Scratching in the roof at night? But is it rat, mouse or possum?

RODENT CONTROLPROFESSIONAL PEST CONTROLPOSSUM PROBLEMS

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Noises in your roof space could be rat, mouse or possum!

Scratching in the roof at night? But is it rat, mouse or possum?

Hearing scratching, scurrying or thumping above your ceiling at night can be unsettling. The immediate assumption is often rats or mice, but in Victoria there's another very common possibility: a possum.

Working out what's actually up there is important before deciding what to do about it.

Listen to the noise

The type of noise can provide some clues.

Mice are small and light, so you're more likely to hear very faint scratching, scurrying or gnawing in your roof space or walls. Don't underestimate how loud a tiny mouse can sound when you're lying underneath it at 2am, though!

Rats produce heavier scratching and running sounds. You may also hear gnawing as they investigate timber, wiring or other materials. You may even hear squeaks and squeals as the family grows and there are teenager issues and arguments in the rat home.

Possums are considerably larger, and thunderously noisy when scampering across a colorbond roof at night. A Common Brushtail Possum is roughly the size of a cat, and its movements across a roof or ceiling can sound surprisingly heavy. Thumps, bumps and slower movement, particularly around dusk and dawn, can suggest you have a native visitor rather than a rodent.

Look for other evidence

Noise alone isn't always enough to identify the culprit. Droppings, gnaw marks, nesting material, entry points and other signs around the roof space can help establish whether you're dealing with rats or mice, and we can advise on the most suitable course of action to remove them from your space quickly, plus advise on how to stop them getting in.

An inspection can also identify how rodents are getting inside. Gaps around rooflines, overhanging shrubs and trees, high gates, damaged vents and other surprisingly small openings may be all they need. Possums require a different approach.

Why we don't remove or relocate possums

Possums are protected native wildlife in Victoria and are subject to specific wildlife laws and a separate wildlife licence. Common Brushtail Possums living in buildings can only be trapped under particular conditions, and relocating them further than 50m away from where they were caught is prohibited.

There's a good welfare reason for that. Moving a possum to unfamiliar territory might sound humane, but relocated possums struggle to find suitable shelter and food, encounter territorial animals and face increased risk from predators and traffic. Many reputable sources state relocation is inhumane; as research found most relocated possums died soon afterwards.

At Button Pest Control, we don't trap or relocate possums. If we believe the noises in your roof are coming from a possum, we'll tell you and recommend an appropriate course of action rather than treating it as a pest rodent. You can find excellent advice on possum management in this download from Wildlife Victoria.

Don't bait first and investigate later!

If something is moving around in your roof, identification should come first. Rodent control should target an identified rodent problem, not simply an unidentified noise above the ceiling.

If you're hearing suspicious scratching, scurrying or thumping in your roof, Button Pest Control can investigate for signs of rodents and their entry points and help identify what may be squatting in your roof space.