"Heavy thumping across the ceiling at night"
A brushtail possum leaving at dusk and coming home before dawn. They are the size of a cat, and on a plaster ceiling they sound even bigger.
Possum in an older Hillside roof? Same day service
Possum Removal Hillside, Melbourne
Possums from the Maribyrnong River and older street trees moving into the roof. A local technician can be in Hillside in 60 minutes* to remove the possum humanely and proof the roof.
Possums are protected in Victoria. Older western roofs proofed after humane removal.
- 24/7 Emergency Service
- Same-Day Booking Availability
- Upfront Pricing, No Hidden Costs
- Roof proofed so it cannot return
Get a Possum Removal Quote
Tell us what you hear and when. We call back fast.
60 min*
onsite for urgent possum jobs
Apr–Sep
Melbourne's busiest months for roof possums
288
Melbourne suburbs covered
24/7
phones answered
Possum in Your Roof or House Right Now? Do This First
Possums live along the Maribyrnong River and in the street trees of older Western Melbourne suburbs, and in Hillside they move into roofs through gaps in tiles and eaves. Here is what to do.
Scratched or bitten?
Wash the wound with soap and water and see your GP. Never try to grab a possum with bare hands, and keep dogs and cats well away from it.
- 1
Shut pets and children in another room
Dogs and cats are the biggest danger to a possum, and a cornered possum will scratch.
- 2
Give it a way out
If it is inside the house, close internal doors, open a door or window to the outside and turn off the lights. Most leave on their own once it is quiet.
- 3
Do not block the hole yet
Sealing the entry while a possum or its young is still inside traps it in the roof, where it can die and smell.
- 4
Do not use poison, mothballs or a DIY trap
Possums are protected in Victoria and must not be harmed, and only brushtails living in a building are trapped. Leave it to us.
- 5
Call us on 07 3544 9883
Tell us what you hear and when. Heavy thumps at dusk and before dawn usually mean a brushtail. Lighter, faster noise all night points to rats.
Our Possum Removal Services in Hillside
From the first inspection to the last sealed gap, our technicians specialise in getting possums out of buildings and keeping them out, with an upfront price before work starts.
Roof Possum RemovalPossums cleared from roof voids and ceilings
Possum ProofingGaps, eaves and lifted tiles sealed for good
One-Way Possum DoorsThe possum leaves at dusk and cannot get back in
Humane Possum TrappingBrushtails trapped humanely and released on site
Chimney & Wall Cavity RescueStuck possums reached and brought out safely
Roof Clean-up & DeodorisingDroppings, nesting and soiled insulation cleared
Dead Possum RemovalLocated, removed and the area deodorised
Emergency Possum Removal24/7 for possums loose inside the house
Commercial & Strata PossumsShops, schools, offices and apartment roofs
Sound Familiar? Common Melbourne Possum Problems
Where the noise is and when it happens tells us what we are dealing with and how it is getting in. Find yours below.
"Scratching inside the wall"
A possum that has slipped from the roof void down a wall cavity, sometimes a young one that cannot climb back out. It needs to be reached quickly.
"A yellow stain on the ceiling and a strong smell"
Possums use one corner of the roof as a toilet. Urine soaks the insulation and plaster, and the smell gets worse in warm weather.
"A possum came down the chimney"
Open chimneys in older Melbourne homes look like hollow trees to a possum. Once the animal is out, the flue is capped so it cannot happen again.
"Something is eating my roses and fruit trees"
Ringtail and brushtail possums feed on buds, new growth and fruit, then shelter in the nearest roof. Proofing the house is the part we can fix.
"It keeps coming back every winter"
Possums are territorial and remember a good den. If the entry gap was never sealed, the same possum, or the next one in line, moves straight back in.
Is It a Possum or Rats?
Many Melbourne callers who say "possum" have rats, and some who say "rats" have a possum. The fix is different, so here is how to tell from inside the house.
| Possum | Rats | |
|---|---|---|
| Sound | Heavy thumps and slow, deliberate steps | Light, fast scurrying and gnawing |
| When | Leaves at dusk, returns before dawn | On and off all through the night |
| Droppings | Chunky pellets around 2 cm long, often in one pile | Smaller pellets about 1 cm long, scattered along their runs |
| Voice | Hissing, coughing and a throaty growl | Squeaks, if anything |
| Way in | A lifted tile or a gap about the width of your hand | A gap as small as a 20 cent coin |
| Peak in Melbourne | Autumn and winter, with a second wave in spring | Late autumn and winter, when the nights turn cold |
Think it is rats? See our rat and mouse control in Melbourne. Not sure? Tell us what you hear and when, and we will work it out.
Why West Melbourne Has So Many Possums in Roofs
Possums live along the Maribyrnong River and in the street trees of older Western Melbourne suburbs, moving into roofs through gaps in tiles and eaves.
A city full of trees and gardens
Brushtail and ringtail possums have adapted to city life better than almost any other native animal. Street trees, parks, creek corridors and backyard fruit trees feed them all year, and powerlines and fences give them a highway from one roof to the next.
Older roofs with easy ways in
Slipped terracotta tiles, rotted eaves, gaps where an extension meets the old roof and uncapped chimneys are common in period homes across the inner and eastern suburbs such as Kew, Camberwell, Hawthorn and Brighton. A possum only needs one of them.
Fewer hollows, colder nights
Possums naturally den in tree hollows, which take decades to form and are scarce in the suburbs. A dry, insulated roof void is the next best thing, and when Melbourne nights turn cold from autumn it is the warmest den in the street.
Possum removal demand in Melbourne by month
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FebMedium
MarMedium
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JunPeak
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OctMedium
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DecMedium
Calls climb as the nights cool in autumn and stay high through winter. Spring brings a second wave, when young possums start moving around the roof.
Why a Possum Should Not Be Left in the Roof
A possum in the roof is more than noise. The longer it stays, the more it costs to put right.
Urine stains and smell
Possums soil the same spot night after night. Urine soaks through insulation into the plaster, leaving stains and an odour that lingers long after the animal has gone.
Damaged wiring and ducting
Possums tear up insulation for nesting, flatten heating ducts and can chew or dislodge electrical cables, which is a fire risk in a dry roof space.
Health hazards
Droppings, mites, ticks and fleas come in with the possum and can spread down into bedrooms. Dried droppings should not be handled or swept up without protection.
A death in the wall
Possums that fall into a cavity die where you cannot reach them. See dead animal removal if there is already a smell.
How Our Possum Removal Works
The goal is simple: possum out, entry sealed, roof cleaned up. Our technicians explain each step and the price before they start.
Humane from start to finish
Brushtail and ringtail possums are protected native animals. A brushtail living in a building may be trapped, then released on the same property, within 50 metres of where it was caught, after sunset the same day. Ringtails are not trapped. That is why we lead with one-way doors and proofing: the possum keeps its territory, and you keep your roof.
- 1
Call and describe the noise
We ask what you hear, when, and which part of the house it comes from.
- 2
Same day roof inspection
A technician checks the roof void, eaves, tiles and chimney to confirm it is a possum and find every entry point.
- 3
Upfront price
You get the price for removal and proofing before anything starts. No hidden charges.
- 4
Possum out, humanely
A one-way door or, for brushtails, a cage trap checked the next morning. Any animal trapped is released on your property after sunset.
- 5
Entry points sealed
Once the roof is empty we seal the gaps with mesh and metal, cap the chimney if needed and clear droppings where requested.
How Much Does Possum Removal Cost in Hillside?
The price depends on how the possum is getting in and how much proofing the roof needs. One lifted tile on a single-storey house is the quickest job. A two-storey period home with several gaps and a soiled roof void takes the most work. These are the things that set the price:
Number of entry points. One gap, or several along the eaves and ridge.
Height and roof type. Single or double storey, tile or metal, steep or flat.
How the possum is removed. A one-way door, or trapping with return visits.
Clean-up needed. Droppings, nesting material and soiled insulation.
You get an upfront price with no hidden charges after the technician has seen the job. Call 07 3544 9883 or send your details online for a faster estimate.
Why Hillside Chooses Freshify for Possum Removal
Possum jobs are won or lost on the proofing. We get there fast, and we do not call it finished until the roof is sealed.
Onsite in 60 minutes*
Technicians spread across Melbourne, so a possum loose in the house at midnight is not left until morning.
Possum removal experts
Our technicians bring years of experience with brushtails and ringtails in Melbourne roofs of every age and style.
Proofing that lasts
Mesh and metal fixed over every gap, not filler a possum can pull out in one night.
Upfront pricing
The price is agreed before work starts, including any access work. No hidden costs at the end.
24/7 emergency service
Possums keep night hours and so do we. Phones are answered day and night, weekends included.
Humane from start to finish
No poisons, and no relocation to a strange area where a possum will not survive.
*Onsite in 60 minutes applies to urgent jobs and depends on technician availability and location.
Why Households Trust Us With a Possum Job
Having someone in your roof space takes trust. Here is what you can count on from the moment you call.
You know who is coming. The technician's name and arrival window are sent to you before they leave.
You see the entry points. Photos of every gap, the droppings and the damage, before and after proofing.
You know what will be sealed. Each gap and the materials we will use are explained and agreed first.
You can call us back. If you hear possum activity after the job, call the same number and we return.
Possum Removal Near You in Hillside
Our technicians cover Hillside 3037 and the rest of West Melbourne, including Albanvale, Albion, Altona and Altona Meadows, with same day service and upfront pricing.
Suburbs near Hillside
Possum Removal Hillside FAQs
How do I get a possum out of my roof?
Find where it is getting in, fit a one-way door or have a brushtail trapped humanely and released on site, then seal every gap once the roof is empty. Blocking the hole while the possum is inside, or leaving the gap open after it leaves, are the two most common DIY mistakes.
How much does possum removal cost in Hillside?
It depends on the number of entry points, the height and type of roof, and whether clean-up is needed. A technician inspects the roof and gives you an upfront price before any work starts, with no hidden costs.
Can a possum be removed from my roof in Victoria?
Yes, humanely. Possums are protected native animals in Victoria. A brushtail possum living in a building may be trapped, then released on the same property, within 50 metres of where it was caught, after sunset on the day of capture. Ringtail possums are not trapped. A possum must never be harmed or moved somewhere else.
Can you relocate the possum somewhere else?
No. Possums have to stay in their home range, and moving one does not work. Possums are territorial, and one released in an unfamiliar area usually dies from stress, predators or fights with resident possums. Releasing it on site and sealing the roof is kinder, and it lasts.
Will the possum come back?
It will try. Possums return to a good den for years. That is why proofing matters more than removal: once every entry is sealed with mesh or metal, the possum moves to another den in its territory, such as a tree hollow or a possum box.
Is it a possum or rats in my roof?
Possums make heavy thumps, mostly at dusk and before dawn, and can hiss or growl. Rats make lighter, faster scurrying and gnawing through the night. Possum droppings are about 2 cm long; rat droppings are roughly half that.
Are possums dangerous to people or pets?
Possums are not aggressive, but a cornered one will scratch and bite. The bigger issues are urine and droppings in the roof, mites and fleas, and damage to wiring and insulation. Keep pets away and do not handle one yourself.
Should I put up a possum box?
It helps. A nest box in a tree gives the possum somewhere to go once the roof is sealed, which makes it less likely to test your proofing. Fix it at least four metres up, away from the house.
Can I get same day possum removal in Hillside?
Yes. We offer same day service across 288 Melbourne suburbs, and for urgent jobs a technician can often be onsite in 60 minutes. Our phones are answered 24/7.
What time of year are possums worst in Melbourne?
Calls rise in autumn as the nights cool and stay high through winter, when a roof is the warmest den around. There is a second peak in spring, when young possums become active.
Related Pest Control Services in Hillside
Termite Inspection Hillside
Rat & Mouse Control Hillside
Cockroach Control Hillside
Ant Control Hillside
Spider Control Hillside
Wasp Removal Hillside
Bee Removal Hillside
Dead Animal Removal Hillside
Bed Bug Treatment Melbourne
Flea Treatment Melbourne
Bird Control Melbourne
End of Lease Pest Control Melbourne
Every Night It Stays, the Roof Gets Worse
A possum that has settled in soils the insulation, widens the gap and teaches its young where home is. Proofing the roof now is a smaller job than repairing a ceiling later.
Proven results, upfront pricing and a dedicated professional at your door, often the same day.
Other services
Other Pest Services We Offer in Hillside
Choose a service to see how it works and what affects the price.
Termite InspectionA full check of the house, subfloor, roof void and garden for termite activity, with a written report and clear next steps.
Rat & Mouse ControlBaiting, trapping and entry-point sealing to clear rats and mice from roofs, walls, kitchens and sheds.
Cockroach ControlGel baiting and targeted spraying for German and large cockroaches in kitchens, bathrooms, roof voids and drains.
Ant ControlBaiting and barrier treatments that reach the nest, for ants in kitchens, wall cavities, paving and lawns.
Spider ControlTreatment of webs, eaves, fences, subfloors and garden edges to bring spider numbers down around the home.
Wasp RemovalTreatment and removal of wasp nests from eaves, wall cavities, roof voids, trees and the ground.
Bee RemovalRemoval of bee swarms and established hives from walls, roofs, chimneys, trees and compost bins.
Dead Animal RemovalLocating and removing dead rats, possums and other animals from roofs, walls and subfloors, then deodorising the area.
Bed Bug TreatmentInspection and treatment of beds, bed frames, couches and skirting boards to clear bed bugs and their eggs.
Flea TreatmentInside and outside flea treatment for carpets, pet bedding areas, yards and subfloors, with a follow-up when needed.
Bird ControlBird proofing with spikes, netting and mesh to keep pigeons, mynas and starlings off roofs, balconies, solar panels and signs.
End of Lease Pest ControlInside and outside pest and flea treatment when you move out, with a written record for your agent or landlord.