Possums in the roof, koalas in bed: study shows how animals resort to Australian homes after habitat loss

Possums in the roof, bats in the curtains and ducks on the balcony: new research has revealed how native animals are making themselves at home in our houses.Researchers have analysed a decade of wildlife rescue reports and found brushtail and ringtail possums make up half of all cases of animals in buildings, followed by microbats and bare-nosed wombats.The study in People and Nature included 2,400 cases of animals using buildings as habitat. Most were found in roof spaces, walls, garages and under the house, although some preferred more unusual locations like letterboxes or air conditioning systems. About 10% were found in indoor rooms such as bedrooms and kitchens.Bethany Kiss, a University of Melbourne architect and the lead author of the study, said animals were seeking out buildings as substitute habitats as their natural homes and hollows disappeared.“We found native wildlife using almost every part of the house imaginable,” Kiss said. “People often think these are unusual incidents, but they’re actually very common.”Figure showing the top 14 building features used by wildlife and the top two species that used each feature. Interior roofs (1) represented the highest use, followed by garage/sheds (2), under the house (3), in or near roller doors (4), wall cavities (5), exterior roofs (6), heating, ventilation and cooling systems (7), balconies (8), general living spaces (9), mailboxes or hanging baskets (10), doors (11), outdoor living spaces (12), chimneys (13) and windows (14). Illustration: Kiss et al, People and NatureWildlife Victoria, which provided the data for the study, said one recent caller to its emergency response service discovered juvenile sugar gliders in her kitchen.“She had reached under the sink for a dishwashing tablet and instead her hand landed on something furry,” said Aleisha Hall, a spokesperson for the rescue organisation. Investigating further, they found two gliders curled up together in a small jar.When a volunteer was dispatched to collect the gliders, they found five more.Wires reported a homeowner calling after a koala scampered down her hallway. By the time rescuers arrived, it was seated calmly on her bed. Photograph: WiresIn another recent case, an echidna found its way into a house and headed straight for the pantry. “The homeowner found him pulling items off the shelves, including a heavy food processor,” Hall said.Luckily, the homeowner was also a wildlife rescuer and was able to safely return it back outside.A little forest bat, one of the microbats of Melbourne. Photograph: Ericka TudhopeMicrobats often featured in calls to Wildlife Victoria’s hotline. Recently, while renovating, a homeowner found eight little forest bats roosting in a wall.Ericka Tudhope, a rehabilitation specialist from microbats of Melbourne, said bats living in the roof was common and nothing to be concerned about – so long as people left them alone and didn’t touch them.“They make great housemates by keeping bug numbers down and rarely do any damage to the house. They don’t chew cables or wires,” she said.In New South Wales, the Wires rescue service said animals often sought shelter during cold or extreme weather.Last year a member of the public rang when a koala scampered down her hallway. By the time the rescue volunteer arrived, the animal was sitting calmly on her bed.While such cohabiting in Australian houses was mostly accidental, in the United Kingdom buildings were being intentionally designed for habitat, Kiss said, such as the requirement to include “swift nesting bricks” in new builds.“We’re in a biodiversity crisis and a housing crisis,” she said.While architecture often focused on ways to keep nature out, there were opportunities to design buildings that were better for both people and wildlife. That could include wildlife-friendly lighting and noise reduction measures, as well as habitat features, like swallow shelves or possum boxes.“One of the things that I would really like to see in Australia, is that we think about embedding the ecologist in the design process like you would with, say, an engineer,” Kiss said.A common brushtail possum under a house in Brisbane. Photograph: Jaana DielenbergProf Sarah Bekessy, a co-author of the paper and Biodiversity Council lead councillor, said research consistently showed that people benefited from everyday interactions with wildlife.“Wildlife in our neighbourhoods can improve our mental wellbeing, strengthen people’s connection with nature and make cities healthier, more resilient places to live,” she said.Wildlife Victoria said it advocated for peaceful coexistence where possible, but anyone concerned about an animal in their home was encouraged to contact their local wildlife rescue.