Wongo 4 : possums 0

[Wongo]

Craig,

I did not know it is illegal. I always thought that freeing an animal to where they belong is a noble thing to do.

My mother-in-law suggested me to wait until they are out at night and get up the roof and block the holes. The problem is there are 5-6 of them up so how do I know they are all out? There are 3 big holes on the roof and 2 of them are dangerous to get to during the day. It is impossible get up there at night.


Only a couple of months ago, one got into the house through the skylight. It fell into the bathroom. I woke up and found it in the kitchen downstairs. I had no idea how long it was in the house for but it was long enough to make a big mess.

It got sorry worried that night. It kept me awake all night thinking what if it wandered into the kids’ room, ran wild, jumped on the baby cot and landed on Emily or Jasmin’s face.


Can someone offer me better way to solve the problem?

[keith53]

You may live to regret that!

I know I've posted it before, but five or six years ago, a bloke who happened to be a greyhound trainer was caught with something like 80 possums in his wagon, parked near an inner Brisbane City park.

He was arrested and charged with catching possums (or whatever).

When the case came to trial he claimed that he had collected them all from his greyhound training facility, and was releasing them in the city so they would be safe from his dogs.

Cheers,

P

So, did he get off?

[Barry_White]

I've been told that possums will make their way back to place where the living is good no matter how far you take them. They can be savage little so and so's

[Iain]

Scott, if it's any consolation, we had one come down a chimney into a wood heater (off at the time or it could have been lunch).
Just heard some noises in the longe room when I went in and opened the door on the heater, this big black brush came flying out and climbed and jumped over everything, breaking quite a bit along the way, was still going beserk when I opened the front door and stood aside.
It finally made an exit but made one hell of a sooty mess along the way.
Did a good job on the chimney though 8" SS flue

[Wongo]

My best chance is to get up there on the weekend and block the holes. That way at least there are out of the roof. My brother-in-law is coming to help me.

[Iain]

I can send Ferret up for a holiday if you wish, should fit in an $8 express post bag

[Wongo]

Should I delete this thread?

[jmk89]

Should I delete this thread?

No, mate - it is providing some members with innocent entertainment.

My take on possums (aside from thinking that, along with feral cats, we should be allowed to do whatever we like to remove them form our home) is to take up the earlier suggestion about getting in contact with your Local Council. The parents-in-law live in possum paradise on the upper North Shore and the Ku-ring-gai council (although being complete dropkicks on a number of things) is quite helpful - they have cages that they will hire out and a little man who will remove the possum when you catch it. As I was taught in PNG - prollem blong 'em. IE if they take it away and do unspeakable things, it's not your problem.

[craigb]

I can understand your concern Scott.

We've had a brushtail in the roof before too. PITA.

The thing is that the law requires you to re-locate any such possum elsewhere on the same property. We ended up providing a box in a tree for ours . Now the little bastard devours our camillias.

I think the reason that they shouldn't be released into bushland is because they are territorial and they end up getting killed by the resident possum.

I don't believe that Willoughby Council has a re-location service but I could be wrong. I guess you could give them a call.

[Wood Borer]

Col,

At the moment the “secret ingredient” is being collected in a well sealed container as the fumes are rather strong. I will perform the tests firstly and if they are satisfactory, then some elegant boxes can be made with appropriate titles.

Snake Sheyte Scenter ?

Python Poo Pot ?

My theory on the matter is that snakes have been swallowing possums for millions of years so it is possibly hard wired in the possum DNA to avoid areas that smell like snakes. Naphthalene and fluoro lights whilst unpleasant do not seem to send a shiver down the spines of the possums. I have tried all of those deterrents without any long term satisfactory solutions.

The possums lift the tiles on the roof and think nothing of jumping long distances from a tree onto roofs or just walking along the power wires from the pole to house. They are very keen.

I like native animals but sometimes they can be a nuisance such as possums. We have removed their hollow trees but provided them with fruit trees and other sources of food. More possums and less possum accommodation results in you sharing your space with them. Although they are extremely annoying, I do not condone cruelty towards them.

Removing them can be a bit like taking a bucket of water out of the sea and being puzzled why their isn’t a bucket shaped depression left in the sea. If you permanently removed some possums, there are others happy to take their place.

Good luck Scott – if my potion works, I will send some to you. I just hope it doesn’t set off alarms in the Post Office and I get arrested for being a terrorist suspect. “I can explain your honour, it is only snake poo for Wongo to scare the possums out of his roof”.

[Driver]

... then some elegant boxes can be made with appropriate titles.

Snake Sheyte Scenter ?

Python Poo Pot ?

.... and if you made one from sheoak in Shaker style with air holes to let the fumes out it could be a (wait for it!)

She-Oak She-nake She-it She-aker

(Hey! That's not bad for a Monday morning!)

[Wood Borer]

I gave you a greenie for that one Col.

Wongo - do you want to try the She-Oak She-nake She-it She-aker?

I can send you some if you are game to try it.

[jmk89]

Good luck Scott – if my potion works, I will send some to you. I just hope it doesn’t set off alarms in the Post Office and I get arrested for being a terrorist suspect. “I can explain your honour, it is only snake poo for Wongo to scare the possums out of his roof”.

If it works WB, the zoos of Australia will have a product that they can sell to all of us that will help with their funding - I imagine that Taronga and the like have a few more snakes than you (at elast I hope so).

[Wood Borer]

I only have two snakes so Taronga would be a good source.

In my Avatar you can see our little Victoria checking out one of my planes.

[Wongo]

WB you know where I live.