There are three types of possums and gliders that are commonly found in the City of Whitehorse. They are the Common Brushtail Possum, the Common Ringtail Possum and Sugar Gliders.

All three are native, marsupial animals, indigenous to the Whitehorse area. They are both nocturnal. They are among the very few native animals that are able to successfully share suburbia with humans. In fact they are often the only native animals that most city dwellers ever see on a regular basis.

Supporting Possums and Gliders in your Garden

Nest boxes can be installed in your garden to provide homes for possums. Both brush-tail possums and sugar gliders rely on tree hollows so a nest box will provide them with a safe place to sleep and breed in your garden where large old hollow bearing trees are unlikely to be found. Ring-tail possums build dreys, a sort of stick nest in dense trees. If you see a drey in your garden leave it alone and watch for a little furry face emerging after dark.

Do not feed possums and gliders, but in very hot weather they will benefit from dishes of water left on the ground close to trees.

For more information about making your garden a possum-friendly environment, visit the Gardens for Wildlife web page and download the Possums and Gliders Information Sheet ( PDF 3.42MB).

Possums and Gliders and the Law

Possums are protected under the Wildlife Act (1975). It is illegal to handle or interfere with possums except when they are in your roof, or other buildings. Only brush-tail possums can be trapped in appropriate traps by the householder or a licensed wildlife controller.
Trapped possums must be released the same day on the same property, in their own territory, within 50 metres of the capture site. Relocating possums any further than 50 metres from where they live is both illegal and inhumane.

Breaching any of these regulations carries a large penalty. There is no other legal avenue to deal with possums.

Avoiding Possum Problems

Possums can create problems for humans living nearby:

Noise

Possums, predominately brush-tail possums, are often quite rowdy when they are moving within house roofs and walls. They can also be quite noisy when mating or during territorial disputes.

Household Damage

Possums can create urine stains, unpleasant odours and occasional physical damage when living inside buildings. To prevent possums using your roof space as a nest:

• Make sure there are no loose tiles or boards that could be used as entrance points
• Provide an alternative home such as a nesting box. Nesting boxes can be hung in trees or mounted to a timber pole in your garden
• Cut back overhanging branches above your house.

If you have a possum in your house roof:

• Wait until late in the evening when they are likely to be outside
• Block all entrances back into the roof space
• The following day, make sure that the possums are not trapped inside the roof space
• You could leave a light on in the roof space for a few days to discourage the possum’s return.

If you need help relocating a possum, contact the Victorian Government's Contact Centre on 1300 366 356 and they can put you through to a local Wildlife Officer for assistance.

Damage to Gardens and Trees

Possums are largely vegetarian and will graze on many different types of trees and shrubs including natives and exotics. This is usually only a problem when they over-graze and in some cases defoliate plants.

Installing a possum band on the trunk can protect any trees that are being overgrazed. This usually consists of a piece of sheet iron or perspex that is wrapped around the trunk of the tree to prevent the possum climbing the tree.
 

This should be considered as a temporary measure and once the tree has recovered, the band can be removed. The sheet should be at least 600mm wide. The tree must also be pruned well clear of any other trees or buildings as possums can jump a long way.