Revealed: The Australian suburbs most overrun by possums

I’ve never been a fan of horror movies.

Too much screaming, too many jump scares, and don’t even get me started on the gore. Unfortunately, life doesn’t always let you opt out of the genre. Sometimes it brings the horror film straight to your bed at 2am – in the form of a dead possum.

A couple of months ago, I was soundly asleep when my dog Agnes decided I needed a gift. Like the generous housemate she is, she dropped what I thought was one of her rain-soaked toys into my arms.

I lazily flicked it off the bed, heard it thud on the floor, and rolled over.

Agnes, delighted, bounded after it and leapt back up, dumping it on me once again.

Except this time, my hand brushed claws.

Adrenaline surged, my survival instincts kicked in, and I turned on the light to find a very much not alive, drool-soaked possum staring back at me.

Cue banshee-level screaming, flailing limbs, and a dramatic escape roll over my husband, who definitely didn’t sign up for live-action The Exorcist: Possum Edition.

Agnes, meanwhile, looked smug.

Proud.

Triumphant.

Like a cat who’d aced its final exam.

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And while my household drama might sound like an isolated horror-comedy, it turns out I’m not the only Aussie forced into middle-of-the-night possum confrontations.

According to new Airtasker data, possum infestations are peaking right now, with demand for possum removal services soaring 40 per cent in August compared to previous months – and a 15 per cent year-on-year rise in September.

And while my possum-pocalypse occurred in SA, the nation’s possum capital turns out to be Melbourne.

Licensed Pest Technician and Tasker Ibby El-Jamal says Melbourne’s Inner East is ground zero for possum chaos, with removal tasks there running at three times the national average.

“Melbourne’s combination of possum-friendly old housing with gaps and roof cavities can make DIY removal tricky, which when breed like wildfire,” he says.

“The noisy breeding and fighting is a nuisance at all hours, especially when it’s dark, as they are nocturnal, and people would rather pay a pest control expert than do it themselves.

“That leads to high demand, as proven by the amount of possum removal tasks posted on Airtasker.”

The Inner East is followed closely by Melbourne’s Inner South, with both regions having a rate of tasks per 100,000 population 300 per cent higher than the national average.

Sydney suburbs like North Sydney, Hornsby and the Northern Beaches also made the top 10 possum hotspots, but Melbourne still takes the crown, with 60 per cent more removal jobs than Sydney.

So if you hear strange thuds in the night, it’s probably not ghosts. It’s possums.

And if you’ve got an enthusiastic pet like mine? Well, let’s just say – consider investing in industrial-strength bed sheets.

Top tips to prevent pests from taking over

Focus on prevention first

Block off entry points by sealing cracks, adding door sweeps to wide gaps, and even using mesh over weep holes. Simple steps like closing windows when you leave can also help keep out pests. The easiest way to deal with pests is to discourage them from getting in. Keep your home tidy, seal food properly in containers, wipe down benches regularly, and empty bins often.

Act early – especially in spring leading into summer

Experts say infestations spike in the warmer months as heat speeds up pest breeding cycles. With more food and water available, pests spread faster, especially in densely populated cities like Sydney. Prevention and quick action are key — deal with pests at the first sign before they multiply.

Use possum repellent

Deakin University data shows effective possum repellents include Tabasco Sauce, garlic, Indonesian fish sauce, and hot mustard which deter possums through two chemical senses: smell and taste.

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