Signs you have a possum or bird in the roof
- Heavy thumping or crashing at night — brushtail possums are nocturnal and vocal, with guttural growls and screeches
- Scratching and scurrying during the day — more likely birds (starlings, mynahs) nesting
- Droppings in the roof void or below entry points
- Nesting material — leaves, twigs, shredded insulation pulled into the roof
- Damaged wiring or chewed timber from rodents (often confused with possums — check the droppings)
- Stains or marks on the roofline where animals are entering and exiting
The legal side: possums are protected
In NSW, all native possums — including the common brushtail and ringtail possums found across Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and the Hunter — are protected under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974. It is illegal to harm them, relocate them more than 50 metres from where they were caught, or release them onto another property. Any removal must be humane and compliant. Poisoning possums is illegal and carries significant penalties.
Birds in the roof
Introduced birds — particularly common starlings and Indian mynahs — commonly nest in roof voids across Newcastle. They enter through gaps in eaves, broken tiles and vents. As well as noise and mess, bird nesting brings bird mites, which can bite humans when the birds leave or are removed. Bird control focuses on removing nesting material, treating for mites, and sealing entry points to prevent re-entry.
Humane removal and exclusion
- 1Identify the entry point — possums use the same gap each night; birds use the same nesting access
- 2Install a one-way possum door over the entry point — it lets the possum leave but not return
- 3Seal all other gaps in the roofline, eaves and vents with mesh or solid material
- 4Trim overhanging branches that give possums access to the roof
- 5Remove nesting material from the roof void and treat for bird mites if birds were present
- 6Wait at least 3–4 nights after installing the one-way door before fully sealing, to ensure no animal is trapped inside
Never use baits or poison for possums — it's illegal, inhumane, and a dead possum in your roof void creates an odour and hygiene problem far worse than the noise. Humane exclusion is the only legal and effective solution.