How do I get squirrels or possums out of my roof humanely?

The humane fix has two halves: let the animal out, then make sure it cannot get back in. Squirrels, possums and raccoons move into roofs because a gap gave them a dry, safe place to sleep. They are not there to wreck your nights, even if that is how it feels at 3am. Time it right so no young are left behind, close every way in, and the noise should stop.

Check the rules before anything else

Wildlife law varies a lot. Some animals are protected and may only be handled by licensed people. Some may only be released close to where they were found, and some may not be released at all once caught. In parts of Australia, for example, possums are protected and cannot simply be moved away. Ask your local council or wildlife authority what applies to your animal before you act, or use a licensed wildlife service that already knows.

Find out who is up there, and whether there are young

• Squirrels are mostly busy at dawn and dusk, with scurrying and gnawing in daytime.
• Possums and raccoons are mostly heard at night, with heavier thuds and movement.
• Young make high-pitched squeaks or chattering that do not stop when the adult leaves. If you hear that, wait. Sealing in young animals means they die in the roof, and the mother may tear through the roof to reach them.

Walk round the outside at dusk and look for the way in: chewed fascia or soffit boards, lifted tiles, gaps at the eaves, broken vents, rub marks and droppings. Take dated photos.

Getting them out

1. Use a one-way exit. A one-way door or flap over the main entrance lets the animal leave to feed but not get back in. Licensed wildlife services fit these routinely and know the right type for each animal.
2. Give a possum somewhere to go. A possum box fixed in a tree nearby gives it a new home, so it is less determined to get back into yours. Local wildlife groups can advise on boxes.
3. Check it has gone. Several quiet nights or days in a row, and loose material across the gap left undisturbed, are good signs.
4. Then close every gap. Not just the main one, or they simply use the next. Our sealing gaps guide covers the basics.

Fixing the fascia so it holds

Animals that keep tearing open the same spot need a repair that is stronger than their teeth and claws. Replace rotten or chewed boards, then cover the weak spot with heavy-gauge galvanised welded mesh, not chicken wire, which raccoons and squirrels tear or chew through. Fix it with screws and washers rather than staples, and run it well past the damaged area onto sound timber. A roofer or wildlife service can do this safely at height.

For possums dropping onto a metal roof at night, trim branches that hang over the roof so they cannot reach it. Check first whether the tree is protected where you live.

What does not work

Sealing the hole with them inside. It feels like a fix. But a trapped animal will chew out somewhere new, often into the house, or die in the roof and leave a smell for weeks. Out first, then seal.

Sound boxes and banging on the ceiling. They may move the animal along for a night or two, then it learns the noise is harmless and settles back in. We do not recommend ultrasonic devices for any animal.

Poison. It is cruel, often illegal for these animals, risky for pets, and leaves you with a body you cannot reach.

Health and pets: keep cats and dogs out of the loft. Droppings and nesting material can carry germs and parasites, and raccoon droppings in particular should not be cleaned up without protection. Ask a wildlife or cleaning professional to do it, and see a doctor or vet if you have a specific worry about your family or pets.

When to get help

Call a licensed wildlife service if there may be young, if the entry is high up, if the animal is protected, or if it is raccoons. Ask them: do you use one-way exits, how do you check for young, what will you seal and with what, and do you guarantee the repair. If you rent, tell your landlord in writing with your dated photos. Roof repairs are usually their job.