I am SUCH a sucker!!!

[arlee453]

While possums conceivably CAN carry rabies, it's very, very. VERY rare.

http://www.wildliferescueleague.org/report/opossum.html

and from: http://tampabaypest.com/Services/Opossum/tabid/57/Default.aspx

Opossums, like most other animals, are susceptible to infection by the rabies virus; however, very few rabid wild opossums have been documented. Extremely high doses of the virus have been required to experimentally infect opossums as they seem to be highly resistant to the disease. Even though they do not often carry rabies, opossums can still deliver a nasty bite.​

 

[dixygirl]

Gosh your link says
"Opossum carry diseases such as leptospirosis, tuberculosis, relapsing fever, tularemia, spotted fever, toxoplasmosis, coccidiosis, trichomoniasis, and Chagas disease."

http://tampabaypest.com/Services/Opossum/tabid/57/Default.aspx


I don't want small mice around my house so i def don't want those. They look like humongous RATS. ewwww

 

[kees]

Possums are not known to be rabies vectors but I think that you might consider relocating future ones a couple of miles away from where you live. Since they thrive mostly on carrion, once they're no longer hanging on momma's back, they should be fine. If you're that worried about it, you can make a v-shaped shack for it and leave it a 20 lb bag of dry dog food. You don't need to. It'll be fine.

 

[SpottedCrow]

When I had a baby possum, I wound up taking him to the Wildlife Ctre. We named him hiccups. He was really tiny...he hung off my finger all the way there...He didn't want to be in the box.

When I tried trapping the coon that killed Tom, all I got was Jerry, my Leghorn cockerel twice, Stupid the cat once and a baby skunk...I let them all go.

 

[Year of the Rooster]

my question is... if you are taking care of the baby opossum then why aren't you taking care of the baby raccoon? Baby raccoons are SUPER fun! I raised one and she was a ball! Eventually she just left on her own because she was to big for her cage (large dog crate). I haven't seen her since. I would give ANYTHING to raise another one. They're soooooo adorable and cute and fun

I know what you mean when it reached out for your finger. Its so CUTE!!!

I know they can carry rabies but even though mine bit me a few times, she never drew blood. Anytime she bit me was play, not agression. I reccomend it. One time the coon got in the house and went straight behind the toilet and wouldn't come out

You should go look for it and take care of it before something else gets it. If its that small then it is the perfect age to start.

 

[amazondoc]

I just gotta say, the paranoia some folks have about wild animals never ceases to amaze me.

Cmon, folks. Our dogs, cats, chickens, cows, goats, sheep, llamas, pigs, etc., can carry diseases just as bad as any of the wild animals roaming around. Yet we live around our pets and livestock every single day, and somehow we manage to continue surviving despite all those horrid things they might be carrying. Jeeeeeeeeeeez.

Take a deep cleansing breath, everybody.......

 

[lovemychicks9]

Oh I thought I was the biggest sucker ever! You got me beat---- you are a good soul. Those babies are very cute.

 

[smith2]

Those babies are soooo cute. I personally do not mess with any wild animals because I think they are best left in the wild, but I know people that do. We also have rabies issues around here. Both raccoons and opossums make pets, but they do usually go back to the wild where they are happiest. I am like you. I just can't kill a baby, but the big ones are fair game. Of course, the babies grow into big ones.

 

[lurky]

Your awesome

 

[amazondoc]

fyi -- possums of all sizes adore grapes.