How to Help an Orphaned Baby Opossum

Baby opossums are so well protected in their mother’s pouch that when she suffers a fatal trauma, such as getting hit by a car, the baby possums often remain unharmed. If you come across an orphaned opossum, understand that it has very special needs unlike other orphaned wildlife and should be handed over to a wildlife rehabilitator as soon as possible. But in the meantime, your care could mean the difference between life and death.

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Eyedropper
• Heating pad, hot water bottle or heat pack
• Electrolyte solution
• Distilled water
• Milk
• Honey
• Egg yolk
• Salt
• Dog or cat food
• Cotton balls

1. Determine whether or not the baby opossum is actually an orphan and requires help. An orphaned opossum that is in need of help will be less than 7 inches long from the nose to the rear, not including the length of its tail. If the opossum you have come across is larger than this, it is able to survive on its own and is best left alone unless it is injured. If it is an actual orphan or if it is injured proceed to the next step.
2. Warm the orphaned opossum by wrapping it in a blanket, sweatshirt, towel, fleece or similar material. Place the baby animal in a box that is near a source of heat. For example, place the orphaned opossum in a box atop a heating pad set on the lowest temperature. If you do not have a heating pad, hot water bottles or heated rice packs are also effective. Be sure that the animal doesn’t come in direct contact with the heat to avoid burning or overheating it. Keep the temperature as close to 95 degrees as you can. This is the opossum's normal body temperature.
3. Offer the orphaned opossum an electrolyte solution such as pedialyte diluted in distilled water--1/2 cup of electrolyte solution mixed with 1 cup of water is a good rule of thumb. Make sure the fluids are lukewarm, not cold, before you attempt giving it to the opossum. You can try to dispense the fluids from an eye dropper or if the opossum is older and has fur you can try to offer it in a small bowl. It is important not to give too much fluid; offering a little amount frequently is far better than too much at one time.
4. Help the animal eliminate waste to prevent bloating, ruptured bladder and other serious problems caused by not urinating or having a bowel movement. To do this, use a soft cloth or cotton ball dampened in warm water. Gently rub the opossum's genital area and anus to stimulate the elimination response. This might take a while but don’t give up; this step is imperative for the animal’s survival.
5. Contact an animal rehabilitator who specializes in caring for orphaned opossums. An experienced rehabilitator will give the animal the best chance for survival. Your local humane society or veterinarian may be able to put you in contact with a rehabilitator. You can also do an Internet search for opossum wildlife rehabilitators in your immediate vicinity
6. Try to feed the orphaned opossum with a homemade formula while waiting for the rehabilitator. Make the formula by mixing 1 egg yolk, ½ cup of milk, 1 tablespoon of honey and a pinch of salt. Feed the baby possum frequently at about 2 hour intervals. It is important to continue frequent feedings at night to prevent dehydration. If the orphaned opossum is very small it should be fed more frequently at 1 hour intervals, the same goes for animals that appear weak. If the baby opossum is older, weighing a pound or more you can add either canned dog food or cat food to the formula. Don’t force feed.

Tips & Warnings

• Without specialized and experienced care, orphaned opossums have a good chance of developing serious heath problems if they survive at all. Do your best to find a licensed wildlife rehabilitator that specializes in opossums.