Humane possum relocation across Melbourne's inner and eastern suburbs
Possum Trapping and Relocation Melbourne - Done Right, First Time
Possum Trapping and Relocation Melbourne homeowners can actually rely on. If a possum is thumping through your ceiling at 2am, chewing wiring or leaving droppings in the roof cavity, we trap it humanely, relocate it legally and seal the entry point so it cannot return. We work across Toorak, Hawthorn, Kew, Brighton and surrounding suburbs, usually on the same day you call.
Live phone supportUpfront optionsBacked workmanship
What's included
What Is Included in Possum Trapping and Relocation
Every booking covers the full job from inspection to handover. Proofing is quoted separately because the amount of mesh and flashing needed varies so much between a flat Colorbond roof and a steep terracotta one. You will see the breakdown before we start.
Full Roof Inspection
We walk the roof with a torch and inspection camera, check the wall cavity, eaves, ridge capping and vents, and identify every entry point. You get a clear explanation of where the animal is getting in and why, not just a trap dropped on the ridge.
Trap Set and Monitoring
A cage trap or one-way possum door is set at the entry point, baited and secured. We check it every morning, reset if needed, and keep you updated by phone so you are not wondering whether anything has happened.
Humane Capture and Relocation
Once the possum is caught, we cover the trap, transport it and release it at a lawful distance from your property. Handling is done under animal welfare accreditation, and the release is documented for your records if you need it.
Entry Point Sealing
We close the entry point with steel mesh, possum proofing mesh, roof flashing, timber battens and silicone sealant. This is the step that stops a new possum moving in, and it is done in the same booking wherever possible.
Follow-Up Check
We return after the job to confirm there is no fresh noise, no new droppings and no second animal. If something is still getting in, we deal with it. That follow-up is part of the service, not an extra charge.
Service overview
What Possum Trapping and Relocation Melbourne Really Involves
Possum Trapping and Relocation Melbourne is the licensed capture of a possum from your roof, wall cavity or shed, followed by its release at a lawful distance and the permanent sealing of the entry point. It is not a baiting job and it is not a poison job. We use a cage trap or a one-way possum door, set on the roof line or inside the cavity, then inspect with a camera to confirm exactly how many animals are present and where they are getting in.
Most Melbourne jobs we attend start the same way: scratching and thumping between 9pm and 3am, a strong ammonia smell in the ceiling, or a stained patch spreading across the plaster. In older suburbs like Kew, Camberwell and Malvern, terracotta roof tiles and 100-year-old eaves leave gaps a possum can squeeze through in seconds. If you are searching for humane possum relocation near me Melbourne, that is exactly the call we take most days.
How we workWe verify the cause, compare realistic options, and confirm the repair before we leave.
The service timeline
How Our Possum Relocation Service Works
The process flexes to the condition, but these checkpoints keep decisions clear.
Phone Assessment
We ask what you are hearing, when you hear it and where. Scratching at dusk usually means a possum leaving the roof. Thumping at 2am usually means it is inside. That five-minute call tells us whether you need a standard set or an emergency possum trapping Melbourne 24/7 response.
Roof Inspection
We get up on the roof with a torch and inspection camera and walk the perimeter. We check ridge capping, eaves, valley flashings, vents and the wall cavity. This is where we find the actual entry point, not just the noise. It usually takes 20 to 30 minutes on a standard single-storey home.
Trap Placement
We set a cage trap or a one-way possum door at the entry point, baited with apple, carrot or peanut butter. The trap is secured so it cannot shift, and positioned so the animal is not exposed to sun or rain. We show you where it is and what to listen for.
Capture and Relocation
We return the following morning, check the trap, and if the possum is inside we cover it, load it and relocate it to a lawful release site. If the trap is empty, we reset and check again. We do not leave a set animal sitting in a trap through a hot Melbourne day.
Proofing and Handover
Once the roof is clear, we seal the entry point with steel mesh, flashing and sealant, then walk you through what we did and what to watch for. If a possum box is a better fit for your yard, we can mount one so the animal has somewhere to go other than your ceiling.
Tools & methods
Tools and Methods We Use
Purpose-built equipment, used by trained technicians, so the job is done accurately the first time.
Cage trap
Used to capture the possum alive and unharmed. We use solid, well-weighted traps that will not tip on a sloping roof, baited with apple, carrot or peanut butter depending on what the animal is already feeding on.
One-way possum door
Fitted over the entry point so the possum can leave but cannot get back in. Useful when trapping is not immediately practical or when the animal uses one obvious gap. We remove it and seal the gap once the roof is clear.
Inspection camera
Lets us see inside the roof cavity and wall without cutting holes. We use it to confirm how many animals are present, find dead possums and locate entry points that are not visible from the outside.
Roof ladder and torch
Standard access gear for safe roof work on tile, slate and Colorbond. The torch is for checking ridge capping, valleys, eaves and vents where possums commonly get in.
Catch pole and gloves
Used for safe handling where a possum needs to be moved by hand, such as in a chimney or wall cavity. Gloves protect both the technician and the animal during transfer to a covered carrier.
Possum box
A mounted box gives a relocated or displaced possum somewhere to shelter in your yard instead of your roof. We fit these where the yard has suitable trees and the homeowner wants to keep possums around without the damage.
Possum proofing mesh and steel mesh
The core materials for sealing entry points. Fixed with timber battens, roof flashing and silicone sealant, they close gaps at ridge capping, eaves, valleys and vents so a new possum cannot push its way back in.
Use cases
When to Book Possum Trapping and Relocation
These examples show how the service framework adapts rather than forcing every call through one repair.
Dead Possum Removed in Brighton
A Brighton homeowner noticed a strong smell in the hallway that got worse over four days. A pest control company had baited the roof months earlier. The smell was coming from a dead possum in the wall cavity near the bathroom. → We located the animal with an inspection camera, removed it through a cavity access point, treated the area and checked for flies. We then inspected the roof and sealed two entry points that had been left open. The smell cleared within three days.
One-Way Door Setup in Hawthorn
A Hawthorn rental had a possum in the roof that the tenant could hear every night. Trapping was difficult because the animal was using a gap behind the fascia that was hard to access with a cage trap, and the tenant was threatening to break the lease. → We fitted a one-way possum door over the gap, monitored it for four nights, and confirmed the animal had left. We then removed the door and sealed the gap with steel mesh and battens. The tenant reported no noise from the first night after the door was fitted.
Problems we solve
Possum Problems We Fix Across Melbourne
Most possum complaints come down to four things: noise, smell, damage and the animal coming back. Here is how we handle each one.
Possum noise at night keeping the whole house awake
We identify whether the animal is inside the roof or on top of it, set a cage trap at the entry point, and usually have it caught within one to two nights. Once it is out and the gap is sealed, the noise stops completely.
Possum smell spreading through the ceiling
We inspect with a camera, remove any dead animal, treat the affected area and replace contaminated insulation where needed. Then we seal the entry point so the problem does not restart.
Possum damage to roof and wiring
We remove the animal, then repair and reseal the damaged area with roof flashing, steel mesh and battens. If wiring has been chewed, we flag it so your electrician can check it before anything else goes wrong.
Possum proofing failure from a previous job
We strip the failed proofing, inspect the underlying gap and rebuild it properly with steel mesh, flashing and silicone sealant fixed into timber. Done correctly, proofing lasts years, not months.
Pricing process
Possum Trapping and Relocation Cost Melbourne
$250 - $1,200 depending on scope
Roof height and access
A single-storey home with easy ladder access takes far less time than a double-storey with a steep pitch or a flat membrane roof. Access affects both labour time and the safety setup required, which is reflected in the quote.
Number of animals
One possum is a standard job. Two or more, or a mother with a young backrider, means additional trap sets, additional visits and a longer overall job. We confirm numbers during the roof inspection before quoting the final figure.
Entry point complexity
A single gap at the eaves is quick to seal. Multiple entry points, a wall cavity removal or a chimney extraction take longer and use more materials. We list what we find and what it will take to close it.
Customer reviews
What Melbourne Customers Say
★★★★★
“We had scratching above the bedroom for three weeks and assumed rats. It was a possum in the roof. They came out the same afternoon, found the gap near the valley flashing, set a cage trap and caught it the next morning. Proofing was done the same visit. Two months on, no noise at all.”
★★★★★
“Quoted $480 for trap, relocation and sealing one entry point, which was cheaper than I expected for a double-storey. The technician explained the release distance and showed me photos of the entry point before and after. Honest job, no upselling, and they followed up a week later to check.”
★★★★★
“We manage several older rentals in Hawthorn and Camberwell with persistent possum problems. Frontline has handled four of them for us now, always with proper paperwork for the owners and body corporate. The one-way door setup on the last property worked perfectly and the tenant stopped complaining within days.”
Questions before we arrive
Frequently Asked Questions
Is possum relocation legal in Melbourne?
Yes, but only within strict limits. Possums are protected under the Victoria Wildlife Act 1975, so you cannot trap and dump one anywhere you like. A licensed operator works under a DEPI permit and releases the animal at a lawful distance from the capture site. Doing it yourself without a permit can attract fines, and relocating a possum too close simply moves the problem to your neighbour's roof.
How much does possum trapping and relocation cost in Melbourne?
Most single-possum jobs in Melbourne run between $250 and $650 in 2026, including trap set, capture, relocation and a follow-up check. Add $300 to $900 if roof proofing is required, depending on roof height and how many entry points need sealing. Emergency after-hours call-outs carry a higher rate. You get the figure before we start.
How far do possums need to be relocated in Melbourne?
Under Victorian requirements, a relocated possum must be released at least 50 metres from the capture site, and in practice we take them considerably further to a suitable vegetated area away from other homes. Releasing too close means the animal simply finds another roof. We handle the release site selection so you are not left guessing where it went.
Do you use live traps for possum relocation in Melbourne?
Yes. We use cage traps and one-way possum doors, both of which keep the animal alive and unharmed. Traps are baited with apple, carrot or peanut butter and secured so they cannot tip or shift. We check sets every morning and never leave an animal trapped through a hot day. Poison and snap traps are not used, full stop.
Related services
Related Services
Possum Catcher
Sometimes the animal is moving between the roof and a neighbouring tree and never enters a trap cleanly. Our possum catcher service uses a catch pole and inspection camera to locate and remove the animal by hand where a cage trap is not practical.Possum in Roof Removal
If the possum is already inside the roof cavity or ceiling, this is the job you need. We locate it with an inspection camera, remove it safely, then check for a second animal and any dead possum in the roof before we seal anything up.
Possum Proofing
Proofing is what makes a relocation stick. We seal entry points with possum proofing mesh, steel mesh, roof flashing, timber battens and silicone sealant, covering ridge capping, eaves, valleys and vents so a new possum cannot move straight back in.Ready when you are
Book Possum Trapping and Relocation Melbourne Today
Possum in the roof tonight? We run same-day call-outs across Melbourne and emergency after-hours sets when the noise cannot wait. Licensed, insured and fixed price before we start. Contact us and we will tell you what it will take to get the animal out and keep it out.
Talk with the local team
Request Possum Trapping and Relocation
Send us the form with your suburb and what you are hearing, and we will book a time that suits. We answer after hours, and most Melbourne jobs are scheduled the same day or the next morning. You get a fixed price before we start.