Orphaned Opossums

It is almost impossible to get a baby opossum back with its mom.  These guys will need to go to a rehabber.  They chill fast---get them warm.  For starters, throw a towel in the dryer and get it warm (not hot) and put them in it.  Then you can tell them about using a jar of hot water and putting it in a sock, or filling a sock with dried beans or rice and heating it in the microwave.   Most small baby opossums that are found will come from a mother opossum that was hit by a car.  The babies, if quite young, will still stay attached to the mother’s nipple even if she has died.  The mouths will have to be carefully pried open to loosen the suction.  The babies just about swallow the mother’s nipple.  For those bold folks out there, check the pouch for others.  Unfortunately, it is very hard to save the very tiny pink opossum babies. There are a few rehabbers who can tube them, but they should probably be taken to a vet and put down.

The larger babies sometimes just fall off of the mother and she probably doesn’t even notice. Again, there is no way to get the baby back with the mom since she travels a good distance at night in search for food. These guys need to be kept warm. The baby will need to go to a rehabber.  If the opossum is over 500 grams (a little over a pound) then it may be on its own anyway.

Injured Adult Opossums

At times teenage and adult opossums get caught in garbage cans. They go in and then can’t get back out.  Sometimes they have been trapped for days. They become quite dehydrated.  Contact a rehabber.  It is not always a good idea to just turn the garbage can over.  Let an opossum rehabber decide what is best after they have all the information. Sometimes the animal is too weak to run or walk away and then they are attacked by another animal.

Unfortunately, many opossums are hit by cars. They can be easily pushed into a box with a broom or something similar. Also, a towel or blanket can be gently put over them and then they are easy to pick up. They are not vicious like many people think.  Need to be kept warm!  Contact a rehabber.  Call an After Hours Emergency Clinic if it is late at night.

If the adult is female then there is a chance she may have babies from early spring through mid summer.  Even the very young babies will usually have their feet hanging out of the pouch and moving. The very tiny and pink babies mostly likely cannot be saved.  Their mouths are still sealed to an “o”.  A few rehabbers have success with tubing, but most seem to die.  Call a rehabber and see if the opossums are old enough to be saved – otherwise they will need to be taken to a vet to be euthanized. Don’t forget the babies will need to be kept warm.