Hobart has a lot of possums. Bush runs down the slopes of kunanyi/Mount Wellington into suburbs such as South Hobart, West Hobart, Fern Tree, Lenah Valley and Taroona, and gardens across Sandy Bay, New Town and Kingston provide plenty of food. Sooner or later, many Hobart households hear a brushtail possum thumping across the ceiling at night. This page explains how to confirm it, what Tasmanian rules say, and what a sensible eviction looks like.
Hobart Possum Removal is a referral service. We do not trap, handle or exclude possums, and we hold no wildlife permit. With your consent, we pass your enquiry to an independent business in Greater Hobart that does this work. It inspects, quotes and contracts with you directly.
Possum, rat or both?
The Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania (NRE Tas) points out that the "possum" in a ceiling sometimes turns out to be an introduced rat or mouse, and sometimes both are present and each needs its own plan. The usual clues:
- Brushtail possum: loud, heavy footsteps, plus growls, screeches, hisses and coughs when disturbed. It leaves the roof roughly an hour after sunset to feed.
- Rats and mice: scratching, chewing and skittering. They may chew electrical wiring and collect seeds and grass. Possums do neither.
- Droppings: possum scats are much larger than rat or mouse droppings.
NRE Tas suggests checking the ceiling with a torch during the day, or watching the house just on dark to see the possum come out. If you see where it emerges, you have found at least one entry point.
What Tasmanian law says
Brushtail possums are protected in Tasmania. NRE Tas states that they cannot be bought, sold, taken or possessed unless you hold a permit. The department's approach for a possum in a house is clear:
- Exclude it first. Find the entry points, wait until the possum has gone out to feed, make temporary repairs that night, and make permanent repairs in daylight once you are sure nothing is still inside.
- Trapping is a last resort. NRE Tas says trapping and relocating does not generally work. A possum may find its way back, and when a home range becomes vacant, another possum moves in. Relocated possums often die.
- A Special Purposes Wildlife Permit can be issued to trap, as a last resort. These permits carry strict conditions on the type of trap and what may be done with the animal.
Property Protection Permits are a separate scheme for primary producers dealing with browsing damage to crops and pasture. They are not the tool for a possum in a suburban roof.
This differs from the mainland. Rules that a business advertises for Victoria, New South Wales or Queensland do not apply in Tasmania. Ask any Hobart operator how its method fits NRE Tas requirements and, if trapping is proposed, what permit covers it. NRE Wildlife Services can be contacted on 03 6165 4305.
How a careful eviction runs
- Inspection of the roofline, roof space and subfloor. NRE Tas notes possums can enter through gaps as small as 9 cm, including loose tiles or iron, holes under the eaves, and wall cavities reached from under the house.
- Checking for young. Young brushtails ride in the pouch or on their mother's back, so the operator confirms the whole family leaves together.
- Exclusion. Every other gap is closed, and the main exit is fitted with a one-way flap or watched until the possum leaves after dark.
- Listening period. NRE Tas advises listening for several days. A possum trapped inside makes noisy attempts to escape.
- Permanent sealing and scent removal. Old entries are washed with a strong-smelling disinfectant or bleach so other possums do not follow the scent trail.
- Removing access. Branches touching the roof are cut back, and metal collars stop climbing up posts and pipes.
Hobart homes and possums
Hobart's mix of Federation weatherboards, inter-war brick and steep hillside sites gives possums plenty of choice. Common weak points include sandstone and brick chimneys, timber eaves that have dried and shrunk, gaps under corrugated iron at the gutter line, and roofs with large eucalypts or fruit trees overhanging them. Cold winters make a warm roof space especially tempting.
When to get help
DIY exclusion works for many households, and NRE Tas writes its guidance for them. Help is worth considering when the roof is steep or two storeys, when there are many entry points, when you cannot tell whether young are present, or when the possum keeps getting back in. A good operator will explain each step and leave you with a sealed roof, not just an empty one.
Frequently asked questions
Is it legal to remove a possum from my roof in Tasmania?
Excluding a possum by sealing gaps after it has gone out to feed is the approach NRE Tas recommends. Trapping needs a permit and is a last resort. Brushtails cannot be taken or possessed without one.
Can someone trap the possum and release it in the bush?
NRE Tas says trapping and relocating does not generally work. Relocated possums often die, and another possum takes over the empty territory. Any trapping needs a Special Purposes Wildlife Permit with strict conditions.
How do I find where the possum gets in?
Watch the house about an hour after sunset, when it comes out to feed. Check for holes under eaves, loose tiles or iron, and gaps around chimneys and pipes. Look for hair, grease marks and scratches.
How long should I wait before sealing the last gap?
Listen for several nights. NRE Tas advises making permanent repairs only once you are sure no animal has returned or is trapped inside.
Who do I call about an injured or orphaned possum in Hobart?
Contact a wildlife rescue service such as Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary's rescue line, or NRE Tas. Do not try to raise a joey yourself.
Next step
Tell us your suburb, what you are hearing and how long it has been going on. With your consent, we pass your details to one independent Greater Hobart business that does possum exclusion and proofing. See how the referral works or make an enquiry.