It is baby season, so what do you do if you find a baby opossum

Virginia Opossums are interesting creatures. They are the only marsupial native to North America. The gestation period for the Virginia Opossum is 13 days which means they are very “premature” when born. At birth, they crawl up into the mothers pouch, attach themselves to one of her 13 nipples, and continue to grow and develop for another 2 months. When they are about 2 months old, they begin to leave the mom’s pouch for short periods of time. They will stay with mom—first in her pouch, then riding on her back and finally running along side her—for approximately 5 months when they are fully weaned and able to live independently.

Follow up:

The opossum is an omnivore and scavenger. Opossums are often the victims of preditors, especially dogs, which may shake the mom during an attack throwing the babies from the pouch. As they scavenge road-kill, opossums are also frequently hit by cars. If you can safely stop to check an opossum that you see dead on the road (stop for “fresh” looking kills only,) you can check for babies that may still be alive. First, look around as babies can be thrown from the pouch during an accident. To check her pouch, roll her on her back and pull back on the skin slit found on her mid-stomach. You will be able to see any babies that she may have in her pouch. There may be as many as 13 babies! If you see babies in the pouch, gently pull them from the nipple. Babies under 2 months of age typically have little to no hair. The chance to successfully rehabilitate a baby possum will depend on the age and physical development of the baby. As soon as possible, put a “pouch” baby in a container with a soft towel/blanket and place the container on a heating pad set to low. For transporting babies, you can use a hot water bottle, baggie or plastic soda bottle filled with hot water, or fill a sock with rice and microwave until warm (not hot) to touch, place in the container under the blanket/towel to help keep the babies warm. Do not give these babies anything to eat or drink. Opossum babies NEVER learn to suckle like other mammals. The mom’s nipple which lengthens as the baby grows is swallowed into the baby possums stomach pumping milk directly into the baby’s stomach. Attempting to feed a baby possum that is too young to lap may cause it to aspirate fluid into it’s lungs and drown. Call a local rehabilitator as soon as possible.

As opossum babies grow, they spend more and more time outside the pouch. An older baby will be fully furred, will have already cut all 50 teeth and looks like a minature adult. Often, older babies are left behind especially if mom is startled or needs to run from a preditor. If you find an older baby possum, this is a baby that needs to be rescued as the mother opossum will not return to look for her lost baby. Place this baby in a box with a towel/blanket. If the animal appears dehydrated, you can add a dish of water to the box for it to lap. If it is wet, cold or injured, add a heat source to help it dry and warm up or to prevent shock. Do not give any other food or fluids. Never give cow's milk. When raised in captivity by someone who is not properly trained, the possum can develop Metabolic Bone Disease which will cripple or kill it if fed the wrong diet. It is imperative to call a rehabilitator as soon as possible.

Any opossum, baby or adult, that has obvious injuries or is known to have been in a cat’s mouth, must be taken to a rehabilitor as soon as possible for medical treatment. Keep these animals in a container with a blanket/towel for warmth. Keep them quiet. Keep all children and pets away from the box so the animal is not stressed any more than it already is. Get them to a wildlife rehabilitator as soon as possible.