orphan baby possum

Originally Posted by Christiaan

Possums don't get rabies, their metabolism is too low. Most small rodents don't pass rabies either. They die of it before they can transmit it to others.

Originally Posted by Simpler Times

I have chickens and I have had problems with possums eating the chickens/eggs. When I do that tells me I am not giving enough attention to my chicken house and enclosures. I have also raised baby possums and would do it again. They are really interesting little animals and are wonderful for a kid to raise. The experience allows one on one contact between animal and human so that the human can grow to appreciate the concept that everything has a purpose and sometimes, although purposes of individual beings often conflict both among us and among us and wild creatures, it does not give us an inherent right to blow away everything that conflicts with our particular purpose. (btw, I know that was a run-on sentence). Possums have opposable thumbs like humans and can hang on to their mother or your hair or whatever. When mine got big enough I fed them dry dog and cat food soaked in milk or water. They eventually graduate on their own to finding and eating bigger and better things. That might be grasshoppers or it might be chickens. They are, as someone said, opportunistic.