Screeching sounds in the night, missing food, overthrown garbage cans – do these symptoms sound familiar? Well if you answered yes, you probably have a possum infestation at home.
Possums are quite pesky and do significant damage to your home and property. Their control and removal demands immediate attention. There are several ways in which you could go about for treatment against the possum removal and control of an infestation.
They may be larger than other pests but the good news is that there is a solution and better still if all fails there are reliable professionals who will deal with the matter.
Since your home is not meant to house possums, they naturally become an enemy to your investments as well as your peace of mind.
There’s a saying that goes, ‘Keep your friends close and your enemies even closer’. Of course not literally, but you will have to be acquainted with their behaviour and habits.
This way you will be able to take more successful measures for their removal and control. It only becomes an infestation when the situation gets out of control.
However, to start with, here are some tips of how to safeguard your home and roof in particular from possums.
Learn Important Tips to Safeguard Your Home and Roof from Possums
Where to find Possums?
If possums have found your home to be suitable it’s because of 2 reasons – food and shelter! You know how some people actually begin their day at night?
Well possums are like those people – nocturnal! They love the dark and when I say love I mean to the point that they hate the light.
Now think like a genius and tell me - which is the darkest place in your home with the least amount of human activity? The roof right! And that’s exactly where you will find possums!
Considering that most Melbourne home-owners use the roof for storage and only visit the spot from time to time, it becomes paradise to these pests.
Do All Kinds of Possums Head to the Roof?
Well, the most commonly found possums are Brushtail and Ringtail possum. No points for guessing that they probably get their names from the way their tails are.
They both are known to nest in the hollows of trees WHICH I might mention is dark and cosy – just the way they like it! Since urban areas lack these kinds of trees, they search for the next best thing – a place that is dark, comfortable, and quiet, with the least amount of human activity to disturb them. So in answer to your question – yes you’re likely to find any one of the types hiding out in your roof.
What Can I Do With Them?
Obviously you don’t want them to continue with the chaos they are causing. But at the same time you cannot harm them since they are protected under the Wildlife Act 1975. So the next best thing to do for their control and removal is relocation.
You need to take measures to firstly trap them and you can release them within 50m distance as they remain within the property after sunset on the day of capture.
Measures to Take for Their Control and Removal
Think of it this way – why do you enjoy staying at a place? It’s because the place has everything you want, right! So if you have a possum or possum family residing in your home, it’s because your home is easy and comfortable to live in and has everything the possum needs.
Here are Some Tips to Tackle the Problem:
- Seal all garbage bins tightly so these pests cannot rummage through it.
- Place tree guards on tall trees near your home so possums can’t get onto your roof using trees.
- Do not leave the pet food container open and store/throw away leftover pet food.
- Ensure no trees are leaning into your home.
- Use traps in the roofs.
- Spray seaweed smelling repellent near any possible entry points.
- Build a possum box outside in a tree so that they will head there instead.
- Do not let piles of leaves lie around in your garden as they can act like comfortable nesting spots.
- Patch up any holes on ground level or any loose tiles so that the possums can’t use it as entry and exit points.
- Make use of an Ultrasonic Possum remover in the roof to track any activity. However ensure that the ultrasonic rays aren’t blocked by any objects in the way.
Once your residence becomes their place of safety and provision you might as well be sure that they’ll be breeding and taking over. Before you know it, you’ll be facing a full-fledged infestation! And that’s not even the worst of your problems!
Did you know that under certain circumstances possums do deliver an extremely painful bite in a bid to save itself! I’m sure you don’t want one, in fact nobody would! Besides being attentive and following the above measures there are certain treatments you can resort to.
However, these are best executed under the guidance or by a professional pest control service. An expert will be familiar and up to date with solutions to the problem. And most importantly they will know how to rid your home without harming the possum, which is of utmost importance.
About the Author:
Muzi Tsolakis heads Protech Pest Control. With their skilled experts and the latest technology, their pest control services rank among the most premium for possum removal in Melbourne. For any pest inspection services of your home or office you’ll be happy to have them on board.
