Department for Environment and Heritage Possums and gardens

Living with Possums in South Australia

www.environment.sa.gov.au With a reduction in natural habitats due to Possums urbanisation, native animals are often forced to live Possums are nocturnal animals. Finding shelter and in close quarters with humans. The opportunity to nesting sites is becoming the biggest challenge for observe native wildlife in your own backyard cannot these native animals. With the removal of many large be overstated; however, living with wildlife has its share old gum trees, possums have to seek shelter in other of problems too. areas. For Common Brushtail Possums one common This information aims to help solve problems that alternative is buildings with access to the roof space. possums may be causing to your property. You will find Common Ringtail Possums rarely enter a building roof, a list of common questions and solutions to possum instead this species builds a nest, or drey, in amongst problems. If you still have questions or your problem is the dense foliage of trees or shrubs and several not covered please contact you local Department for metres above the ground. Environment and Heritage office. Common Brushtail Possum This information relates specifically to the Common Brushtail Possum and Common Ringtail Possum, the Common Brushtail Possums are approximately the size species most commonly encountered in natural and of a domestic cat. Males are generally larger than urban environments. females. These possums have dense fur, which varies Common Brushtail Possum in colour from light to dark grey on the back and a creamy coloured belly. The distinguishing features of the Common Brushtail Possum are the black bushy tail and the long ears (50-60mm). Common Ringtail Possum

The Common Ringtail Possum is a shy animal that has Common Ringtail Possum adapted its behaviour to live in urban environments with humans and their gardens, making use of Conservation status of Common Brushtail and ornamental native plants and introduced fruits Common Ringtail Possums in South Australia and flowers. The Department for Environment and Heritage has A smaller animal in size, the fur on the Common identified that the Common Brushtail Possum has Ringtail Possum is not dense but light to dark grey with suffered a significant decline in abundance and a creamy coloured belly. It has a softer looking face reduction in its range across South Australia and with rounder ears that have a white patch behind suspects that these trends are continuing. each ear. It has a tapering white tail, which is not Although Common Brushtail Possum populations bushy like the Common Brushtail Possum. appear to be secure within the Greater Adelaide Region, Mount Lofty Ranges and Kangaroo Island, the Department for Environment and Heritage has reviewed the status of these species and recommended that the Common Brushtail Possum be listed as rare on the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972 Threatened Species Schedules. The Common Ringtail Possum remains common across its range. Possums and the law Pest controllers are not issued with a permit to Possums are damaging my garden and eating trap and destroy (destruction permit). However, fruit from my trees. What can I do to stop them? Are possums protected? pest controllers can arrange for the destruction In South Australia, all possums are protected (i.e. of possums on behalf of a landholder only in safeguarded against collecting, hunting or other situations where the landholder has obtained a activities) under the provisions of the National Parks trap and destroy (destruction) permit from the and Wildlife Act, 1972. Department for Environment and Heritage. I have a possum on my property. What can I do? Possums and gardens

If the possum is not causing a problem then there Possums are destroying my garden – can I trap is no need to act. Enjoy the opportunity to observe them? native wildlife on your property but remember possums are wild animals. Possums should only be trapped if they are living in buildings. If the possum is causing a problem, assess the nature and extent of the problem before deciding What can I do to stop possums destroying my whether there is any need to take action. You have garden? a legal responsibility to deal with a possum problem Is it really a problem? Are possums eating all the in a humane manner. Managing the problem will fruit, roses, etc? Remember possums are trying to involve a time commitment, often some monetary survive in urban environments with fewer natural cost and altered practices. Combining a range areas and food sources. Common Brushtail Possum of deterrents simultaneously should reduce or Possum deterrents for the garden There are simple steps that can be taken to eliminate the impacts. • Plant some trees that will supply the possums with reduce possum damage to your garden: Destruction of animals is unlikely to solve your an alternative food source. This may encourage • Place sheet metal collars, 60cm wide and problem, is a very time consuming process and will possums to keep away from the more precious 60cm above the ground, around the trunks of only provide short-term relief. Look for longer-term plants in your garden or at least reduce the fruit trees. solutions to control damage, rather than killing the impacts they may be causing. possums. • Build a floppy fence around your ornamental • Spray the plant with a bitter product, such as Can I destroy a Common Brushtail Possum myself? or vegetable garden. Use 80cm wide, heavily quassia chips, minced garlic or chilli flakes, that galvanised chicken wire, bury the bottom No. Possums can be destroyed only if a destruction have been boiled and made into a liquid spray. 20cm and support the remainder on vertical permit has been issued by the Department for • Spread camphor or naphthalene flakes around lengths of flexible, high-tensile fencing wire. Environment and Heritage. Please note that a the garden. These products have a bitter Bend the wire to curve the upper section permit to trap and destroy possums will be granted taste. outwards. When the possum attempts to climb only if the applicant has tried all other means of the fence it will bend over and then spring resolving the conflict situation. • Trim back tree branches from fences so they do not have a clear runway. Possums will jump, back. The humane destruction of Common Brushtail but not huge distances. The effectiveness of possum repellents is variable. Possums can be facilitated by registered These could be used in conjunction with other veterinarians, the Animal Welfare League, and • Remove all fallen fruit. Removing this food recommended deterrent measures listed above. animal research facilities that hold a current source forces the possum to find food scientific research permit and animal ethics elsewhere. approval (contact the Department for Environment • Do not feed possums. Remember, possums and Heritage Research Permits Section on are wild animals and the best food for them is telephone 8222 9435 for a list of research facilities). natural food they find themselves. Relocating possums Other possum problems

I have always taken possums away and they I have possums in my yard and they are urinating always come back. Why? and leaving droppings, which smells and I It is highly unlikely that the possum you relocated continually have to clean up. What can I do? has returned. The possum you relocated will have If the possum droppings are found beneath a tree died under very stressful circumstances. that overhangs your paved areas, for example, trim Possums are part of the natural and urban back the tree branches or prevent access to the tree. environment and are territorial. Relocating a Locate and destroy all scent markings by applying possum will not solve your problem. It simply a household bleach to the affected areas. means that a possum territory (which includes your Find out what is attracting the possum to your property with highly sought after nest and food backyard. Perhaps there is a ready food supply sites) will be vacant for only a short period of time (e.g. dog food, fruit trees, vegetable or ornamental before another possum arrives. garden, compost bin, birdseed left on a bird If possum numbers are declining why can’t I feeding tray). release the possum down the road or in a park or It is also worthwhile checking to see if these problems reserve? are being caused by rats (droppings) or cats Yes, the Common Brushtail Possum has suffered (spraying). a significant reduction in its range across South Who can I contact? Australia particularly in regional mainland South Australia. Unfortunately, the solution is not as simple If you require further information on managing and as releasing a trapped possum down the road, or living in harmony with possums please visit the DEH into a park or reserve. Possums are territorial and biodiversity website www.environment.sa.gov.au/ studies have found that possums released into biodiversity/possums. html another possum’s territory usually die within a few To obtain a permit please visit the DEH Fauna Permits days due to stress, fighting and starvation. It is not website www.wildlifepermit.sa.gov.au humane to release possums this way. Relocating or contact your nearest Department for Environment possums may also spread disease if the animal is and Heritage office. sick. For further information contact: Possums have declined in regional areas due to fox and cat predation, habitat fragmentation Department for Environment and Heritage Information Line through urbanisation and other land management Phone (08) 8204 1910 practices and the loss of suitable refuge sites Email: [email protected] and natural food sources. Relocating possums to Website: www.environment.sa.gov.au these regional areas is impractical, as they would © Department for Environment and Heritage All rights reserved not survive. Australia has lost many of its native Published June 2006 animals through habitat destruction and disease. FIS 2346.05 Printed on recycled paper Please help protect what remaining species we do ISBN: 1 921018 44 5 have left. Cover: Common Brushtail Possum, Photography: Common Brushtail Possum by Scott Jennings, Common Ringtail Possum by Peter Canty