What to do with the baby?

[BettyR]

My mastiffs came home today from their daily walk in the woods with a gift for me, one was carrying a baby possum in her mouth. She spat it out on the back patio at my feet as if to say here mommy you take care of it.

It’s very small and I have absolutely no interest in becoming mommy to a baby possum. I have no idea if it can eat on it’s own or not but I put some cat food in a paper plate and stuck both the food and the possum up under the old shed out back.

Does anyone know how big it needs to be in order to eat solid food? I’m feeling very guilty right now because I didn’t want to take care of it. I don’t mind feeding it until it’s old enough to find food on it’s own but I do not want it in my house and I don’t want to be bottle-feeding the thing.

 

[amazondoc]

If it's out by itself rather than riding around on mom, then it is plenty old enough for solid food. It would probably appreciate some handouts for awhile, so I'm sure it says thanks for the cat food.

When you say "very small", can you be more specific? It has hair? Its eyes are open? Not counting the tail, how many inches long is the body?

 

[BettyR]

It has all its hair, eyes open and so on; it looks just like an adult possum except it’s only about 4 or 5 inches long not including the tail.

 

[amazondoc]

Oh yeah, that's plenty big for real food.

Since you're a nice person, you could leave food out for him in the same place for a few days. But if he was not badly injured by your dog, he'll probably be gone by tomorrow!

 

[panner123]

It is old enough now. Get rid of it or you will be sorry. If you are going to rehome it, take it more than 20 miles from your home or it will be back.

 

[BJ]

Listen to Panner. All babies are cute, because if they weren't, we wouldn't take care of them. BUT THEY GROW UP! AND ITS A POSSUM!!! ACK!!!!!

 

[amazondoc]

Oh for heaven's sake. What is it with so many people seeming to either hate or fear all the wild animals around them?? It's just a possum!

 

[rooster-red]

Quote:
+1

 

[luvmychicknkids]

There are plenty who will argue that it will grow up and kill your chickens. Yeah, but then so will most things...heck, they taste like chicken. I raised two (bottle fed) last Summer. Still have the little sweeties. They are the most amazing little pets. They are smart, sweet, and very clean. Obviously you aren't wanting to keep it, but thank you for not just killing it either.

 

[amazondoc]

Well......I don't know that I would ever go so far as to call a possum smart......

I raised or helped to raise quite a few baby possums in times past, and my mom kept a pet possum for years. They are not at all bad so long as you don't expect too much from them.

And so far as wild animals go.....cmon people, I mean really. If you hate or fear wild animals so much, then go live in the middle of a big city. If you're gonna live in the country, then animals are gonna be sharing the space with you!