Marrickville’s older streets have enough tree cover, particularly around the Cooks River corridor, to give possums a path into nearby roof spaces, and the suburb’s weatherboard and brick cottages offer plenty of gaps for one to settle into. The thumping and scratching usually starts around dusk when the possum heads out to feed. This page covers why possums end up in Marrickville roofs and how they’re safely encouraged to move on.
Noise at night, thumping or scratching not long after dark and again near dawn, is the main sign. A musty smell near one part of the ceiling and an obvious entry point around a tile, vent, or eave are worth checking for too.
A roof gives a possum shelter and a path to nearby trees, and the river corridor running through Marrickville gives possums a natural route between roof spaces and the surrounding greenery.
Possums are a protected native animal in New South Wales, so moving one on takes more care than chasing it out. The usual approach involves confirming the entry point, then fitting a one way door so the possum can leave to feed but can’t get back in the same way.
Possums are active after dark, so a one way door only works if fitted while the possum is out. Checking for a joey during the cooler months matters too, since separating a mother from her young by rushing the process is worth avoiding.
Once the roof is clear, sealing the entry point properly, plus trimming branches that reach the roofline, cuts down the chance of the next possum settling in.
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They’re territorial and tend to return to a shelter spot they know, so unless the entry point is closed properly, a new possum often finds its way back in.
No, sealing while a possum is still inside traps it, which usually causes more damage and a worse smell.
They’re around all year, with more activity in the cooler months and again during breeding season.
Yes, scratching, nesting material, and urine can affect insulation and ceiling linings over time.
It finds a new spot to shelter nearby, usually somewhere along the river corridor or a neighbouring tree.
Possums are a protected species, and getting the timing or door wrong can trap the possum inside, so getting the roof checked properly is usually the more straightforward option.
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Our pest control experts are ready to answer any specific questions about your pest concerns.