14 January, 2019
Some older properties have had possums inside the roof for many years. Peter the Possum Man does not think this is a good idea and it is surprising that when someone buys a house, the property pest inspection report very rarely makes any reference to evidence or damage due to
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12 November, 2018
In Peter Possum’s experience, the responsibility for removing a pest from a property is not clear cut and may depend on the circumstances. In broad terms the home owner must provide a property that is healthy and suitable to be maintained that way and the tenant must then keep it
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30 October, 2018
Nobody is permitted to relocate possums to a different property because they are protected native wildlife and taking them to a new location is often a “death sentence” for the possum. That is because in the new location, they do not know where to hide or find food and the
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15 October, 2018
If you find a baby possum, it may be very cold, sick or injured. The fact you could pick it up often means there is something seriously wrong which prevented the animal from hiding or running away. Without experience it is very hard to assess if the animal is injured
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01 October, 2018
Some people argue it is more appropriate for Australians to keep native animals rather than cats and dogs. Wild cats and packs of dogs do cause serious damage to our native wildlife, when they escape and live in the wild. But it is important to remember that cats and dogs
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18 September, 2018
Some people are afraid of possums because they do have claws and sharp teeth. But the possums see a human as a potential predator, another animal to be feared. They may respond with hissing, standing up on their rear legs (to increase their apparent size) and showing their teeth. These
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18 June, 2018
Possums in an open area Possums sometimes take up residence under a Queenslander house or inside an open-sided carport. These are examples of situations where possums cause problems for the homeowner but it is impossible to permanently exclude them. If there are many entry points or the area has large
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04 June, 2018
It depends how many rats there are in the area. The quantity laid by a professional pest controller is expected to be sufficient to remove all the rodents and also leave some bait to deal with any new arrivals for the next 6-12 months. How long do rat baits last?
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05 March, 2018
If you have a possum scampering above your head at night, give us a call. We are experts in removing possums and getting you a good night’s sleep. To help with the process, here are the answers to the most common questions we get asked about how to get rid of possums. How to
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22 January, 2018
There are many types of native bees in a garden in Queensland including Leaf cutter bees, Carpenter bees, Blue banded bees and even a larger Teddy bear bee. Most of them are solitary or live in small groups and like most bees they can sting, but aren’t usually aggressive. Native
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08 January, 2018
The native stingless bees prefer to build their nest inside a hollow log or a large crevice in a tree. They need somewhere that is slightly humid, not damp and insulated from fluctuations in temperature. In urban areas their opportunities to find holes in trees are limited, so they make
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04 December, 2017
Feeding possums can be a great way to watch their behaviour and interact with nature, but there are some disadvantages as it can change their behaviour and encourage more possums into a small area. Possums in cage It’s best to provide food erratically, so the local possum population does not
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20 November, 2017
Any bird netting installation must be carefully planned to ensure it will be effective and not just move the birds to other nearby ledges. Netting the underside of an awning above valuable equipment is a different scenario to placing temporary netting over a vegetable garden or fruit trees. James St.
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08 November, 2017
Bird Netting Installing netting requires strong cables, usually 2 mm stainless steel, anchored to the strong parts of the structure with appropriate fittings. Then the net is attached along one side and stretched while the other sides are progressively attached to the cables, usually using clips every 100 mm or
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24 October, 2017
Anti-bird netting is a commonly used term to describe the placing of nets to exclude birds and is most frequently applied to the practice of hanging a loose net over a fruit tree; this is usually done during the fruiting season to try to protect the ripe fruit from damage.
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09 October, 2017
Prevention is better than the cure: domestic chickens in a garden will always attract rats and mice because the rodents will be attracted by the spilt food and it is almost impossible to avoid chickens throwing some of their feed onto the ground. Rat Bait Stations Many chicken owners don’t
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28 September, 2017
The simple answer is no. It is illegal to set a trap for any native animal, including possums, unless you have a permit from the wildlife department. Possums in Cage This is because there is no guarantee what an untrained person may do with the animal. Often people want to
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11 September, 2017
Being woken up early in the morning by an elephant on the roof can be very disruptive and annoying. We get many calls asking for devices to be put on powerlines to stop possums getting on to a roof. Energex does not like things put on the powerlines so this
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17 August, 2017
What do ringtail possums eat? Ringtail possums are considered folivores, which means they eat mainly leaves. The ringtail possum diet consists primarily of eucalyptus leaves. Much like koalas, the ringtail possum has a specialised stomach that allows them to digest eucalyptus leaves. Want to know more about Ringtail Possums? Click
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01 August, 2017
You are just drifting off to sleep when you hear a loud screeching and coughing, followed by scratching and banging coming from your roof. Unfortunately, this is a nightly occurrence for many households across urban Australia. Luckily it doesn’t mean your house is haunted, however, it is a sign that
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17 July, 2017
Rats are a problem in Brisbane all year round, but after heavy rains or when the weather turns cooler, rats start looking for shelter in homes and businesses from the cold and wet. Rat The natural response for many people when they suspect rats are in their home, is to
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03 July, 2017
A garden full of native plants is a great way to attract wildlife and especially the native birds that are adapted to get nectar from Australian flowers. Getting the right mix of vegetation to suit your lifestyle as well as the wildlife, may require some expert advice but that does
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28 June, 2017
Possum Nest We’ve all seen possum boxes that people put up in trees to create a safe place for possums to sleep during the day. These boxes are designed to mimic nests, but do possums make nests in the wild? Possum Box In Brisbane, two most common possum species are
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13 June, 2017
What’s the Difference Between Rat & Possum Droppings? – It’s Harder Than You Think It’s never fun to find piles of animal poo in your yard, especially on your deck. These little piles of droppings can be a real nuisance and a health hazard. But before you leap in with
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29 May, 2017
Living in Brisbane, it’s almost impossible not to have heard the distinctive click-click-click noise made by Asian House Geckos. These geckos are an introduced pest that moved into Brisbane in 1983, and have truly settled in and thrived in our warm and humid climate. Geckoe Like any introduced pest, they
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17 May, 2017
The most common call we get at the Possum Man is from people asking us to relocate their resident possum far, far, away. Preferably before the next nightfall when the possums put on their steel capped boots and start galloping over the roof. Relocate My Possum Relocate My Possum While
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02 May, 2017
It can be frustrating to spend time and care growing luscious fruits and vegetables, only to find that through the night possums have helped themselves to a banquet. Possums Eating PlantsWhile you could simply put it down to the joys of nature and choose to coexist peacefully, we often are
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18 April, 2017
Recently one of Peter Possums servicemen was asked to remove an young adult brushtail possum from the cultural precinct on Brisbane’s Southbank. It frequented the car park area near GOMA (Gallery of Modern Art) but it was so easily caught, there was something wrong! The possum was listness and a bit
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20 March, 2017
Pigeons have been described as rats with wings. When they roost, the acidic nature of their droppings can damage your home, while their feathers, eggs and nests can clog your gutters and drains, causing them to overflow in a storm. Feral Pigeons The Pests With a Homing Instinct Pigeon faeces
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16 March, 2017
Possums have adapted well to the urban environment and their numbers around Brisbane have increased over the years. When we do our removal it is now not unusual to find more than two possums in the one roof. Possums can be very clever, spending many hours checking roofs from the
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06 March, 2017
After cockroaches and spiders, pest controllers in Brisbane get the most complaints about rats and mice.Mice can get into your home through the tiniest cracks or gaps around pipes and electrical wiring; they can fit under doors that aren’t sealed with a weather strip or through unsealed windows and can
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20 February, 2017
The effects of bushfires on native wildlife can be devastating. Aside from the immediate fatalities that occur, most surviving animals will have lost their homes and find sourcing food difficult for at least the three months it takes for new growth to occur. The Effects Of Bushfires On Native Wildlife
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06 February, 2017
Things You Find in Brisbane Roofs With increasing urbanisation and loss of native habitats, wildlife look for alternative locations to build their homes. Unfortunately, the space under suburban roofs can be seen as a veritable Taj Mahal for many animals. Things You Find in Brisbane Roofs So what are the
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23 January, 2017
The problem with DIY rat control is that most of the products are highly toxic, and potentially dangerous to children and pets, if not handled correctly. Why you should use a Licensed Pest Controller like Us to Place Rat or Mice Baits Unfortunately possums and other wildlife will eat rodent
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13 January, 2017
Drive along Brisbane suburban streets, and you will see solar panels sprouting like mushrooms from the roofs of homes. This rise in solar panel popularity is great for the environment, but like all new additions, it doesn’t take long until wildlife (both protected and feral) discovers it as well. Why
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19 December, 2016
When old buildings are left in a state of disrepair, wildlife often move in, especially pigeons. Peter Possum has seen vacant houses with broken windows where flocks of pigeons have covered every surface inside the house with droppings, in some places many inches thick. Why building work creates wildlife problems?
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05 December, 2016
When you live in Brisbane you may be aware of large bat colonies that fly silently overhead at dusk. These nocturnal animals are fruit eating bats or flying foxes with the two most common to Brisbane being black flying-foxes Pteropus alecto and grey-headed flying-foxes Pteropus poliocephalus. Black flying foxes are
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21 November, 2016
It’s that time of year again when the resident neighborhood crows break into football match volume squawks at all hours. Between August to October is crows breeding season, and the cacophony of crows yelling at each other is the common sound accompaniment to many homes and backyards. If you are
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08 November, 2016
Did you ever wonder how dusty is your roof? Just like every other surface in your home dust builds up in your roof. The older the house, the more dust has built up. In some old houses up to half a ton of dust has been found in their roof!
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31 October, 2016
Spring has truly sprung, and the new season of bees have come along with it. While bees are essential to our environment, we don’t necessarily want a swarm taking up residence in our back garden. In Australia, there are two main types of bees, European and Native. European bees are
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17 October, 2016
Even though warmer weather is slowly arriving, many nights are still cold, leaving the local rat population looking for a warm and safe place to escape the chill. Unfortunately, this place is often in the roof of your house. Rock n Roll Rats from Your Roof It can be hard
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19 September, 2016
This year, Brisbane recorded its warmest and one of its wettest Autumns on record, effectively extending summer by 3 months. The unseasonably warm weather did more than just make picnics at South Bank more comfortable, it had an unexpected flow-on effect to the state’s native wildlife – particularly scrub turkeys.
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05 September, 2016
When you hear rats in your roof, the temptation is to simply throw a few rat baits into the roof and be done with it. This is the absolute worst thing that you can do! Why rat baits and possums are deadlyWhy? Where there are rats, it is extremely likely
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22 August, 2016
You head down to the garage to start your car, and notice a number of pairs of bright eyes blinking at you from above the roller door in the garage. You look closer and see that a family of local possums has moved in. Your thoughts immediately turn to possum
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18 July, 2016
Gutter Cleaning for Commercial Properties? Most people understand the importance of regular gutter cleaning in Brisbane for their residential homes. Property managers also appreciate that commercial buildings, schools, strata and unit complexes, retail premises and offices, also need systematic gutter cleaning to protect the property and interior from damage. Commercial
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04 July, 2016
Many Brisbane homes are still getting their roofs repaired after last summer’s storms. Hail, falling trees, and heavy winds played havoc with tiles and corrugated iron roofs in a number of suburbs. Unfortunately, while the roof was damaged, it may have let in unexpected tenants into the roof cavity. Possums
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14 June, 2016
Fleas and Parasites of Possums: Peter’s observations: a very low risk in Australia Over the last ten years, I have never seen parasites on possums around Brisbane. So it seems there is a lot of false information about the risk of finding fleas and other parasites on possums in Australia.
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01 June, 2016
Brisbane has many great places to take your kids to spot wildlife. Throughout our 25 years of being Brisbane’s expert team for possum removal and pest control, we have always loved the wildlife that doesn’t require us to remove them from unwanted habitats! Here are the top five wildlife locations
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16 May, 2016
Who’s a Pretty Boy? If you have ever had a budgie or canary you know that birds love their own reflections, and will spend hours admiring themselves in the mirror. This is cute in tame birds, but can be extremely annoying when wild birds persistently peck at your glass windows
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02 May, 2016
We all love cute, fluffy baby birds. Except when the one bird turns into hundreds that poop everywhere, drop feathers, chirp in a raucous cacophony of sound and leave bird lice that migrate and cause miserable itching to the nearest warm-blooded beings. If your home or property has been invaded
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20 April, 2016
Are the rats in my roof native? One of the most common questions the team here at Peter the Possum Man is asked when someone has rats living in the roof in Brisbane is whether the rats are native ones. The QLD Museum says that in the greater Brisbane region,
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04 April, 2016
Solar panels are a great way to capture energy from the sun, but like any urban development, feral freeloaders can spoil the benefits. Feral pigeons have discovered that the spaces under solar panels are a warm, safe place in which to nest and roost. Aside from the mess of pigeon
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23 March, 2016
A home owner in Toowong called Peter Possum for a Brisbane bee removal job during February 2016, which involved the stingless native bees, Trigona. She was concerned that every afternoon for a month, she had to remove many dead bees from the balcony of her Queenslander house. Some were in
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12 January, 2016
Most people in Brisbane know the intense pain of brushing against a shrub in the garden when mowing, only to be stung by a paper wasp. Or looking out a bedroom window and seeing a massive paper wasp nest under the eaves appearing seemingly overnight. Paper wasps are our most
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11 January, 2016
We may be biased, but we think Brisbane is one of the top cities in the world to live. The climate is superb; we have lovely houses, and some of the best food anywhere. Unfortunately, Brisbane is also popular as a place to live for pests. Feral pigeons and other
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06 January, 2016
Rats in your home are a pest no matter the season, but their numbers can dramatically increase after floods or heavy rains, such as the ones we have had this past summer. Heavy rain and floods wash away rat burrows and hiding areas, forcing the rats to seek shelter on
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21 December, 2015
Nearly all the rodent baits now used by pest controllers will cause the same effects as Warfarin: a thinning of the blood, leading to internal bleeding (hemorrhaging). The anticoagulants of the poison prevent the blood from clotting if there are cuts and scratches and at high doses the small blood
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14 December, 2015
Why is it not possible to prevent rodents from entering the premises and why do we only recommend that fresh baits are always available? As with many animals, rats in Brisbane can get into any hole that is large enough for their head to fit through. In the case of
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30 November, 2015
Ceiling insulation reduces the cost of keeping your house warm in winter and cool in summer, which is becoming more important as the cost of electricity rises. There are 4 main types: Reflective insulation: thick or thin foil sheets that mainly reflect radiant heat (explained below) Bulky insulation: made from
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26 November, 2015
Know those cute little geckos that have been moving into Brisbane homes for some years with their distinctive “chuck, chuck, chuck” sound? They are called Asian House Geckos or barking geckos and they are becoming a real pest. This introduced species of geckos are rapidly outbreeding native geckos and are
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06 November, 2015
Most people have an inborn fear of spiders. See a spider and the first instinct of many is to grab the trusty thong or fly-spray can and kill them. However, spiders have a critical role to play in the environment and shouldn’t be a natural focus of pest control in
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05 November, 2015
Spring to early summer is peak Paralysis Tick season. The paralysis tick is only one of a large number of ticks that can be found in Australia, but they are the ones that cause the most problem for humans and pets alike. Ticks On Dogs The adult female paralysis tick
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02 November, 2015
Not all migratory animal visitors to Queensland are pests that require the attention of the specialist services from Peter the Possum Man. From June to November each year Queenslanders can witness some of nature’s largest and most spectacular animals as they visit our part of the world. Up to 10,000
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30 October, 2015
Research by Bradley Gale, at The University of Queensland in 2013 again confirms that possums cannot be excluded from buildings by using ultrasonic deterrents. The machines may initially scare the possums but they soon become accustomed to the sounds making them an ineffective form of possum removal. Peter Possum has
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28 October, 2015
We get many calls each week from people asking us to provide a quote over the phone to remove possums from their roof. Possum removal in Brisbane is 90% building repairs and 10% trapping and removal of the possum from the cavity. No two houses are identical so therefore difficult
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28 September, 2015
We live in a land with an abundance of unusual wildlife and most of us have to come to terms with sharing our habitat with some of them. Many of our species are unique to this continent and all native wildlife in Australia is protected under law. This means that
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22 September, 2015
Every few months we have a customer who has mysterious bites or points of intense irritation that look like bites. Usually their house has been stripped, vacuumed and cleaned several times and the property has been sprayed for “insects”. Since the “bites” have continued, we are asked to treat and
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16 September, 2015
You have a carefully tended and prized veggie garden or a lovely tree, then one night your neighbourhood possum decides to nibble on the new growth or munch on your fruit trees. To stop possums eating plants and trees there are two main options: Temporary and permanent fixes. Our experience
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02 September, 2015
As the weather warms up we start to see a number of native animals and pests become more active around our homes. Here’s a quick run through of what to expect this spring. Problem birds such as starlings, Indian Mynas, sparrows and pigeons quite often choose to nest in roof
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28 August, 2015
August to December is Scrub Turkey nesting season in Brisbane. Those massive mounds of leaf litter can be home for up to 150 eggs in a nesting season, laid by several female scrub turkeys. Often, these mounds are made from whatever the brush turkeys can lay their claws on; garden
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24 August, 2015
Many people love to feed birds in their backyards – even though there is evidence that this can create problems for our birdlife. Some birds get an unbalanced diet from feeding and they are at risk from increased spread of disease. More aggressive birds commonly turn up for a free
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14 August, 2015
Scrub turkeys are nature’s builders. Each breeding season they spend many hours raking together mulch, twigs and leaves to create huge mounds (up to 5 m round), to function as nests. Scrub turkey males are very determined to create the best mound – bigger is definitely better for scrub turkeys!
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06 August, 2015
Have you ever wondered why possums decide to move into your roof, when you have lovely big trees around your home? Usually, this question comes to mind around about 4am when your friendly possum family decides to practice their karate moves right above your bedroom, as they return to their
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31 July, 2015
All property owners need to recognise the importance of regularly cleaning the gutters and any other areas of the roof that trap leaves and rubbish. The gutters must remain clear to flow freely, effectively transferring rainwater from the roof to downpipes and storm drains. When the flow of water is
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24 July, 2015
As the cold of winter is replaced by the warmth of spring, many of our native birds start to nest. While most birds quietly go about the business of laying eggs and rearing their young, there are a few birds that are a little more aggressive – especially Magpies and
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17 July, 2015
Bees are not the only animals that become more active in spring. Native and feral birds also increase their activity, and often decide to take up residence inside roofs of homes as a safe place to build their nest and raise their young. Peter the Possum Man should be your
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13 July, 2015
Pick any night in Brisbane and you are likely to come across some of the most beautiful owls on the planet. But not all owls are alike. In our area around Brisbane, they range in size from the massive Powerful owl through to the much smaller Southern Boobook –each with
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22 May, 2015
Property managers across Brisbane tell us they have been inundated with complaints from tenants about rats in their properties after the recent heavy rains. Stormwater drains and suburban sewerage systems are common homes for rats in Brisbane, but during heavy rains and floods, the water levels rapidly rise and flush
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04 May, 2015
Here are the answers to our most commonly asked questions about possum removal. 1. We offer free* written quotes to fix holes and remove possums from inside a building. (*If it is a very large house or commercial building there may be a service fee) 2. We do not provide quotes
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27 February, 2015
Summer and flies go together in Brisbane, but if you suddenly get swarms of black flies inside your home, accompanied by a vague, horrible smell that gets worse as the day heats up, you may have something dead in your roof or walls. Homes provide shelter to more than just
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12 February, 2015
You may have noticed more and more Indian Mynas moving into Brisbane. Indian Mynas are the cane toads of the bird world. They were introduced into Australia to eat pests in crops (which they totally ignored) and ended up aggressively forcing out native birds from every area they moved into.
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07 November, 2014
Gutter cleaning is a vital component of every building maintenance schedule. Removing leaves, twigs and other debris needs to be done before every storm season to allow rain optimal chance to flow freely to the stormwater drains, rather than back up into the roof. The Possum Man team provides gutter
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28 October, 2014
The native bandicoot is a natural Lawn Grub controller. If you live near bush land, chances are that one day you will discover your lawn and lovely gardens covered in finger deep conical holes. These are the telltale signs that you have had some bandicoots visiting during the night. Bandicoots
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13 October, 2014
In spring, the thoughts of all male scrub turkeys turn to wooing a female brush turkey. They don their best shade of black plumage, the wobbly yellow skin around their necks turns an even brighter shade of yellow, their little bald heads turn a brilliant rosy red and they start
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30 September, 2014
Feral pigeons and urban buildings are a deadly mix. The problem is exacerbated as pigeons are social birds that tend to congregate in large numbers, which means large volumes of excrement (dropping). Pigeon removal is important as their droppings contains high levels of uric acid, phosphate, nitrates and other compounds
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28 August, 2014
If you have a large undercover seating area, hall, parking garage, factory, loading dock, warehouse, shed or other open or semi-open area, and you also have a feral pigeon or feral bird problem, there are cost-effective solutions available that don’t require you to build-in walls to stop access. Professionally installed
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15 August, 2014
Scratching, thumps and scampering sounds across your ceiling during the dead of night. Black animal droppings scattered throughout your kitchen and pantry. The sound of wood and electrical cables being gnawed in your walls. You have rats! Rats are destructive, disease carrying vermin that rapidly breed and take over a
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28 March, 2014
Paper wasps in the garden are one of nature’s most useful pest controllers. They have a huge appetite for insects such as spiders and caterpillars, which means they have a strong role to play in balancing local insect populations and helping to control pests in your veggie garden. There are
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14 March, 2014
Insulation and Brisbane summers go together like lawns and lawnmowers. Roof insulation provides a buffer against our summer heat, as well as helping to keep energy costs down. Batts, insulation boards, insulation blankets and blow-in forms of insulation all work to resist heat and keep your home cool in summer and
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04 March, 2014
You are sitting on your back deck with a cool drink in hand and admiring your garden, when you notice that the mulch around your garden beds looks noticeably thin. As you look closer, you notice that almost all of your mulch has disappeared from your entire garden, along with
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18 February, 2014
Drive along Brisbane suburban streets, and you will see solar panels sprouting like mushrooms from the roofs of homes. This rise in solar panel popularity is great for the environment, but like all new additions, it doesn’t take long until wildlife (both protected and feral) discovers it as well. If
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05 February, 2014
Both Brushtail and Ringtail possums are opportunistic home owners. They look for cosy, safe and warm places to live and raise their young. This is great if their choice is a tree, but not so great if the place they choose is your balcony. So what can you do if
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07 January, 2014
Along with cockroaches, the most hated pest in Brisbane homes has to be rats. Effective rat control is very important as they increase rapidly during the summer breeding season. By the time you have spotted one rat, often what really has happened is that you have a severe rat infestation.
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17 September, 2013
If you hear humming from the walls of your home, it is possible that your home has become a haven to a bee hive and you need to get a bee removal specialist as soon as possible. There are two main types of bees that move into homes in Brisbane –
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06 June, 2013
Possum removal is not as simple as setting a cage trapping the possum and relocating it to a nearby tree. The hardest part is finding where the possums are getting in, and blocking the access so they don’t get back in again. Unless the gap is fixed, all you are doing
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15 February, 2013
One of life’s joys is hearing native birdsong and watching birds happily exploring your garden, but if you are currently devoid of birds other than the odd Wood Pigeon or Magpie perching on your Hills Hoist, there are steps you can take to soon have your garden filled with Brisbane birds.
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18 January, 2013
Gutters are the workhorses of homes. When running clear, they quickly take away water to the storm water system. But how often should you do gutter cleaning? To work out how often your gutters need attention, you first need to know what washes into them in your house. The most
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71 Edmondstone Street
Newmarket QLD 4051
Phone: (07) 3250 1111
Fax: (07) 3856 4611
Email: [email protected]
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