You found a baby Possum! :) what to do

1. get him warm, don't try to feed a baby possum when he is cold!

2. cotton ball soaked in warm water will help the baby "potty" a must here, rub the warm cotton ball down toward his tail, he will eliminate hopefully.

3. go the the website "national opossum society" they have some of the best information. You can join the organization and acquire the information you will need to proceed.

4. the website for the "NOS" the national opossum society can help. Consider joining the organization and make a contribution.

http://www.opossum.org/ they have the most up todate information available on the web...

Make your own possum chow guide

To get my guide email me at lilyputs@gmail.com

you need to do your own research on possum nutrition and proceed as needed. I made mine using several ideas from several websites. This is only the basic chow! you should feed your possum fresh fruit, veggies and yogurt weekly as well to maintain their health. I am not a vet! so use with caution:

Making possum chow...

a sweet rescue

http://www.yorkcenterforwildlife.org/IR-impossible-possums.php

great site for possums

http://www.exoticnutrition.com/cannedinsects.html

eHow.com an expert on opossums :)

http://www.ehow.com/video_4433074_what-do-opossums-eat.html

interesting info on the mortality of opossum's in the wild

I hope the mortality rate is higher in other areas of North America!


http://www.wildcru.org/aboutus/people/kamler_pdfs/2001-2.pdf

What is MBD?

This problem is seen in opossum's who are insufficient in calcium or the calcium uptake from the small intestine to the bones. If lacking the correct "exchange" the opossum will use the calcium from it's bone to supply it's need for calcium in the blood (leaching). Sounds simplistic, but it's not. Of course this is not a complete description and I am not a vet, the outcome for the opossum with MBD is being in captivity the rest of his or her life.

The internet discribes the exchange much better (type in MBD): In fact really all I know is the bones are used to keep the calcium level in the blood and therefore they suffer from the exchange in their ability to be mobil. MBD is a crippling desease, and if caught early the opossum can recover some of its mobility.

Link to the exchange in humans (not the same but as close as I could find for the purpose of description).

http://www.vivo.colostate.edu/hbooks/pathphys/endocrine/thyroid/calcium.html

opossum diet:

I recommend you contact the NOS for any information on diet, you will have to join to get the information but this could save the lives of many babies and juveniles.

however, I do think more reasearch is needed in this area and hopefully with others we will find the answer.
L

MBD medabolic bone disease

If you have possum's you have heard of Metabolic Bone Disease. While there are many therories available on the internet, sharing this type of information and diets that have been successful will be helpful for thoes who are new at the rehabbing.

The new Opossum-care link:

http://opossum-care.blogspot.com/

In the begining

I would like to have more information on raising and releasing opossum's back into the wild. I have researched the subject on countless occasions and can't seem to find enough information to keep them healthy and give them the most optimal chance for survival in the wild.

For the opossum's that are not releasable due to injury or MBD more information is needed to at least give them a good life in captivity.

Share fun photo's and experiences.

Lily