When Possums Move In: City Sanctuary Lends a Hand
Content Warning: Contains images of injured cats, which some readers may find distressing.
Dunedin residents are no strangers to sharing their gardens with wildlife - but for one local homeowner, the visitors recently overstayed their welcome.
For several years, possums had been regular guests on her deck - climbing the balustrades, lounging outside the glass doors, and even helping themselves to the cats’ food bowls. With four cats (two indoor and two outdoor), the nightly visits had become part of life - until things took a worrying turn.
A bold possum (left) ventures up to the patio doors to peer in, just centimetres from the oblivious cat inside.
Possums versus pets
Two of the homeowner’s cats were injured in separate encounters with the possums, one suffering a deep shoulder wound that required vet care and stitches. It was a wake-up call: while possums may look slow and placid, they’re strong, sharp-clawed animals that can seriously harm pets when cornered or threatened.
So why were these possums so bold? Living in such close proximity to humans mean these individuals are urbanised and socialised. They’re used to everything city life throws at them - from bright lights and barking dogs, to humans and household noise. Over time, and without any negative consequences, they’ve come to associate certain areas with food, water, and safety. In short, they’ve learned confidence.
Cats see possums as competition - and the feeling is mutual. Both are territorial, which can lead to confrontation, especially around food. If cornered (by a cat or even a human), they’ll fight back.
Stepping Up Control Efforts
After the incidents, the homeowner reached out to City Sanctuary for support. We provided a Trapinator trap, and two possums were quickly caught. But the remaining visitors proved exceptionally bold — climbing on top of the trap, sniffing around, even poking their heads inside without triggering it!
Caught on camera - two possums investigate and play around the Trapinator trap - one even pokes its head in without setting it off!
To outsmart these experienced animals, City Sanctuary added a Flipping Timmy trap. Possums are often curious about new objects, and the addition of the Flipping Timmy led to the successful removal of two of the more elusive possums.
This homeowner’s experience has proven to be an eye-opener regarding the impact of possums around her property!
Lessons for coexisting with wildlife
Encounters like this remind us that our day-to-day choices shape how wildlife behaves. The good news? A few easy steps can make a big difference:
Bring pet food inside at night to avoid attracting possums and other pests.
Keep cats indoors overnight, where possible — it protects both pets and native wildlife.
If you spot a possum around your property, report it and contact City Sanctuary for advice or traps.
Even long-term possum visitors can be safely managed with the right approach - and, as this story shows, doing so can protect both our pets and Dunedin’s native wildlife.