Scribbly Gum   FAQ
	Possum Accomodation From: Matt® 02/01/2002 13:54:48 Subject: Possum accomodation post id: 26627 hey people's. Our house has recently been taken to by a possum who has made a nest / is making a nest under one of our eaves but atop another section of roof. We beleive this possum is trying to eat its way into another section of the roof and we really don't want to let it do this. We don't want to evict it (because another one will just come and steal the teritory) so we want to fashion a possum house. What do possums value in a house? Will they take to a manmade house if we just rip them out of their own and park them in our manmad one a few metres away? Thanks. :) From: withy 02/01/2002 15:36:18 Subject: re: Possum accomodation post id: 26648 a 20litre drum in a tree is ok as a temp home, but a bit hot in this weather, but a good hollow log wedged in a near by tree would be appreciated. To get the possum to leave of its own free will with minimum stress is the best idea, and that can be done by putting lots and lots of moth balls in the area they do not like the smell and if the possum is eating its way through things then use quassia bark, which is obtained from the local plant nursery or some herbal shops ad soak this bark in water for a while and spray around, is not toxic and can go on plants too but turns every thing very bitter. We often put old rags up with the possum for a day or two and let them get soiled then we use this to mark out the area we want the possum to move to before we put the moth balls out. Works most times, with the possum just moving a little distance away, it would also help to block off its entry under the roof if you can. From: Lee 02/01/2002 16:51:04 Subject: re: Possum accomodation post id: 26665 Hi, Check this site for do it yourself possum boxes. Australian Wildlife This page has Q&A re possums in roofs. Good luck, Lee From: chrisy® 02/01/2002 22:01:07 Subject: re: Possum accomodation post id: 26773 Hi Matt Thanks for taking the time to learn about humane ways of removing possums from your roof. You have won me over already..... try http://www.npws.nsw.gov.au/wildlife/factsheets/possumroof.html for info and here for diagram of box http://www.npws.nsw.gov.au/wildlife/factsheets/possumhouse.html best of luck and keep us posted hey? Chrisy From: Matt® 02/01/2002 23:49:52 Subject: re: Possum accomodation post id: 26865 Thanks for your help people. We have acquired a possum trap from the vet to use for the forced relocation to the new box (none of this "move out when you feel like it" stuff :P ) Thanks again :) From: chrisy® 03/01/2002 7:25:29 Subject: re: Possum accomodation post id: 26901 Geeezze Matt, now you have gone and got me worried! depending on what state you are in you actually need a license to trap native animals, the reason being is that it actually harder/difficult than you think, especially if you wish for the animal to come out unscaved........ "(none of this "move out when you feel like it" stuff :P )" if you do not take the steps outlined in the NPWS website, such as plugging up all holes, lopping branches, taking nest with you......all your efforts will be in vane i really would suggest either another visit to the NPWS website or ringing you local wildlife caring group..... why not an extra set of hands may be handy when trying to remove an angry adult possum from a trap plus everything is nice and legal From: Matt® 04/01/2002 0:18:11 Subject: re: Possum accomodation post id: 27193 Thanks for the advice chrissy, we've checked out the site and are following *most* of its advice. it's just that we have a feeling it is a female possum sporting some babies within and as such we don't want to let her stay in the roof any longer as there is no way she will move out willingly once the babies are out. The spot that she is in is INCREDIBLY inaccessible(sp?) and as such we have no way of being able to tell if there are any babies in it and we feel our best option is to trap the adult outside of the nest, examine (as best we can) the nest without possum in it and then seal it up. We are working with a brush tail, and an EXTREMELY teritorial one at that. (I don't actually know if that means much, just thought I'd mention it) Just last night (first night with the trap out) another possum came to steal the food out of the trap and was promptly escorted off the property by one irate resident. We have trapped and transported possums previously under advice from the SA Wildlife Protection Agency and on another couple of occasions we have nursed sick / wounded adults back to health. Mainly (this time) just looking for the most hospitable design that we could use to encourage our possum to live in once we have evicted it from the roof. Thanks again. :) From: roobies inc. 04/01/2002 3:18:48 Subject: re: Possum accomodation post id: 27199 "We have trapped and transported possums previously under advice from the SA Wildlife Protection Agency " what's that matt??? have not heard of them. cheers jo From: chrisy® 04/01/2002 7:15:05 Subject: re: Possum accomodation post id: 27209 good luck... keep us posted From: geoff d® 04/01/2002 7:25:19 Subject: re: Possum accomodation post id: 27210 Then you can come around to my place and see if you can repeat the exercise ... :) Last time someone went up into our roof for a look, besides "the biggest collection of redbacks I have ever seen" there were two old and one new possum nests. Trees insist on growing over to touch the roof, and Girl Child insists she hears possums quite often at night. Mrs d had an escaping possum run down her back one day when pottering in the garden - NOT impressed. Still, possums are better than the civet cat that moved into our roof when we were living in Lombok. What a pong! From: Matt® 05/01/2002 2:19:21 Subject: re: Possum accomodation post id: 27414 what's that matt??? have not heard of them I possibly (likely in fact) did not use their correct title. All I know is that we sought detailed advice from a local wildlife protection / information group on exactly how we were allowed to trap / relocate possums. If I recall correctly the advice we were given is that you are legally allowed to trap the possum but you are not legally allowed to let it go elsewhere without some form of permit or specific permission for THAT possum. PS. still haven't managed to catch the bugger, either it's smart or it isn't interested in whatever food my parents put in the trap for it (I haven't been on the roof since the trap went up). :) The views and opinions expressed on this forum are those of the individual poster and not the ABC. 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