Causes for Concern
- lone joeys smaller than 7 inches (about the length of a hand) from nose to the base of the tail
- Opossums with visible injuries
Checking a Deceased Mother for Babies
Opossums killed in highway accidents may leave behind orphaned joeys in their pouch. If it is safe to do so, check for orphaned young by gently spreading the pouch. Bring the deceased mother with the live young to the rehabilitator where they can be safely detached form mom. Check the surroundings for any that may have wandered away from mom.
You can protect future scavengers by moving the deceased animal out of the roadway.
Preparing for Patient Intake
You may be wondering what care to provide as you transport the young joey or injured opossum to our rehabilitation center. Closely following these guidelines will ensure that the fragile animal does not sustain further injuries to their systems and has the best possible chances of survival.
- Ensure that the animal is in a secure box with air holes. Even a small or injured animal may be able to open an unsecured lid.
- Place a heating pad set to low or a hot water bottle inside the container. The heating pad should feel warm not hot (90°F-95°F). If possible, place the heating pad under only half of the enclosure so that the opossum may move away from the heat as needed.
- DO NOT FEED the opossum. Feeding before an animal has been stabilized or feeding an improper diet can cause further injury or death.
- Use blankets without loose threads (no towels!) to avoid injury.
