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What attracts flies?

What attracts flies?

by | Jun 24, 2025 | Blog, Fly

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What attracts flies? (And how to keep them away)

What attracts flies to your home or business? Whether you’re dealing with a sudden outbreak or a few persistent pests, understanding what draws flies in can help you prevent them.

Find out what attracts flies and how to prevent these pests from spreading germs around your home and business in today’s Hivemind blog. If you’re dealing with a pest infestation, be sure to check out Allstate Pest Control’s services in Prospect for professional help.

What questions will this article answer?

What flies are attracted to humans

Flies are primarily attracted to warm, moist environments with access to food, waste, or decaying matter. Common attractants include sugary foods, body odour, rotting meat, uncovered bins, and standing water.

 Most of us are used to swatting flies away, and you may be wondering exactly what attracts flies to certain people more than others? Here are some reasons why YOU might be a fly magnet:

  • You could be wearing bright colours such as red and yellow, which grabs their attention
  • Body heat and body odour
  • You may have applied smells that attract flies such as sweet, pleasant smelling cosmetics, perfumes, cologne, deodorants and lotion
  • Sweat and saliva are sources of moisture
  • Exhaled carbon dioxide

Flies are especially drawn to strong, sweet smells – from sugary drinks to scented lotions. If you’re wondering what smell attracts flies, think ripe fruit, perfumes, or decaying waste.

Are flies attracted to sugar?

As an easy source of energy, sugar-laden foods are thought to attract flies the best. With special sensors on their feet and mouthparts that can detect sugar, flies are always keen to sample many delicious foods and drinks including sweets, desserts, syrups, alcohol and soft drinks. This includes carbohydrate-rich pantry staples such as rice, bread and pasta, as well as pet food.

Fruit flies, as their name suggests, are partial to rotten fruit, which are rich in fructose.

Blowflies have an appetite for decaying protein-based products.

Keep pesky flies from spoiling your food. Get fast advice today.

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Do flies like rotting food and waste?

Decaying organic matter provides flies with not only valuable nutrients, but also enough humidity to lay eggs and nurture larvae, which will eventually hatch into hungry maggots.

 This means that your uncovered rubbish bins, compost, pet waste, manure, rotten meat, fruit and plants, and other dead animals such as rodents in your yard can make your home more appealing to flies.

Warm weather

Flies thrive in warm conditions, with an optimum breeding temperature around 25 degrees Celsius.

 Combined with humidity and an increased number of food sources, warmer weather creates ideal conditions for flies to breed, feed and multiply rapidly.

Prevent flies from invading your home. Speak to an expert today.

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8371 1277

Why flies love moisture (and how to stop them)

Like people, flies need water to survive and some species, particularly drain flies, require areas of high moisture to breed. This means your property may be at higher risk of attracting flies if you live near a river or a reservoir, or even if you have a pond, swimming pool, lots of pot plants, leaking drains or pipes and pet water bowls in your backyard.

 

Noticing too many flies buzzing around? Contact Allstate today

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8371 1277

Prevent flies in your home

Small, swift and opportunistic, flies will buzz inside your home faster than you can keep them out if given the chance. Here’s some suggestions to prevent what attracts flies in your home:

Remove sources of food

  • Keep food stored in sturdy, airtight containers
  • Wipe away spills and food crumbs immediately

Minimise access to water

  • Fix leaking drains, pipes, gutters and taps
  • Keep pot plants well drained

Seal entry points

  • Install fly screens over doors and windows and draught stoppers underneath doors
  • Ensure windows and doors are well fitted without gaps

Regularly clean your home

  • Wipe and disinfect surfaces in kitchen, food preparation, indoor and outdoor dining areas, including tables, chairs, placements, cooktops, sinks.
  • Avoid leaving dirty dishes, cutlery and cookware in the sink
  • Sweep and mop floors

Practice proper waste management

  • Empty rubbish bins regularly
  • Ensure rubbish bin lids are well fitted
  • Keep rubbish in tightly sealed bags

DIY fly repellents

You can use diffusers or prepare homemade sprays by mixing water or vinegar with a few drops of essential oils which deter flies, such as eucalyptus, peppermint, lavender and tea tree oil.
Various herbs and spices can also be scattered around entry points, such as rosemary, basil, cinnamon and cloves, but take care if you have pets.

Commercial and industrial fly control

At Allstate, we understand the importance of fly control for all food-related businesses such hospitality venues, restaurants, manufacturing, warehouse and distribution facilities.

Our pest technicians have a thorough and up-to-date understanding of food safety standard HACCP and quality standard ISO 9001.

As part of our Integrated Pest Management program, we offer the following commercial solutions for ongoing protection against flies:

Auto Sprayer units

Installed discreetly above doorways and designed to release insecticide at regular timed intervals, auto sprayer units deter flies away from large entry points

Fly traps

We offer a range of physical traps which emit a UV light to lure flies to an adhesive glueboard.

Fly baits

Used outdoors, our fly bait stations are positioned in popular breeding sites specifically attract flies outside and reduce the fly population at its source.

Non-toxic drain treatments

To manage fly outbreaks in drains, we use eco-friendly bio-drain products.

Professional fly management

Our friendly pest control technicians will first locate the source of your fly outbreak and identify the species that is responsible. We’ll then use a combination of targeted treatments to actively reduce the fly population, including:

  • Fly baits
  • Aerosol sprays
  • Fogging
  • Dusting powder

For fast and effective fly control, choose Allstate

At Allstate, we understand the frustration and risks that flies can cause to homes and businesses alike. That’s why we provide tailored and targeted solutions for fly management in residential, commercial and industrial settings.

Since 1986, Allstate has provided premium pest control services to all suburbs of Adelaide. Available 24/7 for all urgent enquiries, our team of highly trained and fully equipped pest control technicians use a treatment approach that puts safety for people, pets and the environment at the forefront.

 For long-lasting fly control that is covered by competitive warranty, and instant access to payment plans, you can do away with what attracts flies and the disturbance that they cause, once and for all.

Our expert team is ready to help you now

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8371 1277

What does a Possum look like?

What does a Possum look like?

by | Jun 24, 2025 | Blog

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What does a Possum look like?

Possums might look cute and cuddly, but when they’re thumping across your roof at night or leaving droppings in your garden, they quickly become a serious pest.

 Possums are noisy, messy, and one of the most common wildlife pests in Adelaide homes..

 In this blog, you’ll learn what a possum looks like, how to identify signs of an infestation, and how to safely manage possum control in Adelaide.

What questions will this article answer?

What does a possum look like? (Adelaide guide)

There are over 20 known species of possums in Australia, and most of them look cute and cuddly! So, what does a possum look like in real life? With their big dark round eyes, dainty pointy ears and snouts, long fluffy tails, stocky furry bodies, and cosy pouches to carry their young, it’s a shame that they only tend to come out at night!

However, don’t be fooled by their appearance. They run fast, jump high, have sharp long claws to grip tree branches and long incisor teeth to gnaw at plant fibres. They aren’t afraid to bite and scratch when feeling threatened, so it’s best to stay a safe distance away if you notice possums around your yard.

 While most of them prefer nesting above the ground in safe sheltered areas, such as tree hollows and thick vegetation, due to increased competition, they are now often found living in roof spaces in homes and businesses across Adelaide.

How to identify common possum species in South Australia

Now that you understand the general features of what a possum looks like, here’s how to tell which specific type of possum is lurking in your backyard:

Common brushtail possum

Although there are 5 main species of brushtail possums in South Australia, the common brushtail possum is by far the most established household pest. Well adapted to urban environments, you’re most likely to see or hear common brushtail possums scampering across your roof at night.
Covered with short silvery-grey fur on their backs and sides and darker tufts around their head, their bellies often have creamy pale fur. Weighing up to 4kg and growing up to 55cm long, common brushtail possums are usually the size of a small cat.
 Considered to be omnivorous, their diet consists of a variety of plants and sometimes even small lizards and insects.

Common ringtail possum

Known for their distinct, white-tipped prehensile tails which act as a fifth limb to firmly grasp tree branches, common ringtail possums are experts at climbing and jumping. For this reason, they tend to prefer living in dense bush or foliage rather than a built-up urban area, however, they are extremely adaptable and have been observed living in metropolitan backyards.

Their coat is typically grey-brown coloured, becoming whitish in colour around their bellies. Smaller in size than brushtail possums, common ringtail possums grow up to 35cm long and weigh around 1kg.

As herbivores, they will generally prefer eating eucalyptus leaves, herbs, flowers, rose buds and seeds, with the occasional piece fruit or exotic plants.

Protect your home from pesky possums, get expert advice today

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Signs you have a possum in your roof

Look for the following tell-tale signs of a possum problem:

  • Droppings are usually 10-15mm long, cylindrical shaped and black-brown in colour. Look for them accumulating around the eaves
  • Noises coming from your roof. Listen out for thumping and scampering sounds coming from your roof at night. You’ll often also screeching, hissing, squealing grunting or growling noises, and sometimes even clicking and chattering.
  • Scratches on your gutters and roof tiles
  • Understand what a possum home looks like. Check for nests and nesting material around your roof, especially an accumulation of leaves, bark and twigs
  • Possum urine leaves behind an unpleasant ammonia-like smell

How to stop possums from entering your home

Noisy, messy and disruptive possums are a nuisance at bedtime for adults and children alike. You can take the following steps to make your home less possum-friendly:

Regular yard maintenance

Trim vegetation back so that it comes no closer than 1.5m from your home. This includes overhanging branches, shrubs, flowers and bushes. Consider erecting mesh fencing around your veggie patch to keep hungry possums away.

Identify and seal all roof access points

Broken or dislodged roof tiles, vents and cracks, gaps or holes in your roof provide easy entry sites for possums to come inside. We recommended fixing or covering these vulnerable spots quickly to prevent possums from discovering them first.

Removing food and water sources

If you have a eucalyptus tree in your yard, chances are that there may be possums hanging around as they love munching on the leaves. However, they will eat leaves, fruit and flowers from other native and exotic trees, so it’s important to be mindful of which plants you choose to populate your garden. Minimising sources of fresh water in your yard, such as ponds, pet bowls or bird baths can also deter thirsty possums from visiting.

Get fast advice on identifying what possum problems look like today

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8371 1277

Safe and legal possum control

In Australia, possums are deemed to be protected wildlife in the Wildlife Act 1975, making it illegal to trap them without a special government-issued Trap and Release permit. If caught, you could potentially face a $5000 penalty.

However, Allstate is always here to help you. Our pest control technicians are all fully licensed to handle possums using safe and humane practices.

We’ll first confirm whether you have possums in your roof, and potentially even identify the species as our technicians have extensive knowledge of the behaviour and what each species of possum looks like. We’ll then locate all entry points and either install one-way doors or seal them off.

Following this, we’ll place cage traps with bait near the main entry points to capture the pest possums. Your technician will check these traps every day to ensure the welfare of any trapped live possums.

The possums will then be released to a new nesting box that has been setup within 50m of your home, as per guidelines.

To finish off, we know how messy possums can be, so we’ll make sure to clean and disinfect your roof space thoroughly to remove all traces of possum pheromone markers, and discourage them from ever returning to your roof.

For reliable and humane possum management, choose Allstate

At Allstate, we don’t want you to be kept awake at night by pesky possums thumping across your roof, hissing and fighting, and messing up your garden!

Since 1986, we’ve provided premium pest control services to homes and businesses all around Adelaide. Available 24/7 for all urgent enquiries, our highly trained, fully equipped and licensed pest control technicians are ready to assist you with innovative, safe and government compliant solutions to all your pest issues.

 With competitive warranties and payment plans offered on all our services, you don’t need to put up with chaotic possums in your roof any longer. Speak to a friendly Allstate consultant today.

Our expert team is ready to help you now

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8371 1277

How To Keep Rats Away In Winter

How To Keep Rats Away In Winter

by | May 13, 2025 | Blog, Rats

They’ll keep you up at night, eat your food and damage your furniture.

A pack of rats is the last thing you need running rampant through your home during the coldest months of the year. Learn how to protect your home with expert rat control services in Adelaide in this Hivemind blog.

What questions will this article answer?

What attracts rats to your home in winter?

Although they are active all year round, you may notice more active rats as the weather cools down. You might then wonder why this is happening after the peak breeding season has passed.

The reason? Rats thrive in temperatures between 18-23 degrees, and so they will look for warm places, such as your home, to nest and shelter! On top of this, your home also has plenty of delicious food and fresh water to help them see out a long cold winter.

Signs of a rat problem in winter

Not sure how to tell if there’s an increased rat activity in your home? Here’s some things to look for:

Roof damage

To create cosy nesting areas and widen entry points to your home, you may find rats have gnawed holes and damaged insulation in your roof.

Gnaw marks

Known for their relentless gnawing, rats will leave behind bite and gnaw marks on your walls and doors, timber structures, furniture, metal and plastic objects, as well as cardboard and paper based products in your home.

Grease marks

If you notice dark rub marks around your skirtings and walls, this could well be the result of greasy rat fur and may be a sign that the area has high foot (paw!) traffic.

Droppings

Like large grains of black rice, rat droppings are normally 1-2cm long, brown-black coloured and form a pointed oval shape. They will turn grey when dried out.

Unpleasant odour

An accumulation of rat droppings and urine isn’t just messy, it leaves behind a strong, musty and sour smell that lingers in your home.

Noises in your roof

Rats are normally most active at dusk and dawn, and you’ll often hear scratching, gnawing, scampering, rustling, chomping, clawing and squeaking sounds coming from your roof space just as you’re trying to get your beauty sleep!

Rats in your roof at night? Speak to an expert today.

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8371 1277

Problems caused by increased rat activity

Pest rodents are difficult to deal with, and you definitely don’t want to be hosting a whole pack of rats in your home!

Here’s why rats don’t make the most ideal houseguests:

Health concerns

With unhygienic foraging habits, rats are known for carrying and transferring a range of germs, bacteria and nasty diseases through their fur, saliva, droppings and bites. These include hantavirus, leptospirosis and tularaemia. Some people with allergies may also find themselves sensitive to ticks and flea parasites which are found in rat fur.

They’re messy

Rats don’t just leave half nibbled food scraps scattered around the floor. In an infestation, you’ll find rat waste scattered in the most inconvenient spots in your home, as well as nesting debris and tufts of insulation floating around.

Damage to your home

To keep their constantly growing incisors under control, it makes perfect sense that rats will gnaw on anything that they can literally sink their teeth into! This can include furniture, mesh screens, pipes, timber, insulation, conduits and cables, which may lead to plumbing issues, electric short circuits and fires.

4 ways to prevent a rat problem

With the ability to reproduce quickly and at a young age, it doesn’t take long for a large population of pesky rats to be established. We’ve put together our top four tips so that you can make sure this doesn’t happen at your home:

 

Identify and proof all access points to your home

Quick, nimble and possessing sharp teeth which can gnaw through timber and insulation, rats can squeeze through the smallest of gaps and enter your home. However, by regularly inspecting your roof and exterior parts of your building for any holes, openings and cracks, and then sealing them, you’ll create less opportunities for a rat infestation in your home. We recommend:

  • Sealing gaps with waterproof silicone or other appropriate fillers
  • Reinforcing windows and doors with weather strips

Remove attractants

Hungry rats can detect food smells from up to 2km away and will actively scavenge for resources when the weather cools down. To keep them away from your yard consider:

  • Keeping outdoor dining areas clean and wiping down barbecues
  • Storing food in tightly sealed containers
  • Keeping less fruit and vegetable plants
  • Remove pet food, bird and chicken feed overnight

Waste management

Easy to access with plenty of food scraps on offer, rubbish bins, compost and waste areas are popular feeding sites for rats. You can avoid this problem by:

  • Keeping waste areas clean and disinfected
  • Washing rubbish bins regularly with detergent and hot water
  • Ensuring that rubbish is stored in sturdy bags and bins have well-fitted lids
  • Emptying bins regularly to prevent overflow

DIY rat deterrents

You can purchase ultrasonic rat deterrent devices and place them around your yard, making it a more hostile place for rats to visit. These targeted devices emit unpleasant ultrasonic sounds that are only detected by rats and not people.

Another natural approach is to apply strongly scented homemade sprays around your garden. These can be made by mixing water with eucalyptus and citronella oils, vinegar or cayenne pepper. Use this method with caution, however, if you have pets.

Keep rats away for good. Speak to our expert team.

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8371 1277

Professional rat management

Rats breed quickly, and in the blink of an eye you have an infestation. This makes it equally important to identify the source of the increased rat activity and treat it fast.

Our approach is to locate and remove rat nests and seal off entry points to your home, and then control the rat population using:

Chemical baits

Discreet and tamper-proof, our rodent bait stations contain a targeted rodenticide making them safe to use around children and pets. We’ll place them in well known feeding areas and around entry sites to discourage rats from coming inside.

Physical traps

For more severe rat infestations that require a faster reduction of the rat population, physical traps can be set up containing bait that can lure unsuspecting rats for capture.

Choose Allstate for long-lasting and effective rat control

With the weather cooling down, the last thing you need to worry about is rats running around your home and leaving a mess.

Rest assured, Allstate has you covered.

Our friendly and highly trained pest technicians are always fully equipped with modern and targeted treatments to successfully resolve rat problems in residential, commercial and industrial settings.

Since 1986, Allstate has provided premium pest control services to all suburbs of Adelaide.

We’re available 24/7 for urgent enquiries and offer payment plans and competitive warranties on all our treatments.

Don’t let a few rats turn into a full blown infestation and ruin your cosy winter plans – reach out to Allstate today.

Our expert team is ready to help you now

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8371 1277

Are Termites Active in Winter?

Are Termites Active in Winter?

by | May 12, 2025 | Blog, Termites

The short answer: yes! Winter is an important time as any to protect your home against termites. Read on to learn how to termite-proof your home this winter. 

What questions will this article answer?

What are the signs of termite activity in winter?

Termites are known to be active all year long, so here are some ways to tell if they may have reached your home:

Structural damage to your home

When you start seeing physical changes to your home from termite damage, it’s often too late, as termites have probably already been there for quite some time. You may notice problems in walls, ceilings, floors and paint such as holes, buckling, blistering, warping, sagging and flaking. Windows and doors may seem harder to open and shut.

Mud tubes

If you notice brown trails of hardened dirt along walls, crawl spaces or timber beams, these mud tubes are a strong indicator of active termites in winter. Built by working termites, these tunnels are around 0.25-1 inch in diameter and designed to protect foraging termites from predators and the elements while they’re moving between the nest and food source.

Hollow sounds when tapping wood

When termites have tunnelled through a timber structure, the empty space that is left behind will be exposed by a hollow, echoing sound when the timber is tapped. This is a hidden sign of termite damage meaning that the structural integrity of the timber has been significantly compromised.

Termite swarming and discarded wings

As spring approaches, termite colonies prepare for swarming. If you notice flying termites, also known as swarmers, near tree stumps, wooden sleepers or woodpiles, as well as discarded wings near windowsills and doors, this is a sign of termites in your area.

Clicking sounds

Although they are mostly silent while they do their damage, you may occasionally hear faint clicking noises coming from your walls during peak termite tunnelling activity. Soldier termites can also initiate clicking noises to warn their fellow termites of imminent danger.

Termite droppings

At less than 0.04 inches long and resembling wood-coloured piles of sawdust, termite droppings can be hard to see and even mistaken for something else.

Drywood termites in winter

Unlike subterranean termites, drywood termites require less moisture to survive, and as a result, live exclusively in dry wood as their name suggests. They usually live higher up from the ground in wooden and timber structures and furniture, and as a result, are unaffected by cold weather.

As they don’t tend to leave mud tubes, it can be difficult to spot drywood termites in winter, so you may not know that they are there until they have carried out significant damage.

Worried about termites in your home? Speak to an expert today

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8371 1277

Subterranean termites in winter

Although the ground surface temperatures may be freezing, subterranean termites living in underground nests will often burrow down deeper where the soil is warmer and seal off the openings to avoid cold draughts and warm air escaping.

You’ll also notice that worker termites forage closer to their nests for food in winter and focus more on nest maintenance and repair. In fact, many workers may not survive the cold weather.

Queens also lay less eggs and there is overall a lower population of termites, with less activity in the nest to try and conserve energy and heat.

For the termites that have managed to penetrate timber inside your home, however, winter has very little effect. The large amount of activity generates heat and having protection from the harsh elements means that they can stay warm and full of food all year long!

Swarming termites in winter

It’s highly unlikely that you’ll see swarmers emerge until the very end of winter, when the temperatures start to rise heading into spring. If you do see termite swarmers, it means that the risk of an outbreak near your home is higher because they are scouting for a good location to start up a new nest.

How to prevent termites in winter

Here are some simple ways to make your home and yard a less appealing place for termites to settle:

Regular yard maintenance

Termites thrive where there is plenty of wood, so if you have lots of trees, rotting tree stumps, woodpiles, wooden sleepers, furniture or plant holders, it’s best to either remove them or ensure that they are kept away from your house at the very least.

Prevent all sources of moisture

Effective termite prevention includes addressing damp environments which help them to maintain enough moisture in their thin outer shells to survive. It also aids in their ability to digest the tough cellulose fibres in the wood that they consume. This means that you’re more likely to attract termites if you have a pond, bird baths or leaky plumbing, or live near a large body of water.

Also check that rooms in your home with higher humidity are properly ventilated, and that the soil on your property is well drained.

Termite inspections

Because termites are difficult to spot, the only way to know whether or not you have them is with a termite inspection. Fully equipped with the latest in termite detecting tools, Allstate’s licensed termite inspectors will thoroughly check all outdoor and indoor areas for even the most subtlest signs of termite activity.

Termite Inspections

The most reliable way to avoid a termite infestation is to have regular comprehensive termite inspections.

Conducted by licensed termite inspectors, a government-recommended yearly termite inspection is the best form of termite protection that you can get.

For those who live in areas of higher risk, more frequent inspections are ideal. This includes buildings that are situated near a large body of water or have experienced a previous termite attack.

Don’t delay your termite inspection. Speak to our expert team today.

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8371 1277

Professional termite control

If you have a termite outbreak, Allstate offers several modern and effective treatments that can be tailored to your individual situation.

Before applying any treatments, our first step in every termite management plan is to always conduct a thorough assessment to get to the source of the outbreak.

Then, to reduce the active population, we use the following termite treatments

Premise termiticide spray

Applied directly to soil in designated treatment zones, this non-repellent spray contains a targeted active ingredient called imidacloprid, which acts powerfully to repel termites. It is commonly used in areas which are known to have active termites.

Sentricon Always Active bait stations

For long term termite protection, a Sentricon barrier around the perimeter of your building has been shown to be highly effective. Discreetly installed underground at every 3 metres, Sentricon bait stations contain hexaflumuron, which disrupts the termite life cycle.

For reliable and long-lasting termite management, choose Allstate

Once termites have entered your home, they’ll stay all year long. Even when it’s the middle of winter, Allstate is always here to help.

Since 1986, we’ve successfully managed termite outbreaks in homes and businesses in all suburbs of Adelaide. Available 24/7 for urgent advice, our licensed and highly knowledgeable team of pest technicians can assist you with safe and non-toxic termite solutions.

With comprehensive warranties and easily accessible payment plans on all our termite products and services, you can trust that you’ll be protected from termites for good.

Our expert team is ready to help you now

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8371 1277

How to stop possums entering your roof space

How to stop possums entering your roof space

by | Mar 21, 2025 | Blog, Possum

They’re messy, destructive and cause a racket in your roof at night! In this Hivemind blog, we’re sharing 4 ways that you can prevent pesky possums from nesting in your roof so you can reclaim your beauty sleep once and for all.

What questions will this article answer?

Why are possums attracted to my roof space?

Developed urban areas have less available tree hollows for possums to seek shelter.
This creates more competition for suitable nesting sites, which forces possums to find alternative accommodation in your roof!

While peak breeding season normally happens in spring, different species can mate in any season. Many will also actively seek warmth and shelter in the winter months, so the risk of finding possums in and on your roof remains all year long, unless you actively take steps to stop them.

Reasons to avoid a possum outbreak

While many homes in Adelaide have possum visitors every now and then, they don’t make the most ideal houseguests. Here’s why:

Aggressive behaviour

While they generally prefer to avoid confrontation, possums will certainly display defensive behaviour if they feel threatened. You’ll see them bare their teeth, hiss or screech at you during unexpected encounters, and they may even bite or swipe if you get too close!

They’re messy

Lacking in table manners, possums will leave behind food scraps and droppings at feeding sites, and help themselves to flowers, fruit and vegetables from your garden.

Nocturnal disturbance

Because they are usually active at night, you’ll tend to hear them running on your roof and making unusual noises just as you’re winding down to sleep.

Property damage

With razor sharp teeth and claws, hungry possums are capable of gnawing on electrical cables, chewing on insulation and scratching ducts. This can increase the risk of electrical disruptions and fires occurring in your home.

Spreading diseases

Possums can carry a range of nasty germs and parasites which can be spread through human contact. This can lead to diseases such as Buruli Ulcer, leptospirosis, wobbly possum disease, tularaemia and bovine tuberculosis.

Are possums keeping you up at night? Speak to an expert today

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8371 1277

How to tell if you have a possum infestation

Although possums look cute and cuddly, having an outbreak in your roof is anything but pleasant! Here are some reasons why:

Nighttime movement

As nocturnal creatures, possums will be most active at night, so pay attention to thumping sounds as they scurry along your roof and ceiling around your bedtime, distracting you from rest!

Sounds coming from your roof

Possums are well known for making hissing, coughing, snarling, growling and even screeching noises. Sometimes, you may even hear them communicate with each other through chattering and clicking.

Droppings

Found in small piles in feeding areas, possum droppings appear dark brown to black in colour, are cylindrical shaped and around 15mm long.

Nests

Depending on the species, possum nests can look different. Brushtail possums prefer nesting in leaf-lined tree hollows. Ringtail possums construct unique “drey” nests out of twigs and leaves nestled high up in tree canopies.

Unpleasant odours wafting around your home

Possum urine smells strongly of ammonia.

4 ways to stop possums from entering your roof space

Keeping your roof space clean and possum-free isn’t difficult if you’re proactive in taking the following steps:

Proof entry points

Maintaining the integrity of your rooftop is a key factor in preventing possums from coming inside. Regularly inspect your roof for any potential sites of entry and cover or seal them. You can install mesh screens over vent and water tank openings, and grates over chimneys. Repair and replace dislodged roof tiles.

Yard maintenance

Remove easy access to your roof by trimming back trees, foliage, shrubs and bushes away from your home. Having fewer large trees in your yard will also provide less opportunities for possums to nest in your backyard. Dispose of all fallen and rotten fruit and vegetables, and sweep up piles of leaf litter. Secure rubbish bins, and keep outdoor dining areas clean.

Remove food sources

With an appetite for plant-based food, possums prefer feasting on fruit, vegetables, flowers and leaves. You can lower your chances of attracting possums if you reduce the number of plants in your yard. Do not leave pet food bowls out.

Natural repellents

Strong-smelling household items can be effective in keeping pesky possums away from your yard. You can make sprays by mixing water with garlic, camphor, quassia chips, fish sauce or even bleach and apply them around your yard. These will need to be reapplied regularly.

Safeguard your home from possums, get expert advice today

or

8371 1277

Professional possum management

Dealing with possums in your roof is best left to the professionals. Not only do they become aggressive when they feel threatened, but possums are regarded as protected wildlife in South Australia. This means that you’ll need a Trap and Release permit to relocate possums within a 50m radius of your home.

At Allstate, our professional possum control service is carried out safely and humanely by our fully licensed technicians. This involves installing a one-way door at the possum entry point and leaving a cage trap to capture the possum, before releasing it to a new nesting box on a tree that is within 50m away.

We’ll also take steps to reduce the chances of possums returning to your roof by identifying and proofing all other potential entry points, and cleaning up the mess they’ve left behind.

Choose Allstate for safe and humane possum control

If the constant distraction of possums lurking around your roof and backyard is keeping you up at night, Allstate is here to help.

Since 1986, Allstate has offered high quality pest control services to homes and businesses in all suburbs of Adelaide. Available 24/7 for urgent enquiries, our licensed and highly trained technicians are fully equipped to tackle possum outbreaks in a safe and humane manner, whether you’re in a residential, commercial or industrial setting.

All our pest control treatments come with competitive warranties and access to payment plans, so you can reclaim your sleep (and sanity!) from pesky possum guests running rampant in your roof – sooner rather than later.

Our expert team is ready to help you now

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