Who to hire for possums in the roof

Short answer

A licensed pest manager or wildlife controller who does possum exclusion. Possums are protected native wildlife in every Australian state — they generally cannot be harmed, and rules about trapping and relocation are strict, with most states requiring release very close to the capture site or not permitting relocation at all. The legal and effective answer is exclusion: let them leave, then seal the entry.

Soon, not tonightIt will not usually get cheaper by waiting, and it is rarely worth an after-hours rate.

When it is someone else

Calling the wrong trade costs an attendance fee to be told so. These are the cases where this problem belongs to someone other than a Pest Controller.

  • a roofer

    the entry is a roofing defect. Sealing it properly is roofing work and it is what makes the exclusion permanent.

  • an arborist

    a branch gives them access to the roof. Pruning it is often the whole solution.

  • your state wildlife authority

    you are unsure what is permitted. They publish the rules and they are not the same in every state.

What to do before anyone arrives

  1. Work out when they come and go. Possums are nocturnal and the exclusion has to happen while they are out.
  2. Find the entry point — it is usually obvious from smoothed fur marks and droppings.
  3. Check for young. Excluding a mother while dependent young are inside the roof is both cruel and creates a much worse problem.
  4. Do not block the hole yourself until you are certain the roof is empty.
  5. Consider a nest box in a tree nearby. Giving the animal somewhere else to go materially improves the outcome.

What to ask when you book

  • What does state law allow here — can this animal be relocated at all?
  • How will you confirm the roof is empty before sealing?
  • Are you sealing every entry point, and what is the warranty?
  • Are you installing a one-way door, and for how long?
  • Will you clean up droppings and nesting material?

What changes the price

No dollar figures here: this directory holds no price data and an invented range is worse than none. What follows is what makes one of these jobs cost more than the same job next door, which is the part you can actually use when comparing quotes.

  • Number of entry points and roof access.
  • Whether a one-way exclusion door and return visit are needed.
  • Cleanup of droppings and insulation.
  • Roof repairs required to seal properly.

What you can do yourself

Is this licensed work?

Pest management licensing applies, and wildlife legislation in each state governs what may be done with a protected native animal — often requiring a permit to trap and specifying where an animal may be released. Harming a possum is an offence.

There is no national register. Search the licence number with the regulator for the state the work is happening in.

Licensing thresholds and certificate requirements differ by state and change with amending regulation, so this page describes the mechanism rather than quoting a figure. The regulator’s own page is the current answer.

Common questions

Who should I hire for possums in the roof
A licensed pest manager or wildlife controller who does possum exclusion. Possums are protected native wildlife in every Australian state — they generally cannot be harmed, and rules about trapping and relocation are strict, with most states requiring release very close to the capture site or not permitting relocation at all. The legal and effective answer is exclusion: let them leave, then seal the entry.
Can I relocate a possum I catch?
In most Australian states, no — or only within a very short distance of the capture point, often the same property, because a possum released into another animal's territory usually does not survive. Several states require a permit to trap at all. The rules are state-specific and they are the reason exclusion rather than removal is the professional approach.
How do I get a possum out of the roof without hurting it?
Wait until it leaves at night, fit a one-way door over the entry so it can get out but not back in, give it a few nights, then seal permanently. Doing it in spring when young may be present is the main way this goes wrong, which is why a professional checks first.

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Who to hire for

General information about who does what, not advice about your specific job. Licensing, consumer law and council rules differ by state and change; the regulator for your state is the current source. More guides to hiring a tradesperson.