OMG - Hubby talked me into keeping an opossum as a pet!

Pebblszzz

<font color=teal>Official Member of TFPP, but plea
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There was this little wet furry thing laying on the sidewalk in the chilly rain about a week ago.

Hubby said, "Look - it's a baby armadillo!"

I looked at it and said, "no, honey, that's a opossum. Looks about dead to me."

I get the dustpan, pick it up and put it under a bush. Four hours later, it's still there - and still breathing.

Hubby looks at me, and says, "Let's take care of him"

I can't say no to him....like....EVER.

We've had "Poppy" for just over a week now, and he's healthy and growing. I've consulted a wildlife rehabilitator to find out how to take care of him, so we're cool there.

But it's going to be interesting to see what kind of house pet this guy makes. The cat wants to know, too.

Tips and ideas are appreciated!
 
No tips here. My mom said she raised a racoon when she was a kid. She said it eventually made their life crazy, because coons are very mischievous. Good luck to you. You're a better wife than I am, I'd never agree. I may have taken it to the Humane Society or called animal control, but that's it.
 
If its a boy I would plan on having him neutered - he will spray all over your house otherwise ;)
 
I HIGHLY dont reccommend keeping a opossum as a pet. They are carriers of rabies and can be vicious little creatures. If you want to do anything for it leave it alone. It is very dangerous to try to keep a wild animal as a pet.

~Meagan~
Certified Wildlife Rehabilitator
Alexander Lindsay Wildlife Hospital
 

Chewing on stuff, I was ready for that.

But spraying??? Geez, I thought only cats did that.

Yes, he's a boy.

And I don't know if it makes me a better wife, maybe just a gullible one. Between hubby's cuteness and Poppy's, I just couldn't say no.

I felt kinda bad at first, taking him from his environment - but he certainly would have died had we left him there. He was just an infant (like 3" long), and shivering like crazy. Then I thought I'd take him to the wildlife rehabilitator....but hubby wants to keep him, says he'll live longer with us, always be well fed and cared for, and we'll spoil him rotten.

I hope we don't regret this! Once you take a wild animal as a house pet, you're committed for life. It's not like you can "let it go", or find someone to take him. I hope he's happy living here!

For now, I'm just glad he's still tiny, and sleeps most of the time.

Preshi: As a wildlife rehabilitator, surely you are aware that opossums almost NEVER have rabies. their body temp of 74 degrees won't allow them to carry it. And it's a little too late to "leave him be" - we've had him for 9 days now, and he doesn't even have teeth yet. He'd starve. But thanks for your input.
 
Rabies is rar in opossums but that does not mean it CANT be infected or even a carrier of it... ANY MAMMAL can carry rabies!

I also think if you love your cats you wouldnt bring such a thing into your home. One could easily end up killing the other.

You may want to read this... http://www.opossumsocietyus.org/injured_opossum.html

I cant believe any wildlife rehabilitator would not suggest that you bring it in...

:mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:
 
I HIGHLY dont reccommend keeping a opossum as a pet. They are carriers of rabies and can be vicious little creatures.

Cheryl,
Preshi beat me to it - my DH is an avid outdoorsman and everything she posted is quite true. They are a big carrier of rabies up here in Pa. and they are also very tempermental and nasty. Their teeth can really sink into you and cause you not only pain, but they can inflict a lot of damage as well.
 
Thanks, you guys. Really. The little voice in my head that was saying, "you're making a mistake" is talking much louder now.

I believe you guys are probably right, and I should take him to a wildlife rehabilitator.

But Meagan (Preshi), will he be ok, though? I mean, we've been treating him like a "pet", will he be able to adapt?

Of course, we want to do what's best for the animal, so we'll get over it if we have to give him up.

Again, thanks for all the advice - I'll talk to hubby tonight and see if I can sway him.
 
Pebblszzz, good thing my late grandmother didn't find him. She would have turned him into a pie!
 
Actually it depends... I'm sure he'll be fine one way or the other. If you take him to a wildlife rehab center they will be able to determine if he's been too imprinted to release back and keep him for their live collection, if they have one, or they'll decide to release him back out after he's old enough.

We frequently do home care for squirrels, opossums and raccoons, from tiny baby size until they are old enough to release and they turn out just fine. We do have very limited contact with these creatures but I am sure Poppy will be fine one way or another.
 
A note about the spraying- the smell is horrid!!! Very skunk-like.

They really don't make good pets. Really. (Ask my aunt, who tried. :rolleyes: )
 
I agree with all of the above -- opposum are vicious, no way can you keep one as a house pet.
 
Yikes! I have a fear of opossums!
Those beady little eyes give me the shivers, lol.

Good Luck!:D
 
fc5e87dc.jpg


Possum, San Antonio 2002

I took this photo in my aunt's back yard after her dog treed the little critter. (I'm no Dan Murphy, but I like this shot!):)
 
Ohhh how aestically pleasing ;) (not allowed to say cute at the hospital they arent pets lol :) )
 
Just had to say when we got our rat Stitch at the pet store, they had a miniature opossum there. He really didn't look like a regular opossum. He looked more like the rat. He was full grown at about 4 to 5 " long. But he cost 99.50. A bit much for a 9yo child.

Pebblszzz--you have a big heart. :)
 
Originally posted by Pebblszzz
will he be ok, though? I mean, we've been treating him like a "pet", will he be able to adapt?

Of course, we want to do what's best for the animal, so we'll get over it if we have to give him up.
He's been in the wild a lot longer than he's been with you. I'm sure he knows what to do. There's no way I'd keep a wild animal. Rabies being number one. Biting number two.
 
Pebblszzz, I raised a pet skunk. Actually I got her from a pet shop so she was descented when I got her. I had her spayed at a very young age to help her temperament. Her name was Flower:rolleyes: I had her for about 3 years. She was a real sweetheart and was litter box trained. The cat did not know what to think of her and basically just stayed away from her. However, skunks are very near-sighted so sometimes she would run into the cat and it was hilarious! The cat would bat at Flower...Never extending his claws, just batted at Flower to tell her to step back! I took Flower to the vet for rabies shots but the way it was explained to me was, if Flower ever bit anyone she would still be put down because the rabies shot has not been proven to be effective for skunks. Although Flower was raised as a pet, there were times when, if something startled or scared her, she would show her wild side. For that reason I would never again attempt to bring any wild animal into a home with children. I eventually had to get rid of all my pets because of the ex's allergies. I should have got rid of him (the ex) and kept the pets!:jester: Your opposum may be cute as a baby but since you got him from the wild I would work toward getting him healthy and then releasing him back into the wild.

TC:cool:
 


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