We found a baby opossum!

[1chip2chicks3cheeks]

Two days ago we found this little guy scurrying around in the chicken run, scared the chickens to death! We didn’t see mama anywhere. He’s only 5 1/2 inches and weighs 62g. We were going to call the wildlife rescue, which I’ve been advocating for, but it looks like we’re going to try raising him ourselves. I still feel like he should be in expert care, but not everyone is on board with it, so I guess this is what we’re doing. We’re feeding him Esbilac formula and he’s doing well so far. He has a heating pad and tiny towels to snuggle up with. For those of you who have rescued baby opossums, what else should we be doing for him? I’ve seen that additional calcium needs to be given, but how much? Does the formula not have enough? When should we start weaning him and how do we know when he’s ready to be released? Are there any differences in care for girl and boy joeys??? We don’t know which he is yet.

Any help is appreciated! He’s so sweet

 

[sourland]

He's old enough to be eating solid food. Cat food or dog food would be fine.

 

[RosemaryDuck]

Please hand this little one over to a wildlife rehabilitator. And also check your state laws. It is illegal in several states to own wildlife without a permit.

 

[1chip2chicks3cheeks]

Please hand this little one over to a wildlife rehabilitator. And also check your state laws. It is illegal in several states to own wildlife without a permit.

We plan to release him. I know he would be better off there. I’m young myself (18) and I can’t quite convince the rest of the family to take him there, so nothing I can do it’s a frustrating situation. It sucks when people around you are just dumb sometimes and you can’t do anything. But he seems old enough he should be ready to be on his own soon. I’ve seen others raise and release them that are around this age. Just want to do my best for him and learn all I can.

 

[Gizabelle]

He's adorable.
Even if you cannot get him to a rehabber, you can still call them for advice (just don't give them your name) explain your situation and they'll likely be happy to talk to you about dos and don’ts to prepare for release. As mentioned though, keeping him, even for a short while is illegal in many states.
The hardest part will be staying as hands-off as possible... that's why it's so much better/easier to get them to a rehabber. He will need a healthy wariness of humans if he is to survive on his own after release and it's difficult to raise them without taming them.

 

[1chip2chicks3cheeks]

He's adorable.
Even if you cannot get him to a rehabber, you can still call them for advice (just don't give them your name) explain your situation and they'll likely be happy to talk to you about dos and don’ts to prepare for release. As mentioned though, keeping him, even for a short while is illegal in many states.
The hardest part will be staying as hands-off as possible... that's why it's so much better/easier to get them to a rehabber. He will need a healthy wariness of humans if he is to survive on his own after release and it's difficult to raise them without taming them.

Thank you! I will call them

 

[1chip2chicks3cheeks]

I am sorry to say he didn’t make it through the night I emailed the rescue last night since it said that’s the best way to reach them, no response yet but now it doesn’t matter. Maybe next time people will listen to me and not try to care for an orphaned or injured animal they know nothing about… I’m very sad, I tried my best to help him.

 

[RosemaryDuck]

I am sorry to say he didn’t make it through the night I emailed the rescue last night since it said that’s the best way to reach them, no response yet but now it doesn’t matter. Maybe next time people will listen to me and not try to care for an orphaned or injured animal they know nothing about… I’m very sad, I tried my best to help him.

Wait what happened? He looks really healthy in the pictures you provided. Did he eat poison from the bait box shown?

 

[1chip2chicks3cheeks]

Wait what happened? He looks really healthy in the pictures you provided. Did he eat poison from the bait box shown?

The poison had already been eaten by rats, it was an empty box, he had just run in there. I don’t know he had a heating pad but maybe he still got cold somehow or overheated? Or maybe he wasn’t eating enough? He got lost in the middle of the first night in the garage and I didn’t find him till noon the next day between some tarps we had on the ground. He was cold but warmed up and survived the next night and was eating, figured he was okay. I don’t know. He was eating, but of course we have no idea what the normal length of time is that he should be eating for. He would eat for maybe 10-20 seconds, but sometimes didn’t want much to eat. We were feeding him every 6 hours. Apparently there were a lot of bugs (fleas?) that came off of him once he passed is what I was told this morning. Maybe he was sick but we didn’t know it. I have no idea, just can’t help but think he would have made it if only we got him to the rescue center.

 

[cassie]

I raised a baby possum that was about that age. I picked him up off the concrete floor at the Oregon State Fairgrounds where I was showing goats. Some idiot pitched him across the barn and he landed at my feet. I scooped him up and took him home to California. I kept him for a pet. He was fed primarily on dog food and he did fine. We kept him for quite some months until somebody left a door open and he made his way outside. I enjoyed having him.
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