How Native Australian Animals Are Seeking Shelter in Homes as Habitat Loss Grows

New research shows native animals such as possums, bats and ducks are increasingly establishing homes inside Australian houses—from roof spaces to balconies.

The study examined a decade of wildlife rescue reports and found that brushtail and ringtail possums accounted for roughly half of all building‑occupancy cases, with microbats and bare‑nosed wombats following.

The research, published in People and Nature, covered 2,400 documented instances of wildlife using buildings as habitat. The majority were recorded in roof spaces, wall cavities, garages and under the house, while a smaller number occupied unconventional sites such as letterboxes or HVAC systems. Approximately 10 % were found in interior rooms, including bedrooms and kitchens.

Bethany Kiss, an architect at the University of Melbourne and the study’s lead author, explained that animals are turning to buildings as substitute habitats as their natural homes and tree hollows disappear.

“We observed native wildlife using virtually every part of a house imaginable,” Kiss said. “What people often view as rare incidents are in fact quite common.”

Wildlife Victoria, which supplied the study’s data, reported a recent case in which a caller discovered juvenile sugar gliders in her kitchen. “She reached under the sink for a dish‑washing tablet and her hand landed on something furry,” said Aleisha Hall, a spokesperson for the rescue group. Further investigation uncovered two gliders huddled together in a small jar.

When a volunteer was sent to collect the gliders, five additional individuals were discovered.

In a separate incident, an echidna entered a home and made a beeline for the pantry, pulling items off the shelves—including a heavy food processor, according to Hall.

Fortunately, the homeowner, who is also a wildlife rescuer, was able to release the animal safely back outside.

Calls to Wildlife Victoria’s hotline frequently involve microbats. In one recent case, a homeowner uncovered eight little forest bats roosting inside a wall during renovations.

Ericka Tudhope, a rehabilitation specialist with Microbats of Melbourne, noted that roof‑dwelling bats are common and pose no threat as long as people leave them undisturbed and avoid handling them. “They make excellent housemates by controlling insect populations and rarely cause damage to the property; they do not chew cables or wires,” she added.

In New South Wales, the Wires rescue service observes that animals frequently seek shelter during cold or extreme weather events.

Last year, a member of the public called after a koala ran down her hallway. By the time the rescue volunteer arrived, the animal was calmly seated on her bed.

Kiss noted that while cohabitation in Australian homes is largely accidental, United Kingdom buildings are being intentionally designed to support wildlife—such as the mandatory inclusion of “swift nesting bricks” in new constructions.

“We are facing simultaneous biodiversity and housing crises,” she said.

Architecture has traditionally aimed to keep wildlife out, yet there are growing opportunities to design buildings that benefit both people and nature. Strategies could include wildlife‑friendly lighting, noise reduction, and the incorporation of habitat features such as swallow shelves or possum boxes.

Kiss concluded, “I would like to see Australia embed ecologists into the design process from the outset, just as we would engineers.”

Professor Sarah Bekessy, a co‑author of the study and lead councillor for the Biodiversity Council, emphasised that research consistently shows people benefit from daily wildlife interactions. “Wildlife in our neighbourhoods can improve mental wellbeing, strengthen connections to nature, and make cities healthier and more resilient places to live,” she said.

Wildlife Victoria promotes peaceful coexistence wherever feasible, urging residents who encounter animals in their homes to contact their local wildlife rescue service for assistance.

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