Possums are protected in New South Wales under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016. Trapping, catching and releasing possums is illegal in New South Wales unless you have a licence.
There are a couple of things you can try to discourage possums if they are eating the plants in your garden:
- Cover the plants the possums seem to favour with wildlife-friendly netting. See Wildlife friendly fencing and netting.
- Boil a litre of water with a handful of hot chillies, garlic and vinegar and leave to brew for a few days. Strain and spray the cooled liquid on the affected plants (this is safe for dogs and cats).
- Use commercially available products that provide a protective spray to the plants and are a non-harmful deterrent to animals.
- Use organic methods such as blood and bone fertilisers or quassia wood chips.
If you still have problems, contact the department's Biodiversity and Heritage Regulator at [email protected] or phone 02 9585 6406.
