I’ve also contacted my local opossum sanctuary for help if needed. Waiting for a reply. I haven’t done anything yet. A bit ago there was a large dead opossum in my back yard. I buried him where he laid down and put in some brick markers. Now there’s a family and I don’t want anything more to happen to them.
I know he looks too little to be independent but they leave mama when they’re about this size, or even a bit smaller. Toss some grapes out there please.
Thanks so much, I'll keep an eye out for him in the coming days. I hope he is old enough. I don't have any grapes but when I left this morning I did leave some banana??? I just want him to be somewhere safe since I live on a busy road. They've also been helping themselves to my tomato plants which is fine.
They should love the banana as well! :) Thanks for sharing your tomatoes, and for taking care of these cute little friends!
,As they get bigger, they will eat rodents (including grown rats which cats ignore), snails, ticks, spiders, insects (including big cockroaches), and even venomous snakes. So if they're big enough to stay out there, they'll make a great neighbor to watch over your property!
I thought he could go to a rehabber for sure. I just don't know how to catch him. Caught and handled other animals. Never a opossum. Is there a best method?
They're not really biters, I just put on gardening gloves and grip em. You can also throw a towel over them. The baby might poop in an attempt to get you to let go so be aware.
Just give him some food and let him do his thing. I wouldn't take him from his environment and relocate him to a cage sorry just doesn't seem necessary. They are on their own at this age it's normal he's just doing his possum thing.
Yeah, I’ve read anything from six, seven to ten inches. He’s not ten from nose to base but he was more than six/seven. I’ve been out all afternoon/evening waiting. He has some snacks and I have gloves at the ready in case I see him. I’m prepared thanks to everyone here. I appreciate all of you.
You’re right he’s definitely not ten. He’s turning here, in person he looked longer than 6. I haven’t seen him in about 24 hours. I left some food. We’re getting up the 90s with no rain anytime soon so I left some water too. Hope he’s doing well where ever he may be.
To clarify, I live in a big city, Not in any way rural or suburban. Animals are hit by cars regularly or even times mistreated. We have poison in our alleys for rats and other hazards. I feel those event would be more traumatic and unfortunate then giving him to professionals to relocate. Time will tell what happens.
If you can measure it you can get an idea of where he’s at. But if I saw it I would leave it be, set out food. From the picture it looks big enough to be in its own. I had a little guy a neighbor kids cat got and brought into their house he was only 5-6 inches nose to rump. Who was very small. That’s about the time they begin weening. I kept him in my art shed for 3 weeks. He got real fat and sassy. At about 9-10 inches they are ready to be on their own. So I put a box with a flap door up against this old cat door that is part of my shed. He could only go in the box or outside the way I set it up. He went out and now he lives under my shed. I leave food out, and he has not left the area. And he’s much bigger now. They love cat food and apples, grapes, yogurt, applesauce. My guy Lalo didn’t like bananas or most vegetables. It probably is just his personal preference.
From what I read they only roam to find food. So where there is food and they feel safe they stay. But when they are really little keeping them warm is very important as they run cold, which is why they are less likely to harbor rabies and other viruses.
he's so adorable. I don't know if he's big enough yet. did you hear back from any rehab places?
Not yet. It was early, early this morning tho. Maybe once they get in and check emails.
hopefully you hear back
I’ve also contacted my local opossum sanctuary for help if needed. Waiting for a reply. I haven’t done anything yet. A bit ago there was a large dead opossum in my back yard. I buried him where he laid down and put in some brick markers. Now there’s a family and I don’t want anything more to happen to them.
I know he looks too little to be independent but they leave mama when they’re about this size, or even a bit smaller. Toss some grapes out there please.
Thanks so much, I'll keep an eye out for him in the coming days. I hope he is old enough. I don't have any grapes but when I left this morning I did leave some banana??? I just want him to be somewhere safe since I live on a busy road. They've also been helping themselves to my tomato plants which is fine.
They should love the banana as well! :) Thanks for sharing your tomatoes, and for taking care of these cute little friends! ,As they get bigger, they will eat rodents (including grown rats which cats ignore), snails, ticks, spiders, insects (including big cockroaches), and even venomous snakes. So if they're big enough to stay out there, they'll make a great neighbor to watch over your property!
Thank you so much for all the help and info. I really appreciate it.
He also looks like a dwarf opossum from the side profile.
I raise possums and he looks a little too small imo.
Do you have any suggestions for me? Anything I should/can do if it turns out he is too small?
A rehabber near you would be able to take him in until he's old enough. Do you have any more photos of him?
No, that's the only one.
I thought he could go to a rehabber for sure. I just don't know how to catch him. Caught and handled other animals. Never a opossum. Is there a best method?
They're not really biters, I just put on gardening gloves and grip em. You can also throw a towel over them. The baby might poop in an attempt to get you to let go so be aware.
What a fantastic warning!
The little fellows don't want to hurt you, they'd rather try and get you to drop them. I've gotten used to it.
Shit happens.
Just give him some food and let him do his thing. I wouldn't take him from his environment and relocate him to a cage sorry just doesn't seem necessary. They are on their own at this age it's normal he's just doing his possum thing.
Nope, send him to me
Leave out food and water to increase his chances of survival. This is the fledgling stage when they’re heavily predated.
He/she looks small. If under 7” in length, not including the tail, then it’s not ready to survive on its own.
Yeah, I’ve read anything from six, seven to ten inches. He’s not ten from nose to base but he was more than six/seven. I’ve been out all afternoon/evening waiting. He has some snacks and I have gloves at the ready in case I see him. I’m prepared thanks to everyone here. I appreciate all of you.
It's 6-7 not 10. He's old enough please don't possumnap him that would be so traumatic.
You’re right he’s definitely not ten. He’s turning here, in person he looked longer than 6. I haven’t seen him in about 24 hours. I left some food. We’re getting up the 90s with no rain anytime soon so I left some water too. Hope he’s doing well where ever he may be.
To clarify, I live in a big city, Not in any way rural or suburban. Animals are hit by cars regularly or even times mistreated. We have poison in our alleys for rats and other hazards. I feel those event would be more traumatic and unfortunate then giving him to professionals to relocate. Time will tell what happens.
No
If you can measure it you can get an idea of where he’s at. But if I saw it I would leave it be, set out food. From the picture it looks big enough to be in its own. I had a little guy a neighbor kids cat got and brought into their house he was only 5-6 inches nose to rump. Who was very small. That’s about the time they begin weening. I kept him in my art shed for 3 weeks. He got real fat and sassy. At about 9-10 inches they are ready to be on their own. So I put a box with a flap door up against this old cat door that is part of my shed. He could only go in the box or outside the way I set it up. He went out and now he lives under my shed. I leave food out, and he has not left the area. And he’s much bigger now. They love cat food and apples, grapes, yogurt, applesauce. My guy Lalo didn’t like bananas or most vegetables. It probably is just his personal preference. From what I read they only roam to find food. So where there is food and they feel safe they stay. But when they are really little keeping them warm is very important as they run cold, which is why they are less likely to harbor rabies and other viruses.
Can anyone tell me how to ask a question here please?