Step 1 – Site Inspection and Assessment
It may sound obvious, but every possum removal in Canberra is different. Upon arrival at site, our primary tasks are to identify the possum species and find the entry point/s. If we discover a common brushtail possum, it’s highly likely that it’s operating alone (though we double-check to be sure). On the other hand, common ringtail possums tend to hang out together (potentially leading to multiple removals).
If we discover that your roof or garage is home to rats or mice (rather than a possum), we can deal with the problem through an affiliated Canberra pest control company. Either way (possums or rodents), we’ve got you covered.
Step 2 – Selection of Possum Removal Technique
As nocturnal creatures, possums sleep during the day and move about at night. Most possums leave their nest at dusk (to forage for food) and return just before dawn. The simplest way to stop a possum from returning to its nest (your home or business premises) is to install a temporary one-way door.
One-way doors, which are made from sturdy plastic, enable a possum to leave the nest, but not to return. The key to ensuring that the one-way door method works is to find and block all the entry points. In many cases, we have to use additional materials (eg. timber, bricks, mesh) to block multiple entry points.
Where a one-way door isn’t suitable, the team at Canberra Possum Removal will use an approved possum trap to catch the possum.
Step 3 – Repair of Entry Points
Irrespective of removal technique, a possum removal in Canberra isn’t considered successful until the entry points used by the possum are repaired or closed off. Many people make the classic mistake of removing a possum, but not fixing the roofing or structural problem that led to occupation in the first place.
Canberra Possum Removal provides access to skilled maintenance professionals who can repair and replace timber on fascias, soffits and bargeboards, as well as fix roof tiles. An area that many people forget to secure is the chimney: possums love chimneys when they’re not in use. A simple sheet of mesh can keep possums out of chimneys.
Step 4 – Supply and Installation of Possum Box (optional step)
A possum box is a great way to accommodate possums in your Canberra garden. A possum box should be sturdy, weatherproof and situated at least 4 metres off the ground (to deter dogs and cats). Once the possum box is secured to the tree, you can place a small piece of apple or banana near it to coax a possum into the box.
Canberra Possum Removal supplies and installs quality possum boxes in Canberra and Queanbeyan. Our possum boxes are sized to accommodate a single common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) or several common ringtail possums (Pseudocheirus peregrinus). If you install a possum box, don’t forget to put some nesting material (eg. eucalyptus leaves) into it.
For more information on our approach to possum removal in Canberra, please call the friendly team at Canberra Possum Removal on 1300 022 122.