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Opossum babies are soft like cotton candy, delicate and needy. They're hard to resist, with their tiny
hands, little fingernails and mezmerizing tail. But please, opossum require highly specialized diets and special needs.
The cute baby you rescued will very rapidly develop metabolic bone disorder without the proper diet.
If you cared enough to rescue the joey -- as the babies are called -- please call a permitted rehabber. I follow
the protocols of the National Opossum Society, of which I am a member. If you are out of the area I am glad to help you find
a rehabber close or get you in touch with the N.O.S. Help is always needed for these little ones with the twinkly eyes.
| Joey siblings |
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| four or five-week old girl and boy, spring 2005 |
FOR N.O.S. information click HERE
Why do we see so many opossum orphans?
As marsupials, opossum are nocturnal. Moms forage for food at night. If she's
frightened she'll bolt -- sometimes dropping a baby or two. Alas, opossum moms don't retrieve their little ones. So an orphaned
baby's survival depends on you. I hope you will get it to a rehabber. If you can't find a rehabber and you are out of
my area, I can help you or please contact the N.O.S. which has members on-call. They are very helpful and responsive.
The same principals go for opossum young as for squirrels -- warm the baby, gently,
with warm heat (not hot!). Check for parasites, wounds. Never feed when cold and always try to hydrate. An eye dropper with
pedialyte and water will hold her over until you can find help. Swaddle her in a t-shirt on a very low-set heating pad, if
possible, or lay her next to a baggie with warm water. I have letters of recommendation from the N.O.S. and am happy
to help find someone in your area trained to care for the orphan.
| baby boy fall 2005 |
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| God's creatures |
| Little girl I call Tessa |
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| rescued in August '06. Approx seven weeks |
| This is the youngest yet I have received: 3 weeks |
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| This was mid-February '07. I call him Pudge now |
| Max about 3 months, going out daily, with toy |
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| Like the others on previous page, Max is in the wild. Sept. '06 |
| This is Rudy, about 3 months and going out daily. |
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| Rudy is well, on his own though a daily visitor to my feeder |
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Donations are tax deductible, and ever so greatly appreciated. I also field an average of four calls a week to my cellphone
to find help for other wildlife -- from a lost duckling to an injured deer. Fla. cert. #NO7000002434.
| Pudge eats a lot. Pear cubes and formula |
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| March 10, 2007 |
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