Many possums reach a roof by climbing a tree and stepping across onto the gutter. The bayside suburbs here have plenty of big old mango, fig, gum and poinciana trees, and in many Brighton yards they stand right beside the house. Tree collar fitting makes those trunks too slippery for a possum to climb.
A tree collar is a band of smooth sheet metal wrapped around the trunk, usually around a metre and a half off the ground and about sixty centimetres wide. A possum cannot grip the smooth metal, so it cannot climb past it. The crew we book measures each trunk, cuts the collar to size and fixes it so it can be loosened as the tree grows. They also check whether any branches from that tree, or from a neighbour's tree, still touch the roof.
- Trees near the house checked for use as a climbing route
- Metal collars cut to size and fitted to each trunk
- Collars set so they can be loosened as the trunk grows
- Branches touching the roof or gutter pointed out for trimming
- Other routes such as fences and vines noted
Tree collars only work if the tree is the only way up. If a branch from another tree or a fence still reaches the roof, a possum will use that instead. That is why the crew looks at the whole yard, not just one trunk. Collars are not a way to get a possum out of a roof it already lives in, so they work alongside a one-way possum door and sealing where needed.
To book tree collar fitting in Brighton or nearby, call 07 3543 7768. We will ask about your yard and give you upfront pricing.
