subspecies or a separate species. Ringtail Possums make spherical nests of shredded bark or grass either in a hollow limb, mistletoe, or in dense undergrowth. Ringtails are less likely to live in roof voids than Brushtails.

Brushtail Possums

Common Brushtail Possums occur in all eastern states, central Australia and south-west Western Australia. The Northern Brushtail Possum, which occurs in the northwest of Australia, is seen by some scientists as a subspecies of the Common Brushtail, but by others as a separate species. If we included the Northern Brushtail that would mean Brushtails occur near human habitation right across the country. Brushtail Possums usually nest in hollow dead branches, tree trunks, and fallen logs. Unfortunately, they may also try to make a home in the roof voids of houses and other buildings.

Ringtail Possums

Ringtail Possums have a body length between 30 and 35 cm and a tail length between 30 and 35 cm. They may reach a weight of about 1 kg. Ringtail Possums have a tapering prehensile tail with a white tip - hence their name ‘ringtail’ possum. The fur colour of Ringtail Possums may vary but they usually have greyish backs with reddish-brown sides. Their ears are short, and they usually have a white patch behind the ears. Ringtail Possums have a soft, high-pitched twittering call similar to some birds.

Brushtail Possums

Brushtail Possums have a body length between 35 and 55 cm and a tail length between 25 and 40 cm. They are much heavier possums than Ringtail Possums and can weigh up to 4.5 kg. Brushtail Possums are usually silver-grey in colour above and white to pale grey below, although Brushtail Possums in Tasmania may be much darker. They have long oval ears and a bushy tail. Brushtail Possums communicate with deep guttural coughs and sharp hisses.

Ringtail Possums

Ringtail Possums breed from April to November and usually have two offspring. Young possums leave the pouch when about four months old and are weaned at about six months of age. Juveniles either remain in the nest or are carried on their mother’s back when she leaves the nest to forage for food.

Brushtail Possums

Brushtail possums usually breed in autumn but may breed a second time during spring. A single offspring is usually produced that spends 4 to 5 months in pouch, and another couple of months suckling and riding on its mother’s back before weaning. After this, the young possum leaves the mother to find its own territory.

The natural diet of possums is gumtree leaves, but they naturally supplement that diet with fruits, buds and grasses. In gardens they may eat the flowers, shoots and fruit of many native and exotic garden plants. Rosebuds are a favourite snack, and they can be devastating in vegetable and fruit gardens. Brushtail Possums may also rummage in compost bins.

• Scats on paths and verandas.
• Things that go thump in the night. A possum in a roof void or wall cavity makes much more noise than a Rat or Mouse.
• Animals running on the roof or along fences and powerlines at night.
• Chewed fruits of whatever is in season.
• Missing Rosebuds.

• Look for scats.
• Look for lifted tiles or other entry points on the roof.
• Look for possum damage in the garden.

• Do not feed Possums.
• Protect feature trees by fitting a 60 cm wide Perspex or metal tree collar around the trunk to prevent possums from climbing.
• Net fruit trees to prevent possums feeding on fruit.
• Fence off veggie gardens with a floppy wire fence. Use 90 cm wide chicken wire and bury about 20 cm of it in the ground to prevent possums digging under. Then support the rest of the wire upright with flexible canes or heavy fencing wire, so that the fence bends backwards when possums try to climb it. When they let the fence go it will spring back into position.
• Plant a variety of native plants for possums to eat - perhaps then they will leave the Roses and the veggie garden alone. Try growing some small to medium sized Eucalypts and shrubs like Bottlebrushes, Grevilleas, Hakeas and Wattles.
• Pick all fruit and vegetables as soon as they ripen and pick up all fallen fruit. Hopefully the lack of ripe fruit will make the garden less attractive to possums.
• Try Yates Possum Repellent Spray. Follow label directions.
• Cut back branches that overhang the house to prevent possums accessing the roof.
• Secure rubbish bin and compost bin lids.
• Don’t leave pet food bowls out at night. Brushtail Possums will eat meat if they find it.
• Consider installing motion sensing lights to deter possums.
• Seal any roof access points. It is best to do this at night so as not to trap a possum inside the roof. If in doubt hire a professional or consult your local council for advice.
• Consider installing a nest box in a tree as an alternative possum den to your roof void.