Possums: identify, prevent, control

A year-round problem, with pressure rising in late winter and spring as natural food gets scarce and fruit ripens.

Brushtail and ringtail possums browse new growth, fruit and vegetables overnight and are a constant frustration in suburban gardens. Possums are a protected native species, so it is illegal to harm or relocate them and we rely on exclusion and deterrence only.

How to identify it

• Soft new shoots, buds and fruit cleanly nipped off overnight
• Larger droppings on the ground, fences and roof
• Scratching and thumping heard on the roof at night
• Damage appearing high up as well as at ground level, since possums climb

How to prevent it

• Cover beds and young trees with sturdy netting or build a possum-proof cage
• Fit smooth metal collars around tree trunks so possums cannot climb
• Trim branches that overhang the garden and give possums easy access
• Secure compost bins and remove fallen fruit that draws them in

Organic control, step by step

• Exclude with netting and cages, the only reliable long-term solution
• Spray a homemade deterrent of garlic or quassia chips on foliage, reapplying after rain
• Try motion-activated lights or sprinklers to startle them off beds
• Plant a sacrificial favourite away from prized crops to draw them elsewhere
• Never trap, harm or relocate possums, as they are protected and removal is illegal without a permit

Plants it attacks