kirstywales Posted July 3, 2015 Report Share Posted July 3, 2015 oh yes indeed there is! scratching and moving ?gnawing on grill this morning just before 7am we are renting and pest control is our responsibility so.... yes I may need to call someone out (recommendations please) but is there anything we can do to sort it ourselves bar just putting poison down up there id prefer to be humane if possible..........any ideas?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newjez Posted July 3, 2015 Report Share Posted July 3, 2015 You could get a humane rat trap, at least then you would know its rats. Check the foundations of the house are secure, and fill any holes. Could be a bird. Not sure if you get native wildlife nesting in the roof. You could try time lapse photographs too. Good luck. Had rats, they are a bugger to get rid of. Poison and wait. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook Posted July 3, 2015 Report Share Posted July 3, 2015 It could be a Possum, which is native to Australia, so don't set any rat traps. Check with your local council authority for wildlife officers or volunteers who may be able to help you to catch it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dxboz Posted July 3, 2015 Report Share Posted July 3, 2015 The local authorities will not provide help with possums. It is up to the individual. You could hire a pest company - they would remove the possum. Do you have trees overhanging your roof? If not, might be rats - probably more common. Bit of info - Possums usually live in tree hollows, but with the loss of native bushland many of these natural homes have been destroyed. Being highly territorial, possums don’t relocate easily, sometimes seeking safe shelter in your roof. [h=3]Removing a Possum from Your Roof[/h] Provide an alternative home for the possum by constructing a sturdy weatherproof possum house. Where possible, get inside your roof and locate the possum's nest. The nest, which has the scent of the possum, should be placed in the new possum house to encourage the possum to its new home. Securely fix the possum house to a tree in or near your yard. Place it at least four metres from the ground so the possum will be out of reach of domestic cats and dogs. To encourage the possum to investigate its new home, put half an apple or banana in or near the possum house. Trim any branches that overhang the roof to remove access to your roof. Spread some quassia chips throughout the roof cavity to repel the possum. You can usually find these at hardware stores, or your local pharmacy may be able to order some for you. If you can't find quassia chips, you can repel the possum by spreading blocks of camphor or mothballs throughout the roof cavity. Do not use both camphor and moth balls as they react chemically with each other. Place a light in the roof cavity and keep it switched on for three days. The combination of the light and the smell should drive the possum out of your roof and hopefully into the possum house you have provided. If you do not hear the possum for a few nights, it has probably found a new home. To prevent the possum from returning, block off the access points into your roof with timber, chicken wire or both. Night-time is the best time to block off the access points as the possum will have left to forage for food. Do not block off the access points unless you are certain the possum or possums have left your roof. [h=3]Possum Traps[/h] You can hire traps from a pest control company or have it trap the possum for you. Remember to block off the access points into your roof and provide a possum-house if you intend to trap the possum. [h=3]What Happens to the Possum after it's Caught?[/h] The possum must be released back onto your property at dusk. Bushland areas rarely have any vacant territories, so if you were to release the possum in another area, it would have to search and compete with other possums for shelter and food in unfamiliar territory. [h=3]Making Friends with a Possum[/h] By providing a possum house, you are encouraging the possum to stay and claim your yard as its territory. The possum will then discourage other possums from moving into your roof and yard. By making friends with a possum, you can help to conserve the species and learn about their way of life at the same time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Druid Posted July 3, 2015 Report Share Posted July 3, 2015 More likely a great big tree rat, are there any trees overhanging your house Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kirstywales Posted July 5, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 5, 2015 ThAnks everyone.......so...gonna follow up on these leads rather than pay mucho dish to pest control in first instance. frankly with the recent rain I'd be crawling into the roof of a house if I was furry thing out there! have great end of weekend folks and thanks again for taking time/effort to reply - much appreciated : ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kirstywales Posted July 8, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 8, 2015 More likely a great big tree rat, are there any trees overhanging your house yeuk! palms overhang but were cut back but.... ok guys i'm onto this... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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