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Possum Removal Melbourne | Possum Catcher and Roof Proofing
Possum thumping in your roof at night? Our possum removal Melbourne team gets it out lawfully and seals the roof. Call 0401 573 777 for a free quote.
Why nobody can legally take your possum to the bush
Possums are protected wildlife under the Wildlife Act 1975. A brushtail possum living inside a building can be caught, but it must be released on the same property, no more than 50 metres from where it was caught, after sunset on the day it was caught. Taking it further away, or to another property, is prohibited.
That is why possum relocation near me searches lead to so much confusion: moving a possum away is exactly what the law does not allow, and a possum dumped in unfamiliar territory rarely survives. The same goes for any possum exterminator near me advert, because harming or killing a possum is an offence.
Ringtail possums cannot be trapped at all unless the landowner holds an Authority to Control Wildlife from the Conservation Regulator, and possums living in gardens, trees or on fences are not eligible for control. So the only lasting fix is getting the possum out of the roof and sealing the way back in.
- Released on your property, within 50 metres, after dark
- Joeys checked for before anything is sealed
- We do not photograph, post or display trapped animals
Brushtail or ringtail: the possums in Melbourne roofs
Only one of these is usually the cause of a possum in the roof, and the law treats them differently. Knowing which one you have decides what we can do.
Common brushtail possum
Trichosurus vulpecula- Looks like
- Cat sized, silver grey with a thick bushy black tail and large pointed ears.
- Where
- Roof voids, wall cavities and sheds, often coming and going through a gap at the gutter line or under a roof tile.
- What the law allows
- Can be caught when living in a building, then released on your property within 50 metres, after sunset the same day. Proofing is what keeps it out.
Common ringtail possum
Pseudocheirus peregrinus- Looks like
- Smaller and darker, with a thin tail that curls and has a white tip.
- Where
- Builds a round nest of twigs and leaves, called a drey, in dense shrubs and trees. It rarely lives in roofs.
- What the law allows
- Cannot be trapped without an Authority to Control Wildlife held by the landowner. Pruning and tree collars are the usual answer.
No opossums in Australia
If you searched opossum removal near me, you almost certainly have a brushtail or ringtail possum. Opossums are an American animal and do not live in Australia.
Signs of a possum in roof Melbourne homes
Most possum problems Melbourne homeowners describe start with noise. These are the other clues that tell a possum apart from rats.
Heavy thumping soon after dark
Footsteps and thuds as the possum leaves to feed around dusk, and again when it comes back before dawn.
A gap at the gutter or roof line
Bent flashing, a lifted tile or a gap under the eave with dark rub marks where the possum squeezes in.
Large droppings
Droppings about the size of a pellet of dog food on paths, the veranda or in the roof space.
Urine stains and a strong smell
Brown stains on the ceiling and a sharp ammonia smell in the house, often worse in warm weather.
Hissing or growling at night
Loud, harsh territorial calls from the roof or a nearby tree, usually after dark.
Chewed garden and fruit trees
Stripped roses, eaten fruit and bitten new growth, which means feeding close by.
The best possum removal Melbourne homes can get, done lawfully
The best possum removal Melbourne residents can book is the one that follows the law and seals the roof, and that is how we approach every possum pest control Melbourne job. There are two lawful ways to get a brushtail out, and both end the same way.
One way door and proofing
from$350
Best whenThere is one main entry point and no sign of dependent young.
How it worksWe fit a one way door over the entry. The possum leaves to feed after dark and cannot return. After a couple of nights we seal the door and every other gap.
Keep in mindIt needs a return visit to close up, and it is the method we prefer, because the possum is never handled.
Trap, on-site release and proofing
from$450
Best whenThe possum is inside the living space, or there are too many possible entry points for a door.
How it worksA brushtail is caught in a cage trap inside the building, released on your property after dark within 50 metres, and the roof is sealed before it can return.
Keep in mindOnly for brushtails living in a building. Two storey homes, tin roofs and difficult access usually fall into this price too.
Either way, the price includes sealing the entry points and a 12 month written warranty on what we seal.
Possum proofing Melbourne: sealing the roof
Because a caught brushtail has to be released within 50 metres of your house, catching it on its own solves nothing. It is back at the roof line the same night. Proofing is the real job.
- A one way door fitted over the main entry point so the possum can leave to feed but cannot get back in
- Every other gap sealed with galvanised mesh, flashing or metal sheeting
- Joeys checked for before the last gap is closed
- Branches cut back where they give access to the roof
Possum spikes Melbourne hardware stores sell can help on a fence top, but they do not stop a possum using a gap in your roof. Sealing the gap does.
Four possum mistakes Melbourne homeowners make
Most of these feel sensible at the time. They either break the law or leave you with a bigger problem.
- 1Sealing the gap while the possum is still inside. It will tear at the roof trying to get out, and may die in the cavity.
- 2Buying a trap and driving the possum to a park. Moving it more than 50 metres or off your property is prohibited.
- 3Using poison, glue or smoke. Harming a possum is an offence, and a dead possum in the roof is a worse smell than a live one.
- 4Blocking up a drey in a tree or pruning heavily in spring. Ringtails may have young, and nests outside the building are not yours to remove.
How our possum removal works
From the first thump in the roof to a sealed roof line.
Inspect the roof
We find where the possum lives, how it gets in, whether it is a brushtail or ringtail and whether there are young.
Fixed price in writing
You get the lawful options for your home and a fixed price that includes proofing.
Possum out
A one way door or a trap and on-site release after dark, depending on the home and the possum.
Seal and warrant
Every entry point sealed, with a 12 month written warranty on the gaps we close.
Possum removal cost Melbourne
These are our starting prices for a standard Melbourne home, and every one includes sealing the entry points. The final price depends on the roof type, the number of gaps and access, and it is fixed in writing before we start.
Single storey removal and proofing
from$350
- Possum out lawfully
- Entry points sealed
- 12 month warranty on sealing
Two storey, tin roof or difficult access
from$450
- Height and access equipment
- Entry points sealed
- 12 month warranty on sealing
Dead possum removal
from$149
- Carcass located and removed
- Area cleaned and deodorised
- Entry point quote included
Also quoted on inspection
- Possum and rat removal Melbourne on the same visit, when both are in the roof
- Ringtail advice pruning, tree collars and access points
- Commercial and strata shared roof lines priced per building
For comparison, 2026 Melbourne possum removal guides put most jobs anywhere from about $280 to $560, depending on roof type and access.
- Covers
- Every entry point we seal
- Length
- 12 months from the job
- If a possum gets back in there
- We return and reseal free
- Not covered
- Shared roof cavities we could not access
Metro Pest Services · Melbourne
A warranty tied to the work that keeps possums out
We warrant the sealing, because that is what decides whether the possum comes back. The entry points we seal are listed on your report.
Townhouses and units with shared roof spaces are the honest exception. If a possum can get into the shared cavity from next door, we cannot warrant a roof we could not reach, and we will tell you that before you book.
- Sealed entry points listed on your report
- Free return if a possum gets back in through them
- Shared roof limits explained before you pay
Three things most possum catchers will not tell you
Catching the possum is the easy part
The law puts it back within 50 metres of your house the same night. If a possum catcher Melbourne service offers removal without sealing, you are paying for half a job.
A possum in the garden is not a job
Possums in trees, gardens and on fences are not eligible for control. We will tell you on the phone rather than charge you for a visit we cannot lawfully do.
Some homes cannot be fully warranted
Shared roof lines in townhouses and units mean a possum can come in from next door. We explain that upfront instead of hiding it in the warranty.
Dead possum removal Melbourne
A possum that dies in a roof or wall cavity leaves a smell that gets worse for days, and flies soon follow.
Dead possum removal near me calls usually come in when the smell reaches a bedroom or kitchen. We book them as a priority where a technician is available.
Found and removed
We use the smell, fly activity and access points to locate the carcass, then remove it from the roof void, wall or subfloor.
Cleaned and deodorised
The area is cleaned and treated to break down the odour, and any maggots or flies are dealt with at the same visit.
Entry points checked
If the possum got in through a gap, we quote sealing it so it does not happen again.
How to keep possums out of your roof
Possums live in every Melbourne suburb, so the goal is not to get rid of them. It is to keep them out of the house.
Cut branches back at least a metre from the roof and gutters.
Fix lifted tiles, bent flashing and gaps under eaves quickly.
Do not feed possums, even occasionally.
Fit a possum box in a tree so a displaced brushtail has somewhere to go.
Keep pet food and fallen fruit away from the house at night.
Possum removal near me, across Melbourne
Whether you searched possum control near me, possum pest control near me, a possum catcher near me or possum catchers near me, one call books lawful possum removal and proofing anywhere in metropolitan Melbourne.
Inner Melbourne
- Melbourne CBD
- Carlton
- Fitzroy
- Richmond
- South Yarra
- St Kilda
- Collingwood
- Docklands
Northern suburbs
- Brunswick
- Coburg
- Preston
- Reservoir
- Epping
- Craigieburn
- Bundoora
- Heidelberg
Eastern suburbs
- Box Hill
- Doncaster
- Ringwood
- Glen Waverley
- Blackburn
- Croydon
- Boronia
- Lilydale
South east
- Dandenong
- Clayton
- Cranbourne
- Narre Warren
- Berwick
- Pakenham
- Springvale
- Keysborough
Bayside and south
- Brighton
- Sandringham
- Cheltenham
- Mentone
- Mordialloc
- Frankston
- Seaford
- Carrum Downs
Western suburbs
- Footscray
- Sunshine
- Altona
- Point Cook
- Werribee
- Hoppers Crossing
- Tarneit
- Melton
Possum removal Camberwell. Large older homes with big trees and complex roof lines, where brushtails move between neighbouring roofs.
Possum removal Kew. Period homes near the Yarra and established gardens, with a lot of gaps at old gutter and flashing lines.
Possum removal Moorabbin. Brick veneer homes with tiled roofs, where a single lifted tile is often the way in.
Possum removal Narre Warren. A mix of established streets and newer estates backing onto reserves and waterways.
Possum removal Dandenong. Older weatherboard homes and units, where shared roof lines need checking before we quote a warranty.
Possum removal Ferntree Gully. Homes close to the Dandenong Ranges and bushland, with lots of tree access to roofs.
Possum removal Frankston. Coastal suburbs and reserves, where possums often shelter in sheds and roof spaces of holiday style homes.
Possum removal Mornington Peninsula. Holiday homes that sit empty for weeks are easy for a brushtail to move into. Same pricing, no call-out fee.
Possum Removal Melbourne FAQs
Not sure if it is a possum or rats? Describe the noise and when you hear it, and we will tell you on the phone.
Call 0401 573 777How much does possum removal cost in Melbourne?
With us possum removal and proofing starts from $350 for a single storey home and from $450 for two storey homes, tin roofs or difficult access. Dead possum removal starts from $149. The price is fixed in writing before we start.
Can you take the possum away to the bush?
No. Under Victorian law a brushtail possum caught in a building must be released on the same property, within 50 metres, after sunset on the day it was caught. Relocating it further away is prohibited.
Do you trap ringtail possums?
Ringtail possums are not eligible for control unless the landowner holds an Authority to Control Wildlife from the Conservation Regulator. Ringtails rarely live in roofs, so pruning and tree collars are usually the answer.
How do you get a possum out of the roof?
Either a one way door over the entry point, which lets the possum leave to feed but not return, or a cage trap with release on your property after dark. Both finish with every entry point sealed.
What if there is a baby possum?
We check for dependent young before anything is sealed. If there is a joey, we do not seal the possum out. We use a one way door and time the work so the mother and young leave together.
Is a possum man near me the same as a pest controller?
People search possum man Melbourne or possum man near me, but what you want is a company that removes the possum lawfully and seals the roof. That is what we do, and we explain the law before we start.
Can a possum trapper near me just catch it and leave?
A possum trapper near me who only catches the possum leaves you with the same problem the next night, because the law puts it back within 50 metres. Possum trappers near me should always include proofing.
Do you do possum and rat removal in the same visit?
Yes. If there are signs of both, we check for rats while we inspect the roof and quote both together, so you are not paying for two call-outs.
Do you offer 24 hour possum removal?
If you are searching 24 hour possum removal Melbourne late at night, send the form or call. We answer 7 days, book the earliest available time and give you advice to keep the possum out of living areas until we arrive.
How long does possum removal take?
The first visit usually takes a couple of hours. With a one way door we come back after two or three nights to seal it, once we know the possum has left.
Do you remove dead possums?
Yes. We locate the carcass, remove it from the roof, wall or subfloor, clean and deodorise the area, and quote sealing the gap it used.
Will possum spikes keep possums off my roof?
Spikes can help on a fence top or a branch, but they do not stop a possum using a gap in the roof. Sealing entry points and cutting back branches is what works.
Does home insurance cover possum damage?
It depends on your policy, and many exclude damage caused by animals over time. Ceiling stains, chewed wiring and damaged insulation are worth checking with your insurer, which is another reason to seal the roof early.
Possum in the roof tonight?
Removal and proofing from $350, done the way Victorian law requires, with a 12 month written warranty on the entry points we seal.