Calls for help removing possums from ‘weird and wacky places’ more than double
Melbourne's possum population is causing havoc with removal requests skyrocketing as residents battle ceiling-staining, sleep-disrupting invasions.
Melbourne is in the grips of a possum plague as pleas for help to remove the unwelcome lodgers from homes more than doubles in some suburbs.
Infestations are especially bad for inner city and Mornington Peninsula residents who are being kept awake by “noisy breeding and fighting at all hours”.
The home invaders also leave urine stains on ceilings and scatter droppings across floors.
Data provided by Airtasker revealed the service received 73 per cent more possum related calls from Victorian customers in August and 30 per cent more in September.
Call-outs from inner city households rose by 146 per cent year on year to July 30 while requests for help from Mornington Peninsula residents were up 46 per cent for the same period.
Suburbs in Melbourne’s inner east and south recorded possum task rates 300 per cent higher than the national average.
The Airtasker data tracked increases in call-outs across Melbourne with Mount Waverly named the city’s hot spot, followed by Bentleigh and Noble Park.
Melbourne CBD and Boronia rounded out the top five.
Airtasker possum remover Ibby El-Jamal said Melbourne’s “possum-friendly” old housing with gaps and roof cavities could make DIY removal tricky.
“The noisy breeding and fighting is a nuisance at all hours, especially when it’s dark, as (possums) are nocturnal, and people would rather pay a pest control expert than do it themselves,” he said.
The surge in possum problems was no surprise to wildlife carer Nigel Williamson.
He has been removing possums from “weird and wonderful places” for about four decades and said the same issues cropped up at this time every year as the mammals sought out safe spaces to breed.
“Basically they’re lazy,” he said.
“They don’t build their own nests. Instead they look for hollowed out trees.
“But because people believe dead trees are dangerous, they remove them from the garden.
“The possums have to find another spot and often end up sneaking into houses through the roof.
“They’ll try any small hole to see if it leads somewhere suitable.”
“I’ve removed possums from rangehoods, chimneys and Coonara heaters.
“I’ve even been called out to a possum stuck in the fan belt of a car.
“It snuck in to keep warm and got stuck.”
Mr Willamson said installing a possum box in the garden was a better option than trying to move on the mammals
“Possums are very territorial. If you have one living in a possum box they can become a guardian for your garden and stop others moving in.”
A Wildlife Victoria spokesperson said the organisation had also seen a surge in injured and orhapned ringtails this season.
“However, it is difficult to say whether this is due to a growing population or increased public awareness of wildlife in distress,” the spokesperson said.
“Generally we have noticed that the public is increasingly aware and concerned about wildlife, which is a positive development.
“The growing number of calls reflects that people in Melbourne genuinely care about our native animals.”
Possums are native to Australia and it is illegal to harass or interfere with common brushtails or ringtails.
However, common brushtail possums living within buildings, municipal parks and municipal gardens may be controlled.
The trapping of common brushtail possums living in buildings is permitted for the purpose of releasing them on the same property, within 50m of where they were collected, or taking them to a registered vet for euthanasia.
It is illegal to trap a ringtail possum without a permit.
Those caught breaking the rules can face fines of up to $9,246 under the Wildlife Act 1975 or $44,380 under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Regulation 2016.
There is also the possibility of being sent to jail for two years.
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