Sydney has two common possum species sharing space with our homes, and both are protected native wildlife under NSW law. That means no harm, no relocation more than 50 metres from the capture site, and only licensed wildlife operators can carry out the work. Apex Pest Control holds the NSW Wildlife Licence to do this properly. Tap either possum below to see how we handle it.
The one most often in your ceiling
The Brushtail is the larger, cat-sized possum behind almost every loud thumping or scratching complaint from Sydney roof voids. They are nocturnal, territorial, and slip into homes through broken eaves, loose gable vents, lifted roof tiles, and gaps where roofing meets brickwork. Brushtails will set up nests in roof voids and wall cavities, and they often leave the same property by the same route night after night, which is exactly what makes humane trapping and full entry-point proofing so effective.
The smaller, gentler one
Ringtails are smaller, lighter, and spend most of their lives in trees, where they build spherical nests called dreys out of leaves and twigs. In Sydney, they cause problems when they move into roof eaves, garden sheds, pergola roofs, and outdoor entertaining areas, often because the nearby tree canopy has been cut back. Our humane possum removal for Ringtails focuses on careful catch-and-release combined with proofing the eaves and gable vents that drew them inside in the first place.
A possum in a family home is a sleep and safety problem. A possum in a strata building is a complaints inbox and a roof-cavity damage bill. A possum on a hospitality rooftop or in a restaurant pergola is a customer complaint waiting to happen. We tailor every job to the property, the species we identify on site, and the people who have to live or work in the space.
Possums in the roof keep families awake, leave a strong ammonia smell from urine soaking into ceiling insulation, and can chew on electrical wiring as they move around the void. Our residential pest control combines a thorough inspection of every entry point with humane trap-and-release by our licensed wildlife operators, then careful proofing of the eaves, gable vents, and roof gaps that let the possum in.
For strata buildings, restaurants, schools, aged care, and offices, possums in shared roof voids can affect dozens of tenants at once. Our commercial pest control program handles single jobs and ongoing strata possum programs, with clear documentation, after-hours access, and complete proofing of building-wide entry points to keep the next possum out.
Possums are protected wildlife, not vermin, but inside your roof, they cause real damage. Knowing the five signs below early means smaller repairs and a faster, gentler removal. If you spot any of them around your Sydney property, book an inspection straight away.
Heavy thuds, dragging sounds, and scratching across the ceiling between 9 pm and 4 am almost always mean a possum has moved into the roof void. Brushtails sound noticeably louder than rats, with deliberate, weighted movements rather than fast scurrying.
Possum droppings are dark, cylindrical, and about 10 to 20 mm long. You will find them clustered on flat roof areas, inside gutters, on outdoor entertaining surfaces, and below favourite climbing trees. The amount and freshness give us an immediate read on how long the possum has been on the property.
Possum urine soaks into ceiling insulation and timber, releasing a strong, ammonia-like smell that pushes down into the rooms below. The longer a possum has been nesting in the void, the more pronounced the smell becomes.
Possums force entry through weakest points: rotted timber eaves, torn gable vent mesh, lifted roof tiles, and unsealed roof-to-wall junctions. Fresh scratches around an opening, broken mesh, or tiles that look out of place are reliable evidence that the entry point is in active use.
Outside, possums strip fruit trees, vegetable gardens, and rose bushes overnight. Inside, they have been known to chew electrical wiring inside roof voids, which is a known cause of house fires. Both are strong reasons to book a humane removal sooner rather than later.
Loud nights, ammonia smell, and the risk of chewed wiring. Call our Sydney team or book online for same-day inspection, humane catch-and-release, and full proofing of every entry point we find.
Possum jobs need to be done in a specific order: find the entry points first, remove the animal humanely second, then proof the property properly so the next possum cannot follow the same route. Cutting any of these steps short is why most possum problems come back. Here is how Apex Pest Control runs the job.
Your licensed wildlife operator walks the roof exterior, roof void, eaves, gable vents, and external perimeter to identify the species, the active entry points, and any signs of nesting inside the void. We confirm what you are dealing with, point out the damage, and explain the plan in plain English. You then receive a fixed-price quote in writing before any work starts.
We set humane, baited cage traps in the active possum runways and check them on schedule. Once captured, the possum is released on your property within the 50 metre limit set by NSW wildlife law, exactly as the NPWS Code of Practice requires. No harm, no extended captivity, no relocation off-site.
This is the step that keeps the next possum out. We seal damaged eaves, replace torn gable vent mesh, refit lifted tiles, and close roof-to-wall junctions across every entry point we found during inspection. Without proofing, a different possum follows the same route inside a few weeks. With it, your property stays quiet. All proofing work is covered by a written 6-month warranty.
Possum work needs a different skillset to chemical pest jobs because the animal is protected, the law sets strict rules on how it can be handled, and the proofing carpentry matters as much as the trapping. Here is what you can expect from our pest exterminators on every Apex Pest Control possum job.
Apex Pest Control holds the NSW Wildlife Licence required to trap and release possums on residential and commercial properties, with full public liability cover on every job.
Catch-and-release only. No harm, no chemicals, no off-site relocation. Every step follows the NPWS Code of Practice and the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 (NSW).
We seal the entry points that the possum used to get in. Without proofing, a different possum follows the same route inside a few weeks. This is the step most operators skip and it is the difference between a real fix and a recurring problem.
Book before 12 pm and a licensed wildlife operator is on site the same day for inspection, anywhere across the greater Sydney area, including weekends.
Brushtail moved into the roof of our Federation terrace, and the noise was unbearable. Apex sent a licensed operator the same day, set a humane trap, released the possum on site exactly as the law requires, and then sealed the broken eave it had been using. Quiet ever since. Polite, careful, professional team.
A ringtail family had built a drey under our pergola and was nibbling the entire vegetable garden. Apex was lovely about it, did a careful catch-and-release, and refitted the gable vent mesh the possums had pulled apart. The whole approach was so humane and the kids loved learning about it. Very happy.
Manage a small strata block where two units were complaining about night noise. Apex inspected the whole roof, identified the brushtail and the two access points, did the humane removal, and gave us a written report we could share with the body corporate. Coordinated proofing across both units. Solid job.
Possum removal pricing depends on the size of the property, the number of entry points that need proofing, and whether the job is single-unit or strata-wide. Every quote is a fixed price in writing after our on-site inspection, with no callout fee and no obligation. Contact us for a free quote tailored to your home or building.
Yes. Book before 12 pm and a licensed wildlife operator will be on site the same day for inspection, anywhere across the greater Sydney area, including weekends. Trapping then runs over the following few nights, with daily checks of the trap.
Yes, but only by a licensed wildlife operator and only using humane catch-and-release within 50 metres of the capture site. Possums are protected native wildlife under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 (NSW), which makes harming or off-site relocation illegal. Apex Pest Control holds the licence needed to do this properly.
No. Our possum work is catch-and-release only. We use humane baited cage traps, check them on schedule, and release the possum on your property within the legal 50 metre limit. The possum is never harmed, never held in captivity longer than needed, and never relocated off site.
By proofing the entry points it used to get in. Because release must happen on site by law, the same possum will absolutely try to return to its roof nest. We seal damaged eaves, refit gable vent mesh, refit lifted tiles, and close any gaps the inspection finds. All proofing work is covered by a written 6-month warranty.
Possums sound heavier and slower, with deliberate thudding and dragging sounds, usually between 9 pm and 4 am. Rats sound lighter, faster, and more frantic, with high-pitched scurrying and gnawing sounds. Droppings are also very different in size and shape. If you are not sure, send us a short audio recording, and our team will identify it before we book.
If you find a dead possum on your property, contact us and we will handle safe removal and disposal. If a possum is visibly sick or injured, please contact WIRES (1300 094 737) immediately, as they are equipped for native wildlife rescue and rehabilitation. We work in close coordination with WIRES whenever a sick or injured animal is involved.
No. Trapping a possum without a NSW Wildlife Licence is an offence, and relocating one off your property is illegal under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 (NSW). Penalties can be substantial. The right approach is a licensed wildlife operator, humane on-site release, and full proofing of the entry points.
Tell us what you have noticed. No callout fee, no obligation, same-day inspection if you book before 12 pm. Explore our full range of pest control services, or submit the form, and we will call you back within the hour.
