How We Remove Possums in Melbourne
Melbourne’s Most Trusted
Possum Removal.
Done Right. Guaranteed.
Not every possum problem is the same, and not every job calls for the same solution. Martin The Possum Guy uses four distinct, licensed methods — applied individually or in combination — to remove possums humanely and permanently from your property.
Get a Free Quote
Response within 1 hour · No obligation · All Melbourne suburbs
Why the Right Method Matters More Than a Quick Fix
Many Melbourne homeowners have called us after paying another company to “remove” their possum — only to have it back in the roof within days. The reason is almost always the same: the wrong method was used, or the job was left half-finished.
Effective possum removal isn’t just about getting the animal out. It’s about understanding why it’s there, choosing the right approach for your specific property and possum type, and making sure it can’t return. That’s what sets a professional job apart from a patch-up.
Every job Martin The Possum Guy takes on starts with a full property inspection. The method — or combination of methods — is then selected based on what will actually solve the problem permanently, not what’s fastest or cheapest to deliver.
Each selected to suit your property, possum species, and the severity of the situation. Always Wildlife Act 1975 compliant.
One-Way Door Installation
The gold standard of humane possum removal — and Martin’s preferred method for rooftop infestations. Works with the possum’s natural behaviour, not against it.
How the One-Way Door Works
A one-way exit door is a specially designed device fitted directly over the possum’s active entry point on your roof. The mechanism is deceptively simple: the possum can push through the door to exit your roof at night when it leaves to feed — but when it returns, the door will not open from the outside.
This works entirely within the possum’s natural routine. Possums are nocturnal, leaving their den site each evening at dusk to forage and returning before dawn. Once the door is installed, every other entry point on the property is sealed, leaving the one-way door as the only way out. The possum leaves as normal — and simply can’t get back in.
Why this approach is superior: There is no trapping, no handling, no distress to the animal, and no risk of a possum being locked inside your roof. It’s fully compliant with the Wildlife Act 1975 (Vic) and recognised by the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) as the preferred removal method.
Full Inspection & Entry Point Identification
Martin inspects every metre of your roofline, eaves, and subfloor to identify the active entry point and any secondary access routes the possum uses.
Secondary Points Sealed First
All entry points except the main active one are permanently sealed with heavy-gauge sheet metal, wire mesh, or timber — materials that withstand possum claws and weathering.
One-Way Door Installed at Active Point
A custom-fitted one-way exit device is installed at the active entry point. The door is matched to your roofing type — tiled, iron, flat, or Colorbond — for a weatherproof seal.
Monitoring Period (3–7 Days)
The door is left in place for a minimum of 3 to 7 days to confirm the possum has exited. In most cases, it leaves on the first or second night.
Return Visit — Final Seal & Guarantee
Martin returns to remove the one-way door and permanently seal the final entry point. Your written satisfaction guarantee is provided on completion.
Note on Possums with Young
Before installing a one-way door, Martin checks for joeys or young inside the roof void. If a possum is carrying young, the door will not be installed until the joeys are old enough to leave safely with the mother. This is both standard professional practice and a legal requirement under the Wildlife Act 1975.
“The one-way door is the method I use on almost every residential job. It’s the only approach that removes the possum without any risk of trapping it inside or causing distress. When it’s done right — with every entry point properly sealed — the result is permanent.” — Martin
Possum Trapping
A licensed, humane cage-trapping method used in specific circumstances where a one-way door is not practical or where a possum cannot be directed through an exit device.
When Trapping Is the Right Call
Possum trapping is not Martin’s first choice — and for good reason. In most rooftop situations, a one-way exit door is a cleaner, lower-stress solution for both the homeowner and the animal. However, there are specific circumstances where humane cage trapping is the more practical or necessary approach.
Trapping is typically used when a possum has taken up residence in an enclosed space with no viable exit point for a one-way door — for example, inside a wall cavity, under a deck, in a garden structure, or in a location where the entry point cannot safely be fitted with a device. It’s also used when a possum requires physical inspection by a wildlife carer, or in commercial properties where access constraints make exit devices impractical.
Victorian Law: The 50-Metre Relocation Rule
Under the Wildlife Act 1975 (Vic), any possum that is trapped must be released within 50 metres of the capture site — on the same property. Relocating a possum to a park, bush reserve, or neighbouring street is illegal and often fatal for the animal. Only licensed operators can legally conduct trapping.
How Martin Conducts Humane Trapping
Research has shown that possums relocated more than 50 metres from their home territory suffer significantly higher mortality rates due to territorial fights, stress, and unfamiliarity with local food sources. The 50-metre Victorian law exists to protect the animal as much as the community. Compliance isn’t optional — it’s the right thing to do.
Not Sure What You’re Dealing With?
Call Martin — He’ll Tell You Exactly What’s in Your Roof.
Five minutes on the phone is usually enough to identify the issue and recommend the right method. No call centres, no scripts — just straight advice from someone who’s done this for over 12 years.
Quick Quote Form
We’ll respond within the hour.
Possum Repellent Treatment
A targeted application of professional-grade repellents to active possum areas — used as a secondary treatment after removal, or as a first-line approach for garden and outdoor possum activity.
What Repellent Treatment Actually Does
Possum repellent treatment works on two sensory levels: olfactory (smell) and gustatory (taste). Possums are highly sensitive to certain scents and bitter compounds. When applied professionally to the right locations at the right concentrations, repellents create an environment the possum finds actively unpleasant — discouraging it from returning to treated areas without causing any harm to the animal.
It’s important to understand what repellent treatment is and what it isn’t. Applied on its own to a roof space, it will not reliably remove an established possum — a determined animal in a warm, safe roof void will often persist through odour deterrents. Repellent treatment is most effective when used as part of a broader strategy: applied to a space after a possum has been removed, to discourage re-establishment; or applied to garden areas, fruit trees, and outdoor structures where possums are feeding or attempting entry.
Martin uses professional-grade treatments that are significantly more concentrated and durable than consumer products — including formulations based on compounds clinically tested by Deakin University’s wildlife research program in Melbourne.
Where Repellent Treatment Is Applied
A Deakin University study conducted in Melbourne tested 14 commercially available possum repellents and found that olfactory (smell-based) repellents consistently outperformed taste-based products. Quassia chips, camphor, and commercial products containing Bitrex showed the strongest results. This research directly informs the professional treatments Martin applies on the job.
Possum Deterrents
Long-term structural and environmental modifications that make your property genuinely less accessible and less attractive to possums — the essential final layer of any complete possum management plan.
Deterrence Is the Difference Between One Visit and No More Visits
Removal solves the immediate problem. Deterrence is what prevents it from coming back. A possum that has been removed from your roof will typically return to the same property within days if the conditions that attracted it are still present. Possums are territorial, they have strong spatial memory, and they’re persistent — if they believe there’s a safe den site on your property, they will keep looking for a way back in.
Martin’s deterrent recommendations are tailored to each property following a full inspection. The aim is not to harm or distress possums — which is illegal regardless of circumstances — but to make your property a genuinely unattractive prospect compared to the possum boxes and tree hollows that are the animal’s natural alternative.
The Four Categories of Possum Deterrence
Structural Access Barriers
Branches overhanging your roof are the primary highway possums use to access your property. Pruning any branch to a minimum gap of 1.5 metres from your roofline immediately removes the easiest entry route. For persistent climbers, smooth metal tree collars — fitted around trunks possums use to reach the roof — prevent climbing entirely. A correctly installed 60cm Perspex or metal collar is highly effective and causes no harm to the tree or animal.
Possum Nest Box Installation
This is one of the most effective and most overlooked deterrents available to Melbourne homeowners. Common Brushtail Possums are strongly territorial — a single possum that establishes itself in a nest box on your property will actively defend that territory and prevent other possums from approaching your home. Martin can advise on correct box placement (minimum 4 metres high, facing northeast, in a tree with good canopy cover) to maximise the chance of adoption.
Garden and Food Source Management
Possums are opportunistic feeders. Accessible food sources — fruit trees, vegetable gardens, pet food left outside, unsecured compost bins — are a significant attraction. Securing bins with locking lids, cleaning up fallen fruit nightly, and fitting wildlife-safe netting over fruiting trees substantially reduces the reason for a possum to visit your garden in the first place. Motion-activated sprinklers are also a clean, humane deterrent for open garden areas.
Boundary Fencing Modifications
Where a possum’s primary access route is via a shared or perimeter fence, a “floppy fence” modification — a section of flexible galvanised chicken wire installed at the top of the fence, angled outward at 45 degrees — is a proven deterrent. The collapsing section prevents possums from gaining a foothold on the fence top without causing injury. This design is recommended by the Victorian Government’s wildlife management guidelines and can be installed on most standard paling or Colorbond fences.
Important: Deterrents Cannot Substitute for Proofing
Deterrents reduce the likelihood of possums returning — they do not replace the need to physically seal every entry point on your property. A possum that has lived in your roof for months has a strong motivational drive to return to that specific den site. Physical proofing of entry points is always the non-negotiable foundation of any long-term solution.
“The nest box is the single most underrated possum deterrent in Melbourne. If you give a Brushtail possum a safe, warm alternative to your roof, it’ll take it — and then it’ll keep every other possum off your property for you. It’s genuinely one of the best outcomes we can get for a homeowner.” — Martin
Which Method Is Right for Your Situation?
Every job is different. This table gives you a quick overview of when each method applies — but Martin will always assess your specific property before recommending an approach.
| Method | Possum in Roof | Possum in Wall / Deck | Garden Activity | Permanent Result | Wildlife Act Compliant | Licence Required |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| One-Way Door Recommended | ||||||
| Possum Trapping | ||||||
| Repellent Treatment | ||||||
| Possum Deterrents |
✓ Highly effective ~ Partially effective — Not applicable for this use case
Let Martin Assess
Your Property For Free.
The right method is always the one that suits your specific property, your possum species, and your situation. Martin will inspect, advise, and give you a straight, fixed quote before any work begins. No call centres, no guesswork.
- Free property inspection and method recommendation
- Fixed quote before work starts — no surprises
- Same-day and weekend appointments available
- Written satisfaction guarantee on completion
- Fully licensed under Wildlife Act 1975 (Vic)
Get Your Free Quote
We’ll respond within the hour during business hours.
All methods described on this page are carried out by Martin The Possum Guy in full compliance with the Wildlife Act 1975 (Vic), the EPBC Act 1999 (Cth), and DEECA guidelines for urban possum management.