How to stop possums from accessing underneath the house?

[falzonius]

We have an under house possum problem.  

We have just moved to a new place.  Its a sloping block, so the back deck is elevated.  There are 2 walls of space where possums can easily come ago - longest wall is 6 meters, shortest is 4m.  The highest point of elevation is about 1.6m.

We dont want to close off the bottom of the house completely, so we can easily get under house access for renos/repairs.  But we also need to block off some of the possum access. For the moment I'm just thinking wire netting, that we remove/replace a section when we need to get under the house.  I'm thinking we would attach at the bottom of deck, nail into supporting pillars and dig into ground for base?? Although, it wont be terribly aesthetically pleasing.  Would really appreciate if anyone has an thoughts or images they can share for ideas?

We currently have family of 2 possums living with us.  The screeching, screaming, scratching is getting too much.  We are getting licensed professionals to help with the replacement of the possums, but I just need to block of some of the area to stop them from coming back. 

[EricL]

Hello @falzonius 

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community. It's sensational to have you join us, and thanks for sharing your question about stopping possums from going under your house.

To manage your possum situation, wire netting is a practical start, but you might consider additional solutions to balance functionality and aesthetics. The store offers heavy-duty wire mesh that would work well for blocking access points; you could attach this to the bottom of your deck, securing it to the pillars and digging the base into the ground for stability. For easy access, you could install sections with removable clips or latches, allowing you to open parts of the mesh when needed. If you want a cleaner look, consider adding wooden lattice panels on the exterior of the wire netting, which would blend better with your deck’s appearance and create an additional barrier.

In addition to physical barriers, consider deterrents like motion-activated lights or ultrasonic pest repellents. These devices can discourage possums from approaching the area without the need for constant supervision. You could also plant strong-smelling herbs nearby, such as lavender or rosemary, which tend to deter possums naturally. Finally, consider keeping the space under the deck clear of food or nesting materials that might attract them back. With these combined approaches, you’ll likely reduce their activity while still allowing occasional under-house access.

If you have any other questions we can help with, please let us know.

Eric

[falzonius]

Great, thank you very much for sharing ideas