Possums are a commonly-known pest for Australian families and households. The Common Brushtail Possum is one species that is usually found invading households. You may wonder why such a cute and docile animal would pose a danger to you and your family.
These small marsupials are often misunderstood and feared by people due to their distinctive appearance and nocturnal habits. However, it is worth examining the question: Are possums dangerous to humans?
Possum Behavior
Possums are typically non-aggressive creatures. They are more likely to play dead (‘playing possum‘) when confronted with danger than show aggression.
Remember, possums are generally non-confrontational and prefer to avoid conflict whenever possible.
However, like any wild animal, they can become aggressive if they feel cornered or threatened. This might include hissing, growling, showing their teeth and even biting in extreme cases.
Use These Signs To Identify Possums In Your Premises
These are the signs you can use to recognize a possum:
- Common Brushtail Possum is the size of a domestic cat. It has a pointed face, long rounded ears and a bushy tail.
- Hissing, grunting, coughing and clicking sounds are the surest signs of a possum in your premises.
- You may also spot urine stains on walls and surfaces if there are possums in your house. They also mark their territory using the oils from their chest glands.
Health Risks
Even though possums are not naturally aggressive, they can pose certain health risks to humans. These include:
- Disease Transmission: Possums can carry various diseases like leptospirosis, tuberculosis, relapsing fever, tularemia and spotted fever.
- Parasites: Possums often host ticks, fleas and lice which could potentially be transferred to pets or humans.
- Rabies: While rare, there have been instances where possums were found with rabies.
- Blood infections : Possum droppings contain fungal spores that are extremely hazardous if inhaled. People can suffer from blood infections, lung damage and impaired cardiac functioning.
While these risks exist, it is important to note that the transmission of diseases from possums to humans is relatively rare.
How Can Humans Stay Safe?
To prevent any potential harm from possums, here are some safety measures:
- Do not feed or attempt to handle possums: This will discourage them from approaching human habitations.
- Seal off access points to your home: This helps prevent possums from entering your home or attic.
- Maintain a clean environment: Keep your yard clean and free from food waste that can attract possums.
- Hire professional help if necessary: If you have a persistent problem with possums, seek assistance from a professional pest control service.
How To Get Rid Of Possums From Your Home
These are some techniques and tricks that apartment-owners can use to get rid of possums living anywhere in their property:
- Spray disinfectants abundantly on access points used by possums. This will wipe out the scent trails created by possums and prevent them from coming back to the same spot.
- Chemical repellents also can be sprayed in various points of the property including gardens and flower beds to keep possums from living in your property.
- Predator urine has a strong odour, and additionally, can fulfil the same purpose of keeping possums away from your premises.
- You also should seal off the entry points with possum-proofing substances or materials such as wiring and galvanized tin. This will keep the possums from trying to tear these substances down for entering inside.
- Motion-activated lights and water sprinklers can also startle possums and help you get rid of them. They are eco-friendly and can provide more reliable results. Bright lights, noise machines giving out whirring sounds and wind chimes also can discourage possums from coming to your property.
- Trim down the overgrown bushes, grass, and shrubs. Clear out the leaf litter, debris and fallen fruit as that can make your property unattractive for possums. Take out any other clutter from your property as possums can use it as nesting material too.
- Electric or wire fencing installed on your garden and other places in the exterior of the property can act to discourage possums from residing in your property. Crawlspaces, and staircases can be covered with sheet metal or mesh screens.
Provide possums with an alternate home by installing nests for them in your backyard if you keep coming across possums in your property. This will keep them from using your house for shelter.
Under the Wildlife Act 1975, possums are granted legal protection. It is strictly prohibited to cause any harm to possums or keep them without obtaining prior approval from the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP).
But fear not! Instant Possum Removal is here to help. Our expert team specializes in safely and humanely removing possums from your property, ensuring peace of mind for you and your loved ones.
Summary
Possums may appear intimidating due to their size and nocturnal behavior, but they are generally non-aggressive towards humans. Although they can carry certain diseases and parasites that can potentially harm humans, the risk of transmission is relatively low.
By following simple safety measures like not feeding or attempting to handle them and maintaining a clean environment around your home you can minimize any potential risk.
In fact, having possums around can even be beneficial as they help control pests and play an important role in maintaining a clean environment.
Therefore, while it’s always wise to exercise caution around any wildlife including posums it’s important not forget their integral role in our ecosystem.
Disclaimer: The information presented in this blog post has been diligently fact-checked and written by Nicholas Willmore, an esteemed Australian expert in the pest control industry
