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Rescue infant opossum s

669 views 13 replies 9 participants last post by  Cabin Fever 
#1 ·
I picked up 10 opossum from a road killed mom. Aug 9th. With research I decided that they were 64 days old from conception 1.5 to 2 inches long. Most had their eyes open and jaw unlocked. I warmed them and got formula started with an iv tub on a syringe. Every 1.5 to 2 hours until i got then lapping from dish. All have servived. They have really done very well. Non of the rescue s in my 4 state area would take them some oftered to euthanize. Any way. 4 are huge size of a good size rat. The rest are mouse size. They all eat the mix of fruits, veg, chicken, sardine s ,cheese, still offer infant cerial and formula and deluted apply juice.
Question do you think i need to add infant vitamins and calcium to the food. Maybe more sunlight? I have had them in my bedroom not much sunlight. They call me alot and worry when they dont see me around. I've been recuperating from a huge surgery so having them in reach has been a plus for me. And since i have cats and they look like mice. They are all potty trained. I have a large cage setup so they can climb and run around. They still sleep in a large tote with heating pad under the tote. Gave them some meal worms and crickets to play and eat. No-one up on my hill has chickens anymore. Seems when i sold out so did others. Anyway since we have no birds i figured i would let the possums go on their own when big enough that my cats wont take them. From what i read they will go comeback and go when they are ready. Any thoughts from you all. I know i have taken many opossum s off my hill. But I decided to give this bunch a chance.
 
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#7 ·
The last time I "rescued" a litter of possums, I used them to feed a nest of crows.
The crow picked them up one at a time and flew them back to the nest to feed the brood.
The crows chase away the hawks that like to kill the pigeons and chickens, while the possums are just one more predator.
 
#8 ·
Ya i lost a lot of chickens to a opossum. Just couldnt drive by without doing something. Thought i could call the local rescue and that would be that. Grandfather was a railroad man he always had some kind of critter in gmoms kitchen. So i guess it runs in the family. Newborn kittens seem to be what shows up at my house most often. Chicks and turkeys from the feed store that had a ruff trip. I do what i can most servive and go back.
 
#11 ·
If it brings you happiness then that is all that matters, you are the one that is doing it. There are enough possums in the world that it is not likely that you are going to cause any impact on the population one way or the other. Just be careful. Here if you try to rescue wildlife without the proper permits and do too much advertising, even if you call to try to get someone to come get them, they will send a conservation officer around to check on you. If they are in your possession you will be ticketed and the wildlife will be euthanized. Makes no sense, but just like you raising orphan possums, it seems to make the conservation officers happy.
 
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