Heavy footsteps in a Sydney roof at night are often a possum — and possums are protected in New South Wales. You cannot treat them like rats. Illegal trapping, relocating or harming possums is not something we will do.
Extreme Pest Control NSW inspects roof noise across Greater Sydney to work out whether you have possums, rodents, birds or something else, then talks through lawful next steps such as finding the entry and, where appropriate, exclusion once the animal is out.
What a possum in the roof looks like
Possums are heavier and slower-sounding than rats. You may hear walking, scuffling and occasional vocal noise after dusk. They use trees and fences to reach broken tiles, uncapped eaves and gaps in fascia.
Droppings in the roof, a musky smell, and a clear entry hole are common. Mothers may have young, which affects how and when exclusion can be done.
Some “possum jobs” are rats. Treating the wrong animal wastes money and can leave a rodent infestation untouched. Inspection first.
Common signs
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Heavy roof noise
Walking sounds after dark, larger than typical rat scurrying.
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Entry gaps
Broken tiles, open eaves, damaged fascia or a gap where a tree limb touches the roof.
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Droppings
Larger droppings in the roof void or on a well-used path along a fence.
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Trees to roof
Overhanging limbs that form a bridge onto the tiles.
Damage — and legal limits
Possums can stain ceilings, tear insulation and keep a household awake. They are still protected. The lawful path is exclusion and making the roof unattractive once they are out, not a secret relocation to a reserve.
Blocking an entrance while an animal is inside can trap it, which is cruel and can cause a worse mess as it tries to get out.
NSW has rules around trapping and who may do it. We will not invent a permit we do not have. If a licensed wildlife operator is required, we will say so.
How we handle possum jobs
We inspect to confirm the animal and the access. If rodents are the issue, that becomes a rodent job. If possums are using the roof, we discuss one-way exclusion where it is suitable, trimming tree access, and sealing gaps once we are confident animals are not trapped inside.
We do not offer illegal relocation. We do not claim a spray will “move possums on” as if they were cockroaches.
After exclusion, sealing and tree trimming are what stop the next possum using the same eave. That is often a mix of pest work and simple building maintenance.
Roof noise jobs with Extreme Pest Control NSW
Correct identification: possum versus rat versus bird.
No illegal trapping stories and no fake wildlife licences.
Local inspections across Greater Sydney.
Areas serviced
Possum Control is available across Greater Sydney. We travel to the property rather than operating a shopfront in every suburb.
See all service areas.
Related services
FAQs
Can you trap the possum and take it away? +
Possums are protected in NSW. Relocation is tightly controlled and often illegal for unlicensed operators. We will not do illegal trapping. We can inspect and discuss lawful exclusion.
How do I know it is not rats? +
Droppings, the sound, and inspection of the void and entry points tell us. If it is rats, we treat rats.
Will sealing the roof trap a possum? +
It can if you seal while the animal is inside. That is why inspection and timing matter. Do not block holes blindly overnight.