Possums and Gliders
RESCUE ADVICE
-
Don’t feed it! Possums have specialised diets. Please don't feed possums human food of any kind. Fruit, especially, can make possums very sick. Once in care they will be offered specialised food to suit their needs. It is very easy to aspirate (drown) a small animal by feeding it incorrectly. Please don't attempt to feed a possum or glider if you have not received training - why not become a member if this is something that interests you!
-
Contain: Contain the animal in a pillowcase with the top tied securely and place this into a secure box or basket with a lid. Provide breathing holes - but otherwise ensure the animal cannot escape.
-
Warm: A water bottle filled with warm water (never boiling) and wrapped in cloth may be placed next to a baby possum if it is cold or if it is unfurred (also referred to as a “pinkie”).
-
Cover the entire box with a large towel to reduce visual and audio stimuli.
-
Secure: Place the animal somewhere warm, dark and quiet to reduce stress until a wildlife rescuer arrives. The animal will be quite terrified, so please don't be tempted to nurse, cuddle, take photos, or allow interactions with kids or pets etc.
-
Nocturnal: Possums and gliders that are found on the ground during the day must always be reported - they are nocturnal animals, and this is abnormal behaviour that is often due to sickness or rat bait poisoning.
-
​Cat/dog attack: Gliders and possums that come into contact with cats or dogs must come into care to be treated with antibiotics to stave off infection.
-
Entanglement: Never attempt to remove a glider (or any animal) from barbed wire yourself. This often worsens the situation for the animal and is dangerous for you. The animal should be left for specifically trained members of our rescue crew.
-
Entrapment/unsuitable habitat: Brushtail Possums are very well adapted to living in the urban environments we have created. They will often choose a roof space or internal area to live as it offers a warm, dry haven. Whilst we are happy to rescue a possum that is sick, injured or orphaned, we cannot move healthy possums. Here are some tips for when this happens >​
Did you know?
Baby possums are called joeys too!
Please don't remove any joey from a pouch without the advice of a licensed wildlife carer - there is a knack to this, and the joey can be easily injured.
Common species in the Hunter Valley
Common Ringtail and Common Brushtail possums are two of the most common species we rescue and rehabilitate. These species are determined, opportunistic foragers that thrive in a wide range of natural and human-modified environments.
Throughout the Hunter Valley, we are lucky enough to encounter several species of native glider; the most common of which are the feathertail glider, sugar glider and squirrel glider.
Brushtail Possum
The brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) is a nocturnal marsupial known for its bushy tail, adapted to a wide range of habitats across Australia, primarily feeding on leaves, fruits, and flowers.
Ringtail Possum
The ringtail possum (Pseudocheirus peregrinus) is a smaller nocturnal marsupial with a distinct curled, white-tipped tail. They inhabit Australian forests and consuming a diet comprising of leaves, and blossoms.
Sugar Glider
The sugar glider (Petaurus breviceps) is a small, nocturnal gliding possum recognized by its membrane-like patagium, allowing it to glide between trees in its forested habitats, and it primarily feeds on nectar, fruit, and insects.
Squirrel Glider
The squirrel glider (Petaurus norfolcensis) is another gliding possum species closely related to the sugar glider, displaying similar gliding abilities and dietary preferences, commonly found in woodlands and forests of eastern and southeastern Australia.
Feathertail Glider
The feathertail glider (Acrobates pygmaeus) is a tiny, mouse-sized gliding possum distinguished by its feather-like tail, enabling agile gliding between trees in Australian forests, while primarily feeding on nectar and insects.
Eastern Pygmy Possum
The eastern pygmy possum (Cercartetus nanus) is a diminutive nocturnal marsupial residing in woodlands and heathlands of eastern Australia, characterized by its small size and primarily feeding on nectar, pollen, and insects.
Living with possums
(adapted from NSW Office of Environment & Heritage article)
Due to habitat loss, possums sometimes resort to living in roofs or chimneys of houses, garages or sheds. If a possum has made its home in your roof, follow these steps to remove the possum and ensure that it does not return.
-
Provide an alternative home for the possum by constructing a sturdy, weatherproof Possum Box.
-
Where possible, get inside your roof and locate the possum’s nest. The nest, which has the scent of the possum, should be placed in the new possum box to encourage the possum to its new home.
-
Securely fix the possum-house to a tree in or near your yard. Place it at least 4 metres from the ground so the possum will be out of reach of domestic cats and dogs.
-
To encourage the possum to investigate its new home, put half an apple, banana or a cob of corn in or near the possum box.
-
Trim any branches that overhang the roof to remove access to your roof.
-
Spread some quassia chips throughout the roof cavity to repel the possum. These can usually be found at hardware stores, or a local pharmacy. If you can’t find quassia chips, you could repel the possum by spreading eight blocks of camphor or one or two boxes of mothballs throughout the roof cavity. Do not use both camphor and moth balls as they react chemically with each other.
-
Place a light in the roof cavity and keep it switched on for 3 days and nights. The combination of the light and the smell should drive the possum out of your roof and hopefully into the possum box you have provided.
-
If you do not hear the possum for a few nights, it has probably found a new home. To prevent the possum from returning, block off the access points into your roof with timber, chicken wire or both. Night-time is the best time to block off the access points as the possum will have left to forage for food. Do not block off the access points unless you are certain the possum or possums have left your roof.
If this does not deter the possum, it may need to be trapped. Note that under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974, it is illegal to kill or catch and release possums without a licence. To apply for a licence and read the conditions which apply, visit the NPWS Possum Management Policy.
We often receive calls regarding possums who have taken up residence in roof cavities, sheds and other strange places. We are unable to relocate these possums, as they are territorial, and the vast majority will die after being relocated.
Instead, consider putting a possum box up for them - here's how to make one!
​
Members of Hunter Wildlife Rescue cannot remove possums from inside roofs, wall cavities, under houses etc.
Fee-for-service pest control:
-
Amalgamated Pest Control – 4943 9999
-
Possum Plus – (Greg) – 1300 164 831, 0432433784
-
Aristocrat Pest Control (Peter) – 0408862859
​
Once the possum has been removed from the space, the possum’s entry point will need to be closed so it cannot re-enter. By law, the possum will be released in the same area.