Wildlife guide · Wollongong & the Illawarra
Possums in Your Roof: What NSW Law Allows (and What Actually Works)
Possums are protected native wildlife in NSW. They can only be caught under licence, must be released on the same property at dusk close to where they were caught — and the lasting fix is a roofing job, not a pest treatment.
Last updated 5 September 2026 · Premier Pest Control, Wollongong
Fully Licensed
No Mess Left
Local Knowledge
Responsive Support
First, the sound: is it actually a possum?
Heavy thumping across the ceiling shortly after dusk, a landing thud, and slow, weighty movement usually means a brushtail possum — they are solid animals and they do not tiptoe. Light, fast scratching and scurrying at any hour points to rats or mice instead, and the difference matters because the two problems have completely different rules: rodents are pests you can treat, possums are protected native wildlife you cannot. If you are not sure which you have, that is the first thing an inspection settles.
- Possum: heavy thumps and slow movement, mostly in the hour after dusk and before dawn
- Rodents: light, fast scratching, gnawing sounds, activity through the night
- Possum: one animal's worth of noise from one general area
- Rodents: activity in multiple spots, droppings in the pantry or roof void
What the law says — and the mistake that carries penalties
Possums are protected native animals in New South Wales. Catching one requires a licence, and a trapped possum must be released on the same property, at dusk, close to where it was caught — it cannot lawfully be driven to a reserve and let go. Harming a possum is an offence under NSW wildlife protection law and carries real penalties. The same-property rule is not bureaucratic fussiness: possums are fiercely territorial, and one released into another possum's territory rarely survives. The law and the animal's welfare point at the same answer — the possum stays in its home range; what changes is its access to your roof.
Will the council remove it?
Generally, no — a possum in a private roof is the property owner's issue to resolve, and councils will point you to licensed handlers rather than send someone. The practical path is: confirm it is a possum, have it caught under licence and released on your property at dusk, and then close the entry point so the roof stops being available. That last step is the one that actually ends the problem.
What actually works, in order
The honest version is that trapping alone is half the job — a possum released at dusk will head straight back to the roof if the hole is still open.
- 1
Confirm what you are dealing with
Possum, rodents, or both — the roof void tells the story. Droppings, sounds and entry-point size separate them quickly.
- 2
Licensed catch and same-property release
A cage trap in the roof void, checked promptly, with the possum released on your property at dusk close to where it was caught. This is the part we do, and the protections that apply to native wildlife shape how we do it.
- 3
Close the entry point — a roofing job
Possums enter through lifted tiles, broken eaves, gaps at rooflines and unsealed vents. Closing those gaps properly is roofing and carpentry work, not pest control — we will point out the entry points we find, and we would rather tell you plainly it is a roofer's job than do it badly.
- 4
Make the roofline less inviting
Overhanging branches are the possum's highway. Trimming growth back from the roof edge removes the easy access that made your roof the convenient option.
Why the DIY shortcuts disappoint
Supermarket deterrents — lights, sound devices, camphor and the rest — have a poor record against an animal that has already decided your roof void is a safe den. Blocking the hole while the possum is inside is worse: a trapped animal in a wall cavity or roof void is distressed, destructive and, if it dies there, a very unpleasant problem. And illegal relocation, apart from the penalties, mostly just kills the possum slowly somewhere else. The sequence that works is the boring one: licensed removal, then a properly closed roof.
What our customers say
Rated 4.9 out of 5 by 232 local customers on Google.
So far I am very happy with the service. Every time I have called, the staff have been very polite, helpful and informative. If the actual pest control is as good as the ladies on the phone I will be very happy 🙂
The team from premier pest control were great to deal with. They showed up on time and completed a thorough job.
Service men were kind and showed up on time to complete the job
Frequently Asked Questions
The questions we actually get asked on this — answered plainly. Call 02 4217 0117 any time if yours isn't here.
Call 02 4217 0117Is it illegal to kill or trap a possum in NSW?
Killing or harming a possum is an offence — they are protected native wildlife in NSW. Trapping is legal only under licence, and the possum must be released on the same property at dusk, close to where it was caught. It cannot lawfully be relocated elsewhere.
Will the council come and remove a possum from my roof?
Generally no. A possum in a private roof is treated as the property owner's matter, and councils typically refer you to licensed handlers. The removal is done under licence, and the lasting fix — closing the entry point — is a roofing job.
Why can't the possum be taken to the bush and released?
Because it is both illegal and usually fatal for the animal. Possums are territorial, and one dropped into another possum's territory rarely survives. NSW rules require release on the same property, at dusk, close to the capture point — the possum keeps its home range and its familiar food sources; it just loses access to your roof once the gap is closed.
Do you seal the roof after removing the possum?
No — and we would rather say so plainly than do it badly. We trap and release possums under the protections that apply to native wildlife, and we will show you the entry points we find. Closing them properly is work for a roofer or carpenter, because it has to be done to keep weather out as well as possums.
Will the possum just come back after release?
It will certainly try — its den is in your roof and it is released on the same property, as the law requires. That is why the entry point has to be closed once the animal is out. With the gap sealed and overhanging branches trimmed, the possum stays in the neighbourhood but out of the roof.
Sources
Every claim on this page can be checked against a public authority. These are the ones we used.
Want it dealt with properly?
Licensed, insured pest technicians across Wollongong, the Illawarra, Shellharbour, Kiama, the Southern Highlands and the Macarthur corridor. Tell us what you have seen and we will tell you what it needs.
Free quote · No obligation · Open 24/7
Related: Possum removal · Rodent control · Bird proofing