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Step 1
Determine the type or species of opossum you want to own before you begin your research and whether or not it has been bred domestically. For instance, most short-tailed opossums come from South America, which means you will have to obtain a license from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) before you can own one.
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Step 2
Use an online resource, such as the Know Your short-tailed opossum (STO) website, in order to find out the specific laws regarding these animals in your state (see Resources below). Many states prohibit the keeping of marsupials such as opossums and gerbils because of the destruction they can do to agricultural crops.
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Step 3
Contact the USDA to find out about obtaining a license to own or breed short-tailed opossums, or any other breed of opossum that might be subject to such laws (see Resources below). The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is the division of the USDA that is specifically involved with the importing and exporting of exotic animals.
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Step 4
Note that the USDA only requires licenses for the breeders of short-tailed opossums, not buyers. However, if you buy more than one and they propagate, you will be expected to obtain a license if you want to sell any of them. In addition, anyone selling, transporting or performing research on short-tailed opossums may need a license, and should contact the USDA immediately.
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Step 5
Know that while the USDA does not require you to have a license if you give someone a short-tailed opossum as a gift, they have been trained in recent years to spot dealers using that as a loophole.
