Wild Animals/baby opossum

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Expert: Jonathan Wright - 7/6/2009


Question
We found a baby opossum in the yard during the day and it is obvious it is not big enough to be weaned from its mother and we were wondering what we should do to care for it. It is only a few ounces in weight but it can see and it can climb and get around well. It is approximately 6 and one half inches from nose to tail.

Answer
Dear Tosha

Thank you for your question. I also wish to thank the authors of the websites I used.

I suggest that you read the website of the Opossum Society US (or OSUS) at http://www.opossumsocietyus.org/frequently_asked_questions.htm OSUS does not recommend trying to raise baby opossums. First of all, it is illegal to keep opossums in many states, although you may be able to keep them if you have a special permit. Many baby opossums suffer because people give them an unsuitable diet. Marsupial milk varies according to the age of the baby and it can be difficult to find a suitable substitute.

You should contact OSUS or another wildlife organisation or charity to see if you are allowed to keep an opossum as a pet (see http://theopossumpage.com/pagelegal.html). http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/374389/the_opossum_very_popular_exotic_...). http://www.ehow.com/how_2046508_care-pet-opossum.html gives advice about looking after opossums, but http://theopossumpage.com/pagelegal.html says that opossums are high maintenance animals. Basically, the sooner the baby opossum can be released into the wild, the better.

I hope that you have success and that the baby opossum thrives.

Jonathan

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Jonathan Wright

Expertise

I can answer questions about wild mammals and other animals, as well as extinct animals and zoos. I am not an expert about every animal species. I can look up information from books and the internet, but can't verify if all the information is true. Please don't ask questions about: 1. Pets. I am not a vet. Please contact a vet if your pet is ill. You may need to spend some money if you want your pet to live. Don't get a pet if you don't know how to look after it and if you can't provide it with the space, food and possible companions that will help it live a healthy life. Don't take animals from the wild, unless they are ill and/or injured and you can protect them until a wildlife charity can help. It is cruel to take animals from their parents, especially if the parents will look for the babies, while putting their other babies at risk. You may be breaking the law by keeping wild animals or you may need a licence to look after some species. Please check with a local wildlife group. 2. Eggs: Please don't remove eggs from nests. The mother birds provide the right temperature for the eggs and won't sit on them if the temperature is warm enough for them to develop naturally. It is illegal to remove eggs of some species and, unless you have an incubator or a broody hen, the egg may not develop. If you are allowed to touch the eggs, you can candle them to see if they are fertile. If theys aren't fertile, they won't hatch. 3. Fights: Please don't ask about fights between different animals. These questions assume that individuals of two species fight each time they meet and that one species will always be victorious over another. This is untrue. There are cases where a live mouse has been fed to a venomous snake, bitten the snake leading to the snake's demise. 4: Diseases: Please ask doctors or other medical experts about diseases that you may catch from animals. I can't advise on how to deal with viruses, bacteria etc.

Experience

I have a zoology degree and have been interested in animals since I was two. I am a zoo volunteer at London Zoo. I have appeared on a BBC Radio Quiz, 'Wildbrain'.

Organizations
WWF. ZSL. Natural History Museum. RSPB. London Bat Group.

Publications
Newsletters of London Zoo volunteers and the London Bat Group

Education/Credentials
BSC degree in Zoology. 'A' level in Zoology. 'O' Level in Biology.

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