Heavy thumps across the ceiling after dark, a low guttural growl, a scratching that starts about an hour after sunset and comes back just before dawn. In Ballarat that is very often a common brushtail possum that has moved into the roof void. This page explains how to confirm it, what Victorian law allows, and how a lawful eviction normally runs, so you can judge any quote you receive.
Ballarat Possum Removal is a referral service. We do not trap, handle or release possums, and we are not a licensed wildlife controller. With your consent, we pass your enquiry to an independent local business that does this work. That business inspects, quotes and contracts with you directly.
Is it really a possum?
Brushtail possums are about the size of a cat, and they sound like it. Their footsteps are heavy and slow, and they cough, hiss and screech when disturbed. Rats and mice make a lighter, faster skittering and gnawing noise, often in wall cavities as well as the ceiling. Some Ballarat roofs have both. Signs worth checking with a torch from the manhole, in daylight:
- Droppings. Possum scats are larger, roughly pellet-shaped and often scattered along a runway. Rat droppings are small and pointed.
- Urine staining on ceiling plaster, sometimes with a strong smell in warm weather.
- Flattened or dragged insulation along a route from the eaves.
- Hair or grease marks at a gap under the eaves, a lifted ridge cap or a gap beside a chimney.
Ringtail possums are smaller, nest in dense shrubs and rarely enter roofs. The Victorian wildlife department notes that almost every roof possum is a brushtail. That matters, because the rules below apply to brushtails only.
What the law in Victoria allows
All possums are protected under the Wildlife Act 1975. The Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) allows one narrow exception for common brushtail possums living inside buildings. They may be cage-trapped by the owner or occupier, a building manager, or a licensed wildlife controller. The conditions published by DEECA include:
- the trap must not injure the animal, and wire mesh smaller than 19 mm is recommended;
- traps must be checked no later than two hours after sunrise, and a trapped possum kept covered in a quiet place;
- the possum must be released on the same property, no more than 50 metres from where it was caught, after sunset on the day of capture;
- if release on the property is not reasonably possible, it must be taken to a registered vet for humane euthanasia within 24 hours, at the trapper's cost.
Relocation is prohibited. The City of Ballarat's own wildlife page says relocating possums is illegal and inhumane, and that council officers cannot remove wildlife. Ringtails cannot be trapped without a permit. Because penalties apply, check DEECA's current page before you act, and be wary of anyone who offers to "take it to the bush".
The two lawful ways out
Exclusion with a one-way exit
Most possum specialists now prefer exclusion. Every entry point except the main one is sealed during the day. A one-way flap is then fitted over the main hole, so the possum can leave to feed but cannot get back in. After a few quiet nights the flap comes off and the last gap is sealed. No trap is used, so the possum stays in its own territory, usually in a nearby tree or a nest box.
Cage trap and release
Where a one-way exit will not work, for example when there are several entry points that cannot all be reached, a cage trap can be set in the roof. The possum is released at dusk within 50 metres. Trapping alone fixes nothing, though. If the roof is not sealed before release, the possum is back the same night.
Either way, the job is only finished when the roof is proofed. See possum proofing for Ballarat roofs.
Ballarat conditions that matter
Ballarat's housing stock is part of the problem. Weatherboard cottages in Soldiers Hill, Ballarat East and Golden Point, and older brick homes in Lake Wendouree and Redan, often have gaps at the eaves, loose ridge capping, unsealed chimney flues and timber that has shrunk or rotted after decades of cold, wet winters. Mature street trees and garden elms give possums an easy bridge onto the roof. Cold nights also make a dry, insulated roof space very attractive between May and September.
Breeding matters too. Brushtails can carry young in the pouch and on their backs for months. An exclusion done without checking for dependent young can leave a joey trapped inside, which is cruel and ends with a smell problem. A careful operator looks for young before sealing.
Frequently asked questions
Can I trap the possum myself in Ballarat?
DEECA allows an owner or occupier to cage-trap a brushtail living in their building, if every condition is met. That includes a suitable trap, checking it by two hours after sunrise, and release on your property within 50 metres after sunset. Many owners still prefer a professional, because trapping without sealing the roof does not solve the problem.
Can a possum catcher take it away and release it somewhere else?
No. Relocation is prohibited in Victoria. A trapped brushtail must be released on the property where it was caught, or taken to a vet. Treat an offer to relocate as a warning sign.
How do I know the possum has left before the roof is sealed?
Listen for several nights after the exit or flap goes in. Some people put loosely scrunched paper in the hole and check whether it has been pushed out. An operator may also use a camera. Seal only when the roof has been quiet.
Will removing one possum stop the noise for good?
Only if every entry point is closed. Another brushtail will move into a vacant territory quickly, so proofing is what makes the result last.
What if there is a baby possum in the roof?
Do not seal the roof. Ask the operator to check for dependent young before any final sealing. If you find an orphaned joey, contact Wildlife Victoria on 8400 7300.
Does City of Ballarat remove possums?
No. Council's wildlife page states that its officers cannot remove wildlife under the Wildlife Act 1975. They can help with sick or injured animals when no DEECA officer is available, and they remove dead wildlife from council roads.
Next step
Tell us your suburb, what you are hearing and when it started. If you agree, we pass your details to one independent Ballarat-area business that does possum exclusion and proofing. It then contacts you to inspect and quote. Read how the referral works or go straight to the enquiry form.