Baby opossum food
Care of Orphaned Opossums | Loyola University Center for Environmental Communication
OPOSSUMS: RAISING FOR RELEASE
by Sharon Alonzo
The early spring brings the arrival of many baby opossums (Didelphis marsupialis), Louisiana’s only native marsupial. The young can be quite successfully raised and released into the wild when older. Release dates vary but it is best to release animals before the onset of colder weather since they will have to learn to find some kind of place to call home and acquaint themselves with the stock of food available. At their release the siblings will not band together but go off as single individuals.
The orphaned young are often times found in the mother’s pouch after the animal has been killed. It seems that the young can live for a short while in the pouch of the dead mother.
Some of the things to keep in mind when raising young are: 1) to keep the young animal warm by using a heating pad under their box, cardboard boxes are suggested, 2) provide some soft nesting material, cloth or straw, 3) provide darkness for these animals, since the babies will cover themselves up anyway. These animals are nocturnal, therefore, quiet and darkness are comfortable for them.
The young are noiseless except for a pronounced hiss when threatened or startled. The very young animals rarely move around unless disturbed. Older animals are active at night and even cardboard boxes can be escaped from.
Feeding: Determine whether your orphan can lap up liquids or if they need to be fed by the bottle. A pet nurser purchased from the pet store, a syringe, or an eyedropper may be used. If animals are sick use separate utensils for each animal. Young opossums may be fed Esbelac, (dilute 1 to 3 with water), whole milk, (dilute 1 to 1 with water), or infant formula, (dilute 1 to 1 with water). Esbelac is recommended and is purchased from the pet store. Babies need to be fed at least six times a day, decreasing feeding as the animal get older. Usually when the animals are unusually hungry they move around restlessly. Otherwise they remain snuggled together.
After feedings each animal needs to be stimulated to urinate.
This is accomplished by stimulating the urogenital area, which includes the urethra opening and the anus, with a damp rag, towel, or paper towel. The animal must urinate. This stimulation is the same type given by mother kittens to their newborns. Often times fecal matter is expelled at this time so be prepared. Individuals animals differ, some animals are easier to stimulate before being fed, others after. Some do not urinate more than once or twice a day, but they must urinate at some point. When the animal is urinating on its own, usually by the time it is lapping milk, the process can be discontinued. Some clues as to when to stop the external stimulation are damp bedding and dirty paper ont he bottom of the box or cage.
When the opossums have the lapping reflex use a metal or plastic lid of a jar to put liquid food in their box or cage. Feedings can be decreased to two or three times a day but be sure all has had enough. Rice cereal and formula may be mixed into a gruel like liquid to give the opossums next.
Then apples or bananas may be added to the rice cereal mixture gradually using less milk. Soon cereal may be thinned with water, fruits can be mashed separately and even mashed vegetables can be introduced. Teeth can come in very quickly at this time. This is also a time of increased night activity so beware that extra security is need for their box or cage.
After the introduction of fruits you can try moistened dry puppy food, gradually getting the older animal to a diet of puppy food and fruits and vegetables. I have found that the opossums I have raised will virtually eat anything but successful introduction into the wild can never be accomplished unless they will eat native berries and fruits. Always supply water to the animals. However, be aware that a small animal could drown in a bowl which he could not get out of. Decrease feedings to once a day in the evening. This sets them up to look for food and dusk and mimics their expected evening foraging.
I suggest a move of the animals outside where they can experience the smells and sound of the outdoors, as well as the correct temperature for an anticipated release.
A cage with a screen bottom will allow droppings to fall from the cage and is recommended. Provide an overturned flowerpot, some bedding material some branches and water for their outside cage. Also, this is a great opportunity to see the animals at their most active. Take time out at night to view their foraging and climbing, and restless nocturnal activity. These otherwise sluggish critters really expend energy at night.
Since the object of raising wild animals is toward that of a successful release once off the bottle as little handling and contact is beneficial. Larger animals have very sharp teeth, a powerful jaw and never reach a docile stage.
Pests and diseases are few. Listed here are the ones that we have encountered: ticks, fleas, mites, and mange in a few animals, are the main external problems. Internal parasites exist and the only other problem encountered was a tendency toward a prolapsed rectum (protruding rectal tissue) which was cleaned up when the animal was given Pepto Bismol.
Please remember, at all times, that you are raising this orphan to return it to the wild. It is easy to become attached to the animal and to convince yourself that it will make a good pet. It is illegal to keep an opossum; these animals are much better off in the wild; and they often start to bite once they mature.
What Do Possums Eat? Can You Feed Baby Possums?
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If you find a baby possum abandoned on the side of the road somewhere, you probably shouldn’t pick them up before calling animal control. But what happens if you have no choice but to take them home to nurse them back to health? You might find yourself with an adorable conundrum on your hands. You might even find yourself wondering a few things about possum biology and behavior. For instance: can you feed baby possums? Should you feed them? And either way, what do possums eat?
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What kind of possum are we talking about?
If you’re from Australia, a possum is a very different animal from the one Americans keep referring to as possums.
What we are talking about is the opossum, America's only marsupial, and one that possesses very few similarities to its Aussie cousin. There are 65 different species of opossum in North America, according to the Opossum Society. The most common of these many marsupials is the Virginia opossum, which is the one we shall focus on today.
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What do possums eat?
Frankly, when it comes to the opossum, the question “what do they eat?” doesn’t really seem appropriate. It might be more appropriate to ask “what don’t they eat?” Opossums have always had a bit of a bad reputation among suburban residents for being scavengers — which, of course, they are. But that doesn’t mean we should hold it against them. Especially because their versatile diets actually help us get rid of carrion (decaying dead animal bodies).
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According to pest control company Terminix, opossums eat everything from dead animals to insects, rodents, birds, frogs, plants, fruit, and grain.
They don’t just feed on the flesh of carrion or roadkill either. Possum diets require a high degree of calcium, which they can get from eating the skeletal remains of rodents and other dead creatures. Opossums will also eat cat food, dog food, and table scraps from our garbage cans. Unfortunately, it is this “taste for trash” that makes them more of a pest than a helper in the eyes of many.
How do possums eat so many different things?
Opossums are scavengers by evolution and opportunity. They are nocturnal but possess poor eyesight, which doesn’t really help when it comes to trying to find food. Luckily, they make up for this with great hearing and a very keen sense of smell. This has made them fairly successful opportunists, especially when they find themselves living in and around suburban and rural communities.
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These remarkable marsupials possess other positive traits as well — though we will admit that most of these also have to do with them finding food.
Opossums don’t just find food well, they can also remember where it is located for the next time. According to Landscape Architecture Magazine, possums scored higher than rats, rabbits, cats, and dogs in laboratory tests meant to recall where food was placed. That’s why it’s so hard to get rid of possums on your own — they remember where you keep the goods!
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What do baby possums eat?
Adults may be great at scavenging, but baby opossums are not nearly as well-equipped. Like all marsupials, opossum mommies lack a placenta, so their young must grow and be kept in a pouch. Newborn opossums are about the size of a honey bee and will stay in their mother’s pouch for around 80 days before they are mature enough to begin scavenging on their own.
What to feed baby possums?
Once they are big enough to leave the pouch, baby possums can eat just about everything.
You can feed them dog and cat food in moderation. You could also feed them insects like cockroaches, worms, slugs, and snails (one of their favorite foods). This is only pertinent if the baby is old enough, of course, and with an orphaned opossum, that isn’t always known.
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According to the blog WildHeart, baby possums do not thrive on milk. For one, marsupial milk is very different from cow’s milk or formula. On top of that, baby possums don’t suckle like other animals, so attempting to bottle feed could cause them to aspirate and die. The point we’re trying to make here is that you, reader, are likely ill-equipped to feed or care for a baby possum on your own.
Should I feed a baby possum?
No, you really, really shouldn’t — not without some guidance, anyway, If you find a baby possum, either alone or attached to their deceased mother, you should contact your local animal control, veterinarian, or animal rescue right away.
If the baby possum is alone and walking in the wilderness and you can’t help yourself, get a box with towels or old shirts, along with a wrapped heating pad or water bottle, and get them to an animal expert as quickly as possible. That is the best way to help them.
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10 Interesting Facts About Possums (with photo)
The Virginia opossum is both the only opossum and the only marsupial native to North America. The Virginian possums, colloquially referred to as possums, should not be confused with the arboreal marsupials of Australia and New Guinea, which also have the word "possum" in their names. Virginia opossums are found in North America in southern Canada, east of the Rocky Mountains and along the west coast of the United States, as well as in Central America.
According to the IUCN, the Virginia opossum population is increasing and they are not considered at risk of extinction. (1
Because they look like rats, opossums have a low reputation. But these intelligent nocturnal animals are very interesting. They are naturally immune to snake venom and eat parasitic mites and garden pests. Discover the most fascinating facts about the opossum, from opposable hind toes to the ability to instantly feign death.
1. Possums are very intelligent
Although many people think that possums are not the most intelligent creatures, there are several areas of intelligence in which they excel. First, they have a remarkable ability to find food and remember where it is. In testing, opossums outperformed rats, rabbits, cats, and dogs, but not humans. They can also navigate a maze more efficiently than rats and cats. (2)
2. They have thumbs on their paws
Just like humans and other primates, opossums have the equivalent of opposed thumbs.
Each of the possum's big toes on its hind feet, called the big toe, is opposed; they are set apart from the other toes, much like the human palm and thumb. The thumb allows the opossum to grasp and climb better than most other mammals. Unlike other opossum toes, the big toe is the only one that does not have a claw. (2)
3. They have an impressive tail
Jay Ondreika / Shutterstock
Opossums have prehensile tails that they use as a hand or fifth appendage. Their long hairless tails reach almost the same length as the body of an opossum. Their tails allow them to grab and wrap around things like tree branches. The tail also helps to maintain balance. Possums can dangle on their tails, but only for a short time. (3)
4. Opossums are omnivores
The normal diet of an opossum consists of carrion, rodents, snakes, insects, snails, slugs, birds, eggs, frogs, plants, fruits and grains. If given the opportunity, opossums will also eat human food, pet food, and garbage.
They may adjust their diet depending on the season and location.
Opossums are natural orderlies and have an unusually high calcium requirement, which encourages them to eat the skeletons of rodents and roadkill. (2)
5. They have natural defenses
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When threatened, possums run, growl, burp, urinate and defecate. And when all these methods fail, they pretend to be dead. This is an involuntary reaction (such as fainting), not a conscious act. They roll over, become rigid, close their eyes (or stare with open eyes) and expose their 50 small teeth. Saliva forms around the opossum's mouth, and a foul-smelling fluid is released from the anal glands.
The catatonic state is more common in young opossums and can last up to six hours. Adult animals are more likely to confront enemies or run away at about 6.5 kilometers per hour. (4)
6. Opossums carry their young in a pouch
Like other marsupials, female opossums take care of their young in their pouch.
Young opossums are tiny at birth (about the size of a bee), blind, deaf and hairless. After a short gestation period (less than two weeks), baby opossums crawl into their mother's pouch where they remain for a couple of months. (4)
After the cubs leave the pouch, they stay close to their mother, often riding on her back for several months until they are completely independent. Male opossums are not involved in caring for young animals.
7. They are always groomed
Photo source: wikipedia.org
Although opossums may appear to be groomed, they are actually very scrupulous in grooming themselves. When opossums are not foraging or sleeping, they are grooming themselves. Like cats, opossums follow the same pattern of licking their paws and wiping their faces. They clean their entire body from head to tail, combing their fur with their claws and removing insects to chew on. Female opossums are especially picky about keeping their pouch clean, especially when caring for their young.
(4, 5)
8. Possums are naturally immune
Photo Source: citywildlife.org
There is a common misconception, due in part to their appearance, that opossums are harbingers of disease. But in the case of rabies, opossums rarely carry the deadly virus due to their naturally low body temperature. Compared to other wild animals, opossums are much less likely to carry rabies than bats, raccoons, and skunks. However, opossums can transmit diseases such as leptospirosis or salmonellosis to humans through their feces. And they often carry fleas that can be passed on to pets. (6)
Although opossums are often stung by bees and scorpions, they have an impressive ability to tolerate these poisons. And they don't often get infected with Lyme disease, although they are often bitten by ticks. In fact, they usually eat ticks before they have a chance to infect them. Opossums also have resistance to snake venom. They have partial or complete immunity to the venom of rattlesnakes, cottonmouths, and other venomous snakes.
To develop a cheap antidote for rattlesnakes, scientists are recreating a peptide found in opossums. (7, 8, 9, 10)
9. They provide free pest control
Photo Source: iStock
Since opossums' diet allows them to feast on snails, slugs and bugs, they can be a welcome addition to the garden. They also help clean up pest sources by eating rotting fruits and vegetables. Opossums also deter rats and cockroaches by competing with them for food. In fact, possums often kill cockroaches and rats if they find them in their territory. (11)
10. Possums are drawn to water
Opossums tend to live in areas with reliable access to water and are actually quite skilled swimmers. Although these animals spend most of their time on land or in trees, they sometimes head towards the water to escape predators. Opossums can swim both underwater and on the surface, using their limbs and tail to get around. (4)
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Northern or North American opossum | zoo-ekzo.com
DIDelphis Marsupialis
is not available
North, or North American Oposum (DIDELPHIS MARSUPIALIS)
Family-OPSIMS-OPSIMS-OPSIMS-OPSIMS
Appearance
Outwardly, this animal is a typical representative of the opossum family: somewhat reminiscent of a rat, but with an elongated pointed muzzle, prehensile hind legs and a grasping tail. The size of a domestic cat. Body length 36-53 cm, tail - 25-33 cm, weight 1.6-5.7 kg.
Habitat
Widely distributed from southern Canada south to northern Peru, eastern Bolivia and Paraguay. It inhabits the eastern half of the United States, as well as the southern part of the Pacific coast of this country. Inhabits a wide variety of areas - both low-lying and elevated, mainly near water bodies.
In nature
They usually rest in hollows of trees, in heaps of deadwood, garbage, in populated areas - in abandoned buildings and underground utilities.
They themselves do not dig holes, they use other people's empty lairs; as a rule, they are occupied by females for brood nests. However, the lack of accessible burrows does not limit the spread of opossums.
Northern opossums are territorial animals, although they are presumably partly vagrant, staying in one territory for no more than 6 months. Research has shown that a typical opossum home range is elongated rather than round, following the course of a river or stream. Its area varies from 0.12 to 23.47 hectares, averaging 4.65 hectares (Texas), but can occupy up to 254 hectares. Opossums are solitary; social ties are poorly developed - with the exception of reproductive behavior, adults show hostility towards each other. Although females can be kept in captivity in groups, adult males invariably engage in fights, usually ending in the death of the weaker male. Aggressive behavior includes aggressive vocalizations (hissing, screeching), showing bared teeth, and physical contact.
A weaker opponent may fall into catatonia.
Compared to other mammals, opossums appear rather slow and clumsy. When running, they reach speeds of up to 7.4 km / h. They climb with the help of opposed thumbs and a grasping tail, and also swim quite well, albeit slowly (at a speed of up to 1.1 km / h). They rush into the water in case of danger, easily covering a distance of up to 100 m. In case of serious danger, opossums “pretend” to be dead (in fact, this reaction to severe stress is involuntary), although they can also demonstrate aggressive behavior. A severely frightened opossum enters a cataleptic state that can last from a few minutes to 2-6 hours. In this case, the opossum lies on its side, with its eyes and mouth slightly open, its muscles relax, and the anal glands secrete a fetid greenish secretion. Sensitivity to tactile stimulation is markedly reduced, although animals may respond poorly to sudden sounds.
Opossums are groomed with the fingers of their hind limbs (except for the large one), combing out parasites with them.
They wash their muzzle with their front paws, like cats. The prehensile tail is used not only for climbing, but also for carrying building materials for the nest.
Possums are active only at night, going in search of food after sunset. Peak activity in spring and summer falls between 11 p.m. and 2 a.m. In late autumn and winter, activity noticeably decreases, especially during periods of severe frosts, however, northern opossums do not hibernate.
The northern opossum is omnivorous. Most of its diet consists of insects and other invertebrates, carrion. It also eats plant foods, including cereals, fruits and vegetables, and mushrooms. In populated areas, it willingly rummages through discarded garbage.
Reproduction
The breeding season of the northern opossum is long and lasts from January or February to June-July. Peaks of reproductive activity occur at the end of January - end of March and mid-May - beginning of July. The estrous period in females lasts 22-38 days; mating occurs shortly after the female enters estrus.
Immediately after it, the female again begins to behave aggressively and drives the male away.
Fertilization occurs in both wombs, although ovulation may be delayed up to 4 days after intercourse. From each ovary, on average, 11 eggs (0.75 mm in diameter) are released, fertilization occurs in the fallopian tubes. After 24 hours, the fertilized eggs enter the uterus. The placenta is not formed, but the embryo is surrounded by folds of the uterine wall. The close contact of the chorion and the blood vessels of the uterine mucosa allows nutrients to move from the mother's bloodstream to the fetuses. Pregnancy lasts 12-13 days; births occur from February to July. The brood initially consists of 5-23 cubs, however, since the female, as a rule, has only 13 nipples, some of the newborns do not survive. Thus, the average brood size of the northern opossum is 7-9cubs. In the northern part of the range, opossums have 1 brood per year; in the rest of the range - 2 broods per year, occasionally - 3.
Cubs are born very premature, weighing only 0.16 g and 14 mm long. They look more like embryos than mature animals. Immediately after birth, with the help of developed claws on their front paws, they crawl into the mother's pouch, where they attach to the nipples. When the baby starts to suckle, the nipple swells and completely fills his mouth. The cubs remain attached to the nipples for up to 50-65 days of life, which is roughly comparable to the duration of pregnancy in a placental mammal of a similar size. 2 months after birth, the cubs develop hair and open their eyes, and after another 5-10 days they begin to move independently and eat solid food. At this time, when moving, the cubs climb onto the back of the mother, often holding onto her tail with their tails, which is raised above the back with the end forward.
Young opossums become independent between the 95th and 105th day of life, after which any connection with their mother ceases. Females observed in captivity did not protect their brood and allowed it to be taken from the nest.
Since pregnancy in females is shorter than the estrous cycle, having lost a brood, a female may soon mate again. Young females reach sexual maturity by 9 months and rarely live more than 1 reproductive season in the wild. Mortality in the first year of life is high, but studies have shown that opossum populations can be up to 75% young.
Captivity
Opossums are easily tamed in captivity and become completely undemanding. They like to sit on their hands and on their heads - an instinct from childhood when they traveled on their mother's back.
In the process of education, harsh punishments should not be applied to opossums. This can lead to his aggression. Also, aggressiveness can manifest itself with the constant content of the opossum in the cage. An opossum must have daily human contact if you want it to be tame.
Possums are excellent climbers and climb up a tree or a cupboard without difficulty. Therefore, it will be necessary to organize special devices in the apartment so that the animal can climb on them.
Potty training for possums is no more difficult than for a cat or a ferret. Place the tray next to their sleeping place, as well as in those rooms where you release the animal.
Opossums do not require frequent bathing. A healthy opossum has no odor. Opossums are quite clean animals and they themselves monitor the cleanliness of their skins.
The animal should be kept away from heating devices (radiator, microwave oven, refrigerator), protected from drafts and direct sunlight.
The life expectancy of opossums directly depends on their diet. Possums will not live long if they are fed only factory-made food. The diet of the opossum should consist of natural fresh or frozen foods, but in no case from prepared foods. Also, the opossum should not be fed beef and pork.
In captivity, the animal is given chicken meat, boiled eggs, cottage cheese, fruits (mainly apples). Fruit can be given 2-3 times a week. Also, the menu of the animal should include fish, mealworms, grasshoppers, cheese, yogurt and other dairy products, vegetable oil, nuts.
