Hello, My Name is Feral Rabbit

Botanical Name: Oryctolagus cuniculus

DESCRIBE YOURSELF

I am known as feral rabbits as I am a visitor from Europe, who was introduced originally into Victoria by Thomas Austin for game hunting on his property! However, because I can breed so quickly, the hunters were unable to kill all of us so we stayed and continued to reproduce, a lot!

I am strictly vegetarian and love feasting on grasses, herbs and even native and exotic shrubs. And, I’ll even dig up plants to feast on their roots. I have a ravenous hunger and will keep eating until satisfied which can mean that I kill the plants I’m feasting on.

I am endangering small native animals by starving them of their normal  sources of food.

As an adult, I can weigh up to 2 kilograms and can produce up to 6 litters a year in ideal conditions. Even during drought years I can produce one to two litters!

KNOWN ASSOCIATES

I love living with my extended family of feral rabbits, including my offspring, in home-made warrens. I dig these warrens out of the soil and really love the loose friable soil I find in gardens and on productive farmland.

WHERE DO FERAL RABBITS HANG OUT

I love hanging out in cool and temperate climates, though I have adapted well to the outback Australia as the sandy desert is great digging for my warrens. As yet, I haven’t really adapted well to the tropics although I will keep trying!

I’m not fussy on what I eat as long as it’s vegetarian. I will eat bark from trees, often ring-barking them in the process! The wide variety in my diet is part of the reason for my success in surviving and adapting across Australia.

HOW DO YOU KNOW IF I’VE MOVED IN?

I am generally nocturnal, so you’re more likely to be upset by my visits when you find your veggie patch destroyed during one of my nocturnal feasts. Otherwise, you may find evidence of my presence through my digging in your garden for food, and to create my warrens. My warrens can be extensive, stretching for several metres under your garden.

WHY YOU WANT TO CONTROL ME?

Thanks to Beatrix Potter and her character, Peter Rabbit, you humans tend to have an idealised idea of me, but the main reason for controlling me is to stop me eating all you veggies, grasses and digging up your lawn to create my warrens. You might also want to control me to bring the natural balance back to your garden.

WHAT DO FERAL RABBITS LOVE?

We Rabbits love a cool climate and lots of food! I particularly love grasses and other green vegetation, but I also love flowers, fruit and nuts and seeds. In winter and during drought I’ll also feast of twigs and bark, ring-barking your trees and causing them to die.I don’t mean to, its just important that I eat a wide variety of these foods to get all the vitamins and minerals that my body needs.

Apart from a source of food, I love being able to set up my warrens by digging in the soil. I love loose, friable soil and am not so fussed with heavy clay soils.

HOW DO YOU MAKE ME FEEL UNWELCOME

It can be difficult to make me feel unwelcome, as I can dig under fences, and can fit through the smallest gaps in a fence when in search of food! The best control is to build tough exclusionary fences, at least 80cm high, and buried for several centimeters below the ground so I can’t dig under them.

Once I create my warren, I’m really happy in your garden or on your farm. I get very upset when you destroy my warrens, filling them in. I don’t like having to dig out a new warren.

Also, I am very sensitive to certain smells. And, I really don’t like garlic or chilli so you can make a spray from these veggies and it will deter me.

I don’t really like strong smelling plants like rosemary, lavender and marigold, although I will overcome this dislike if food becomes scarce enough! However, planting this as an exclusion fence may help protect your garden, especially if planted immediately in front of a good, rabbit-proof fence!

I also don’t like any unfamiliar sounds and sights so try installing low-maintenance solar-powered LED lights flashing or blinking on a timer, or a motion-activated sprayer to startle me away from your yard.

Noise-making garden ornaments, wind chimes, spinning pinwheels, and a mobile of pie tins or aluminum cans can also help deter me from your garden, especially if the wind is blowing,

The easiest and best way of controlling Feral Rabbits is to use Biodynamic peppers. These don’t hurt me but they leave a powerful energy around your house and garden so I don’t want to visit! See Biodynamic Peppers

Hello, My Name is Indian Myna Bird

Botanical Name: Acridotheres tristis

DESCRIBE YOURSELF

I am a visitor from central Indian and southern Asia, who liked it so much here, I decided to stay and reproduce, a lot! I am very aggressive in my behaviour to other birds, attacking their young and evicting them from their nests. Due to my aggressive behaviour I have few natural predators! I am often confused with the Noisy Miner bird which is an Australian native with similar behaviours. However, I can be distinguished from Noisy Miners because I am have chocolate coloured feathers and bright yellow feet. I also generally have a black glossy head and a bright yellow patch behind my eye.

I am around the same size as a Noisy miner bird, with a body size of around 23cm and a weight of between 110 and 140g. Females tend to weigh more than males. This is because the females need extra bulk for reproducing. I mate for life and my partner and I can raise several offspring across each year.

KNOWN ASSOCIATES

If I’m around your place, its likely lots of my offspring Indian Myna birds will also be present as we like to roost in large groups or colonies. I lay 4 to 6 eggs each breeding season and can have up to 3 breeding seasons per year. My offspring are able to lay eggs and produce more offspring within 12 months.

WHERE DO I HANG OUT

I love hanging out anywhere there is free food and water. I particularly love flat surfaces, like uninterrupted lawns and cement drives. In rural areas I love open fields, especially those that have been ploughed or mowed. I eat almost anything and really love the bird seed that you leave out in bird feeders. I’m also very partial to take away food that I can salvage from bins and I love snacking on dog food! The wide variety in my diet is part of the reason for my success in surviving and adapting, along with my aggressive behaviour.

HOW DO YOU KNOW IF I’VE MOVED IN?

I’m pretty noisy when I get together with my family and friends so you’ll hear us calling and squabbling amongst ourselves. I’ll nest in tree hollows in your garden, although I’m also happy to create a nest in any palms. I’m more likely to move in if you have neat lawns, with manicured edges and very few trees as I prefer wide open spaces.

WHY YOU WANT TO CONTROL ME?

Some people find me attractive but I can be very messy and noisy so this can put people off. The main reason for controlling me is to help bring the natural balance back to your garden, allowing native birds and beneficial insects and lizards to return.

WHAT DO INDIAN MYNA BIRDS LOVE?

 I particularly love wide open spaces and flat surfaces, like uninterrupted lawns and cement drives. In rural areas I love open fields, especially those that have been ploughed or mowed..

We Indian Myna Birds love insects as this was the reason I was introduced into Victoria and Queensland, to control insects attacking food crops. The irony is that I will also attack crops when there are no other sources of food available! I also love a take-out food that I can scavenge from rubbish bins and I love the food you leave out for your pets. I’m not fussy!

HOW DO YOU MAKE ME FEEL UNWELCOME

The best way to make me feel unwelcome in your garden is to plant lots of native shrubs. I prefer wide open spaces and the native shrubs provide shelter for native birds including birds of prey. Some States have programs for trapping and euthanising me.

The easiest and best way of controlling Indian Myna Birds is to use Biodynamic peppers. These don’t hurt me but they leave a powerful energy around your house and garden so I don’t want to hang around! See Biodynamic Peppers

Hello, My Name is Fruit Bat

Botanical Name: Megachiroptera

DESCRIBE YOURSELF

I’m known either as Fruit Bats or Flying Foxes. Although I’m known as a fruit bat, this is not really correct. Yes, I will feed on ripe fruit but I really prefer the nectar, seeds and pollen of native trees and shrubs. Some of the native trees and shrubs have evolved to let me pollinate their flowers and distribute their seeds.

I’m the largest flying mammal in the world. My wings are my most unusual feature and can span up to 2 metres in the largest bats. I am found throughout the southern and eastern parts Australia. Like many mammals, we have a soft fur covering our body. Mine is usually brown, grey or black in colour. I also have huge eyes compared to the size of my head and I use these for my night vision as I’m nocturnal.

I have gained a bad reputation through being thought of as the carrier of diseases or because of my vampire reputation. Neither of these is actually correct!

I love hanging upside down in a colony with my friends and family. Our colonies can house up to 200,000 bats! Even with a huge colony I can locate my offspring by their smell and their cries.

KNOWN ASSOCIATES

I am very social and love hanging out in a colony with my fruit bat friends and family. Our colonies are usually within forest or glen of native trees.and can house up to 200,000 bats! The colonies are a great way to stay together, but also help in finding a mate. Other female bats will often help each other with rearing our offspring and I can locate my offspring by their smell and their cries.

WHERE DO I HANG OUT

I love hanging out in my colony with my fruit bat friends and family. Our colonies are usually within forest or glen of native trees, although we have moved into cities due to loss of our normal habitat.

I will visit your garden when I smell that you have trees in blossom or in fruit, as I’m seeking food. While I prefer to feast on nectar and pollen, I will eat fruit when it’s in season. I can’t actually chew the fruit so I have to squeeze it against the roof of my mouth to extract the juice. While doing this I often lose hold of the fruit and drop it to the ground. I will then pick another piece of fruit nearby. I understand this habit can annoy humans. I’m not trying to raid your fruit trees but this is the only way I can eat.

HOW DO YOU KNOW IF I’VE MOVED IN?

I don’t actually move in to your garden, although I will visit when you have trees in flower as I love the pollen. And I will also visit when I smell ripe fruit on your trees. I’m nocturnal so I’m only active at night.

You will more likely hear me than actually see me, as I can make quite a whooshing sound when I fly off.

WHY YOU WANT TO CONTROL ME?

I am an Australian native, which means I am protected from being harmed or moved. And I only hang around while there is food available. My friends and I can fly over 20kms in search of food. I don’t carry diseases, despite my reputation and, when happy, do minimal damage to the environment! In fact many Australian natives need me to pollinate there flowers and spread their seed!

WHAT DO FRUIT BATS LOVE?

Fruit bats love the pollen and nectar of Australian trees and shrubs. I also love to eat ripe fruit when its in season! And we love place where we can set up our colony and raise our family. I am nocturnal so I love the night.

HOW DO YOU MAKE ME FEEL UNWELCOME

As I’m nocturnal, the easiest way to deter me is to shine a bright spotlight on the trees which are in fruit. You can also net the fruit trees but please use netting that is safe for wild animals. If I get my claws caught in the netting I’m likely to die struggling to get away.

The easiest and best way of controlling Fruit Bats is to manage what they eat and appreciate the value they bring to the environment. However, if you decide you must control them, use Biodynamic peppers. These don’t hurt me but they leave a powerful energy around your house and garden so I don’t want to hang around! See Biodyn

Hello, My Name is Pigeon

Botanical Name: Columba livia

DESCRIBE YOURSELF

I am a visitor from the United Kingdom and Europe. I was introduced by European settlers and liked it here so much I decided to stay and reproduce, settling across much of Australia! And I am very intelligent. My original job was as a carrier pigeon, carrying messages way before there was telegrams or emails. I don’t get to use the skills often these days! It’s believed that I was the first bird species trained by humans.

Although I am an introduced pest, many people find me attractive and feed me. Even if they don’t deliberately feed me, they often feed me in indirect ways, such as leaving takeaway food in open bins or on the ground. We pigeon have adapted really well to city living and have very few natural predators!

I am usually grey in colour with two black bars across each wing and iridescent feathers around the neck. There is no quick way of telling whether I’m a boy or girl as we both look the same. I can grow up to 35cm in length and weigh up to 450grams.

KNOWN ASSOCIATES

If I’m around your place, its likely there will be lots of other pigeons, as I am very social and love living in groups or communities. When I mate it’s generally for life. My mate and I can reproduce up to 5 times a year when food, water and nesting sites are plentiful. And my mate and I take equal responsibility for incubating the eggs and feeding and raising our young. Unlike many birds, our young don’t leave the nest until they are adults.

WHERE DO I HANG OUT

I love hanging out in cities and towns. In fact, I’ve become pretty reliant on people for my survival! And I don’t usually build my nests in trees like other birds, but prefer to nest on roofs, balconies and ledges of tall city building. In fact any flat surface. I love nesting in air conditioning units and under solar panels on roofs.

I eat mainly grains, especially those you leave out in bird feeders. Although I’m not really fussy and will also feast on hamburger buns and other take-out left in trash cans, I also love snacking on dry dog biscuits! The more food that is available, the more frequently I will mate and produce offspring, so one of the best ways of controlling my numbers is to reduce available food sources.

HOW DO YOU KNOW IF I’VE MOVED IN?

You are probably so used to seeing me around that you don’t question my presence! However, you will often hear me cooing if I’ve moved in under your solar panels or created my nest on your roof. My poo is quite corrosive and can cause quite a lot of damage to cement ledges, air-conditioning units and solar panels, although pigeon poo was highly

WHY YOU WANT TO CONTROL ME?

Most people find me pretty ugly with my warty skin, but the main reason for controlling me is to stop your pets being poisoned. You’ll mostly want to control me because, due to our social nature, once you’ve got one mating pair in your garden, I’ll bring several of my mates. We can live in groups of up to 30.

WHAT DO PIGEONS LOVE?

Pigeons love people and water and lots of food! But please don’t feed me white bread as, although I’ll eat it, it contains no nutrients and is bad for my health and the health of my offspring!

I love flat surfaces, like roofs, balconies and ledges. I’m very at home in the city, even high rise buildings don’t deter me. Any flat surface where I can build my nest and I’m happy. I prefer it if my nests are undisturbed as I will keep using the same nest for years, slowly building and strengthening it..

And I love a source of fresh water, whether it be pond, water feature or even a dogs water bowl!

HOW DO YOU MAKE ME FEEL UNWELCOME

The easiest way to make me feel unwelcome is to remove all sources of food and water. But you human’s aren’t good at this! And you’ll have to get all your neighbours to do this as well if you want to be successful. Research has shown that decreased food availability will slow down the number of times I reproduce a year.

There are poisons available but these are non selective so will poison native birds as well. Lucky for me, research has shown that poisoning programs are not effective in reducing my numbers as I tend to just produce more offspring.

The easiest and best way of controlling Pigeon is to use Biodynamic peppers. These don’t hurt me but they leave a powerful energy around your house and garden so I don’t want to hang around! See Biodynamic Peppers

Hello, My Name is Bush Turkey

Botanical Name: Alectura lathami

DESCRIBE YOURSELF

As a native animal, bush turkey are found throughout Eastern Australia. Although we prefer to live in the bush, we have adapted well to semi-city living, mostly out of necessity.

I answer to all sorts of names including bush turkey, brush turkey and scrub turkey. We normally have blue/black feathers, a bright red head and neck with a yellow collar. If I’m a boy I will also have a bright yellow throat wattle, which I can inflate during mating. As it’s us boys that build the mounds or nests, you’ll want to know the difference!

KNOWN ASSOCIATES

I’m a fairly solitary bird when foraging, although we can band together into a loose community to raise our young. If I’m a male, I love building a nest or mound and can totally destroy your garden in the process. Oops! I’m not trying to be a problem, its just that’s how I keep my eggs warm and raise our offspring once they’ve hatched. And I am very territorial, so other unrelated Bush Turkey won’t move into my territory!

WHERE DO I HANG OUT

I love hanging out in my territory. As the local bushland has been destroyed, I’ve adapted to city living and I’m quite enjoying myself! If I’m a male, I’ll start building a mound in spring under a shady tree. I may even build several mounds across my territory. I will stay close to my mound, regularly sticking my head into the mound to check that the temperature is okay for the eggs and chicks. If it’s too cold I’ll scratch up more leaf litter until its warms up.

While in your garden I snack on seeds, fruits, berries and shoots. I’m known to dig up plants and eat the roots if there’s nothing else available. I’ll also eat: frogs, snails, worms, insects and insect larvae, so I can do some good with respect to insect control! I will also frighten off any snakes!

HOW DO YOU KNOW IF I’VE MOVED IN?

You’ll often see me hanging around, scavenging in your garden. In spring you’ll become very aware of my presence as I start to scratch up mulch and leaves to make my nest, often destroying your garden in the process!

WHY YOU WANT TO CONTROL ME?

You will want to control me because I will totally destroy your garden during the activity of making my nest. It’s not meant to annoy you, its just how I breed! As I am an Australian native, I am protected from being harmed or moved. This means you need a permit to move me, and even then I can only be moved about 50 metres, which is still within my territory. As I am very territorial, if you remove me I’m likely to die! Also, another Bush Turkey family will move in as soon as they realise there is a vacancy!

WHAT DO BUSH TURKEY LOVE?

We Bush Turkey love our own place where we can live in peace and produce our offspring. Once born, my children are very self-sufficient and don’t require my help at all. In fact I can move them on when they become breeding age because I’m so territorial!

HOW DO YOU MAKE ME FEEL UNWELCOME

The main reason for wanting to make me feel unwelcome is because of the destruction I can do to your garden when building my nest.

There are several things you can do to deter my nesting. I love building my nest in shade so try pruning the branches to expose my nest to sunlight. You can also lay down chicken wire where I’m likely to dig as this upsets my digging rhythm! Try planting spreading groundcover plants, though you’ll probably have to protect them from my attack until they get established! As a final strategy, you might want to try laying a tarpaulin over the ground where I’ve started to build my mound. This will make me go elsewhere.

A cute strategy that some gardeners have employed, is to tie teddy bears on tree trunks and in the fork of trees. These bears freak me out and I’ll go somewhere less freaky! https://youtu.be/J2lUEamBfEw?si=uzIq5mSDoJHkk1ar

The easiest and best way of controlling Bush Turkey is to manage where they live and what they see (see above). However, if you decide you must control them, use Biodynamic peppers. These don’t hurt me but they leave a powerful energy around your house and garden so I don’t want to hang around! See Biodynamic Peppers

Hello, My Name is Red Fox

Botanical Name: Volpes Volpes

DESCRIBE YOURSELF

I am a visitor from Europe, introduced originally into Victoria for game hunting! However, I liked it so much here, I decided to stay and reproduce, a lot! As an introduced species Red Fox have very few natural predators! I love feasting on local native animals, farm animals and domestic pets including chickens.

I weigh up to 12 kilograms as an adult, although most males weigh around 6kg and most vixens weigh around 5kg. This means I’m about the same size as your pet cat, but I’m not nearly as friendly!

KNOWN ASSOCIATES

I am a pretty solitary critter and generally live alone. However, I will meet up with another Red Fox to mate and raise my young. And I am very territorial. I mark out my territory using scent glands, so other Foxes won’t move into my territory! And I will fight them off if they try and move in!

WHERE DO I HANG OUT

I love hanging out in cool and temperate climates, though I have adapted well to the sub-tropics. And I love anywhere where there is plenty of free food.

I’m not fussy on what I eat. I’ll eat anything from native animals, young lambs and baby kids through to domestic animals. And I really love chickens!!

What makes me unusual, and a real pest, is that I love killing things for no reason! Especially other animals that can’t defend themselves. I just really enjoy it! This means if I get into your chookyard I won’t just kill and eat one chicken, but will kill all the chickens, mostly by biting their heads off. And then I just leave you to fix up the mess!

I also love snacking on dry dog biscuits! Any food that you leave out, as I’m primarily a scavenger and opportunistic killer. The wide variety in my diet is part of the reason for my success in surviving and adapting across Australia.

Warmer temperatures have slowed down my migration, as have the drier environments out in central Australia, but I am persevering!

HOW DO YOU KNOW IF I’VE MOVED IN?

I am generally nocturnal, so you’re more likely to be upset by my visits when you find all your chickens killed. Otherwise, you may find evidence of my presence through my digging in your garden for food. I’m more likely to set up my den in an area of a local park, where I won’t be disturbed, than in a small back yard. If my den is disturbed, I will move my young cubs to another den nearby. I often set up several dens for this purpose.

WHY YOU WANT TO CONTROL ME?

I think I’m actually pretty attractive with my long furry tail and red hued fur, but the main reason for controlling me is to stop me killing your chickens, lambs and other livestock. You might also want to control me to bring the natural balance back to your garden, allowing native frogs, skinks and lizards to return.

WHAT DO RED FOXES LOVE?

Red foxes love a cool climate and lots of food! When I first move into your neighbourhood you’ll find lots of dead chickens. I will chew the legs off young lambs and kids, leaving them injured and unable to walk. As I said before, I just enjoy killing things and I’m not fussy on what as long as it’s the right size!

Apart from a source of food, I love my privacy. When searching for food and things to kill I can travel up to 15 kilometres in a night.

HOW DO YOU MAKE ME FEEL UNWELCOME

It is difficult to make me feel unwelcome! I can climb trees and fences, and can fit through the smallest gaps in a fence when in search of prey! The best control is to build tough exclusionary fences. And maintain these fences as I’ll keep trying to get in if I sense there are animals I can kill or maim!

The easiest and best way of controlling Feral Foxes is to use Biodynamic peppers. These don’t hurt me but they leave a powerful energy around your house, garden and chookyard so I don’t want to visit! See Biodynamic Peppers

Hello, My Name is Cane Toad

Botanical Name: Rhinella Marina

DESCRIBE YOURSELF

I am a visitor from central America, who liked it so much here, I decided to stay and reproduce, a lot! As an introduced pest, with a very toxic poison, I have few natural predators! Local native animals that try and feast on me often die because of my toxic parotid glands on my shoulders. I am particularly attractive to dogs who lick my skin and become poisoned, either tripping out or dying!

I can grow up to 20cm in size, which makes me a pretty hefty toad. This is normally one way to distinguish me from native frogs and toads. I have a tough leathery skin, which is tawny to brown in colour. My underbelly is usually a pale creamy colour with brownish/green mottling. I have a lot of warty bumps along my back, and more bumps if I’m male. The large bumps on my shoulders near my head are parotid glands and these store a poison that is toxic to many animals including humans. The Central American natives used to harvest Cane Toad poison and use it to paint the tips of their spears! My front fingers don’t have any webbing, but I have webbing between the toes on my back feet.

KNOWN ASSOCIATES

If I’m around your place, its likely lots of my offspring cane toads will soon show up! When I lay eggs I can lay up to 70,000 eggs at a time. And I can do this every 6 months! All these eggs will grow into tadpoles and will become new cane toads within a year.

WHERE DO I HANG OUT

I love hanging out in the tropics and sub-tropics. And I prefer areas close to, and around fresh water ponds where I can lay my eggs. I eat mostly insects, native frogs and tadpoles, small reptiles like lizards and skinks and even small birds! I also love snacking on dry dog biscuits! The wide variety in my diet is part of the reason for my success in surviving and adapting.

Colder temperatures have slowed down my migration, as have the drier environments out in central Australia. I like quite a moist environment, but if I stay wet for too long I can drown!

HOW DO YOU KNOW IF I’VE MOVED IN?

As I’m generally nocturnal, you’ll only see cane toads if you go out in the garden at night. Or you might find me burrowed into your garden mulch during the day.

WHY YOU WANT TO CONTROL ME?

Most people find me pretty ugly with my warty skin, but the main reason for controlling me is to stop your pets being poisoned. You might also want to control me to bring the natural balance back to your garden, allowing native frogs and beneficial insects and lizards to return.

WHAT DO CANE TOADS LOVE?

Cane toads love warmth and humidity and lots of food! When I first move into your place, you’ll notice a distinct drop in available insect populations. This will include the good bugs like bees and butterflies. I’m not fussy!

I love flat surfaces, like uninterrupted lawns and cement drives. I can’t climb so I don’t like being confronted by metal or brick barriers around your garden.

And I love a source of fresh water, whether it be a slow moving creek, lake or pond. Even the dog’s water bowl if it’s not too high and I can climb into to it!

HOW DO YOU MAKE ME FEEL UNWELCOME

I can’t climb, so I can be easily controlled by building small metal or brick barriers around your garden. These are especially important if you want to keep me away from ponds or water features.

If you want to control me without using poisons, you can catch me and put me in the fridge. I go to sleep with the cold. You can then transfer me to the freezer, where I will die. Just make sure you label me clearly!!

There is a poison available from hardware stores called HopStop that is supposed to kill me humanely.

The easiest and best way of controlling Cane toads is to use Biodynamic peppers. These don’t hurt me but they leave a powerful energy around your house and garden so I don’t want to hang around! See Biodynamic Peppers

Hello, My Name is Ringtail Possum

Botanical Name: Pseudocheirus peregrinus

DESCRIBE YOURSELF

As a Ringtail possum we are found throughout Eastern Australia. Although we prefer to live in gum trees, we have adapted well to city living, mostly out of necessity. We are the smaller of the two main species of Australian possum, generally only reaching around 30cms from the tip of our noses to the end of our tails. Our tails curl into a ring, hence our name. We are normally a soft grey colour, although we can also have a reddish fur. The tip of our tail is always white and curly! I am often blamed for invading the roof spaces of your homes, but that is far more likely to be my cousin, the Brushtail possum.

KNOWN ASSOCIATES

I love living in a nest, called a drey, generally high up in a native tree. Although I will create a nest in an exotic tree if that is all that’s available. I live in a communal group with my significant other and our young offspring. And I am very territorial, so other Ringtail possums won’t move into my territory!

WHERE DO I HANG OUT

I love hanging out in my territory with my family. While there, I will snack on your fruits and veggies, but I normally don’t make a complete guts of myself!

I’m often blamed for damage done by rats! My guess is that people don’t want to admit they have rats, so they say they have a possum! If you want to help control me, just build me a little home away from your veggie patch. And give me a few slices of fruit each day and I’ll be happy and not raid your fruit and veggie gardens.

HOW DO YOU KNOW IF I’VE MOVED IN?

Often you won’t know that I’ve moved in! As a possum I’m nocturnal so I’m only active at night. If you do find me out during the day, the chances are that I’m probably sick, either through poisons or touching electrical wires! You may occasionally find my poo, which is bigger that rat poo, but I don’t poo in nearly the same amount as those rats!!

Your dogs are far more likely to know I’m around, so if you see them staring up into a tree, it may be because they smell me and my family!

If I do eat some of your veggies, I generally like the soft young leaves as these are easier to digest. And I like my fruit just ripe, the same as you do. I try and be polite and while I’ll snack I generally don’t strip your veggie garden or fruit trees bare, unlike those rats!

WHY YOU WANT TO CONTROL ME?

I am an Australian native, which means I am protected from being harmed or moved. This means you need a permit to move me, and even then I can only be moved about 50 metres, which is still within my territory. As I am very territorial, if you remove me I’m likely to die! Also, another Ringtail possum family will move in! I don’t carry diseases and, when happy, do minimal damage to the environment! So why not see if we can co-habitate? Build me a little possum box high up in a tree where I can nest with my family and leave out a few pieces of fruit every day as snacks, and we’ll stay out of your veggie patch and fruit garden!

WHAT DO RINGTAIL POSSUMS LOVE?

Ringtail possums love our own place where we can live in peace and raise our family. Once I move in, I’m very territorial, so removing me means I’ll probably die, as you’ll be moving me into another possum’s Territory. And another possum family will likely move in! I rarely go into your house or roof, so if you provide me and you family with a small nesting box off the ground and a few pieces of fruit I’m sure we can co-exist!

HOW DO YOU MAKE ME FEEL UNWELCOME

Please DON’T poison me. I die a long and painful death. And the poisons make me thirsty so I go outside and because I’m moving slowly, owls and hawks and other birds will catch me and they will also be poisoned!

The easiest and best way of controlling Ringtail possums is to manage where they live and what they eat (see above). However, if you decide you must control them, use Biodynamic peppers. These don’t hurt me but they leave a powerful energy around your house and garden so I don’t want to hang around! See Biodynamic Peppers

Hello, My Name is Brushtail Possum

Botanical Name: Trichosurus volpeula

DESCRIBE YOURSELF

As a Brushtail possum we are found throughout Eastern Australia. We prefer to live in native trees like gums, but we’ve adapted well to city living, mostly out of necessity. We are the larger of the two Australian possum species, and reach up to 80 cms from the tip of our noses to the end of our tails. And we can weigh up to 5 kilograms! We have a big, bushy fur tail hence our name. While I prefer to live outside in gum trees, as these are becoming in very short supply, I will invade the roof spaces of your homes when trying to find a home.

KNOWN ASSOCIATES

I am a pretty solitary critter and generally live alone. However, I will meet up with another Brushtail possum to mate. If you see me with another possum, usually on my back, this will be one of my offspring. And I am very territorial. I mark out my territory using scent glands, so other Brushtail possums won’t move into my territory! And I will fight them off if they try and move in!

WHERE DO I HANG OUT

I love hanging out in my territory. While there, I will snack on your fruits and veggies. I try not to make a complete guts of myself, but I’m a pretty big fellow!

I’m often blamed for damage done by rats! My guess is that people don’t want to admit they have rats! If you want to help control me, just build me a little home away from your veggie patch. And give me a few slices of fruit each day and I’ll be happy and not raid your fruit and veggie gardens. Even better, plant some of my favourite native bushes and I’ll snack on these!

HOW DO YOU KNOW IF I’VE MOVED IN?

You may not know that I’ve moved in if I stay out in your garden and surrounds, as I’m nocturnal, so I’m only active at night. However, if I have moved into your roof space you will definitely hear me thumping around at night, which is when I’m active!! If you do find me out during the day, the chances are that I’m probably sick, either through poisons or touching electrical wires!

Your dogs are far more likely to know I’m around, so if you see them staring up into a tree, it may be because they smell me and my family!

If I do eat some of your veggies, I generally like the soft young leaves as these are easier to digest. And I like my fruit just ripe, the same as you do. I try and be polite and not strip your veggie garden or fruit trees, unlike those rats!

WHY YOU WANT TO CONTROL ME?

I am an Australian native, which means I am protected from being harmed or moved. This means you need a permit to move me, and even then I can only be moved about 50 metres, which is still within my territory. As I am very territorial, if you remove me I’m likely to die! Also, another Brushtail possum family will move in! I don’t carry diseases and, when happy do minimal damage to the environment!

However, you will want to keep me out of your roof space, as I can keep you awake with all my nightly comings and goings! So why not build me a little possum box high up in your garden where I can live in peace and I’ll stay out of your roof space. You will need to block up any entrance holes, preferably once I’m out of your roof space, otherwise I may move back in for the warmth.

And, if you leave me out a few pieces of fruit each day as snacks, I’ll stay out of your veggie patch and fruit garden!

WHAT DO BRUSHTAIL POSSUMS LOVE?

Brushtail possums love our own place where we can live in peace and raise our family. Once I move in, I’m very territorial, so removing me means I’ll probably die, as you’ll be moving me into another possum’s Territory. And another possum family will likely move in! I will move into your roof space when trying to find a home, but if you provide me with a nesting box and a few pieces of fruit I’m sure we can co-exist!

HOW DO YOU MAKE ME FEEL UNWELCOME

I don’t like really strongly scented plants like mint, geraniums and chrysanthemums, so plant these where you don’t want me to go in your garden.

Please DON’T poison me. I die a long and painful death. And the poisons make me thirsty so I go outside and because I’m moving slowly, owls and hawks and other birds will catch me and they will also be poisoned!

The easiest and best way of controlling Brushtail possums is to manage where they live and what they eat (see above). However, if you decide you must control them, use Biodynamic peppers. These don’t hurt me but they leave a powerful energy around your house and garden so I don’t want to hang around! See Biodynamic Peppers