Intake to Release | opossumcare

Intake to Release:

There are potentially 4 type of enclosures you will need to raise baby possums from the time you take them in, until you release them back out into the world:

1. Large, deep Rubbermaid type of bin for very small babies, with a lid that clamps on. We cut out the center and screen it is for ventilation.

2. A cage for the next step up that has bars spaced only 1/2 inch apart, for slightly older babies.

3. A larger cage (we use 3-story ferret cages) for babies that are appx 300 grams.

4. Outdoor pen that has been filly wired in under the substrate and overhead to prevent escapes or anything else from getting into it.

Pictures below are some examples of what you can use:

For really small babies, these extra large bins work great. They hold the heat in better than an open barred cage. We simply cut the middle section out and screen it in for ventilation. Make sure to get one where the lid clamps on, for added security. You could certainly use something smaller and graduate up to this size if your babies are extremely small.

Refer to the Baby Care page of this website to learn how to set a bin up properly to keep your babies both warm AND moist.

One of your biggest expenses is going to be appropriate cages, but at least its just a one-time initial expense. And its really important that you buy cages that give babies enough room to move around in. In the beginning when babies are still small, its easier, but as they gain in size you can run into issues with them chewing a siblings tail or ears off (or worse), and a possum without enough of a tail is not releasable. This is thought to happen for a couple different reasons: diet is off and or they are not being given enough space. Personally, I tend to also think it might be because as private rehabbers, we wait until babies are 3 lbs before we release them.....because the larger they are, the better chance they have to survive. In the wild however, babies leave their mom sooner then that so in captivity we're sort of forcing them to co-exist for a longer period of time, and possums are not a communal species. In the wild you might see babies traveling a bit together, but normally possums only get together to mate or a group might be drawn to a food source. Cannibalism is not super common, but it does happen. It occurred in a group of babies I had about 25 years ago.....they were not even 200 grams yet and I had never been warned of this possibility. I was HORRIFIED to find a bloody mess when I got up one morning and a babies tail had been completely severed. I now separate babies, probably at a younger age then is necessary, but I just never wanted to experience that again.

31c65bee-1461-42cd-9135-a6faa4fe0bee_1.8191ee235bc78d09a74fe7fbcb7532b2.jpeg

Both these cages work great for 2- babies. The bars are only 1/2 inch apart so there is no danger of them squeezing through or getting their heads caught in between the bars.

DON'T OVER-CROWD BABIES!!!

One thing that can help is setting up multiple places to sleep and multiple feeding areas so they are not in competition.

IMPORTANT: Keep babies in a quiet room, away from other people and household pets.

STOP handling them as soon as they are able to feed themselves, only go into their cages to clean and provide fresh food and water. A possum who has no fear of human beings or other animals will likely not do well if released.

EXERCISE WHEEL: An exercise wheel is a good thing to offer babies this size. It will help burn off some energy at night, keep them from being bored and also provides exercise to keep those muscles in shape. Buy a wheel that has a solid running surface.....the slated, wired ones can cause injury. Look for one that is made for larger animals like a chinchilla that is at least 15 inches around.

BEDDING: I offer 2 types of beds: large pouches that I hang off the side, and a kennel carrier stuff with blankets.

POTTY PANS: It must have been out to be cleaned when this picture was taken, but next to the space by the wheel is where I keep their potty pan. I like those heavy plastic trays you see in cafeterias that people load their food up on. I line them with damp paper towels. For some reason, possums are drawn to "do their business" where its wet. They have low sides, can't be tipped over and easy to clean! And only about $7.00 each on Amazon!

This 3-story ferret cage works very well for 1 or 2 babies until they are ready to be moved outside. The bars are spaced 1 inch apart.

Here are some excellent examples of outdoor pre-release pens to get your babies used to being outside before its time to release them. Provide logs, dirt, leaves, and branches for a natural setting. Scatter their food, hide it in different areas, and toss in some live food as well so they learn to forage and catch live prey.

The image directly below and to the right are compliments of Amy Edlin

Photo: Compliments of Robyn Roberts

Bittersweet Release:

37 years ago I was trained in all aspects of rehab and release under a licensed rehabber, following the NOS (National Opossum Society's) standard protocols. Dr. Henness was a remarkable woman and clearly dedicated to this species. Since then, as is the way with most things, standards have changed a bit. Just like the way human medicine is constantly evolving and improving, so is the case with animal care. We now have better drugs to treat some of their health issues, new ideas pertaining to proper nutrition, and new protocols for releasing these babies back into the wild.

The old school train of thought was to release when the babies grew to be a certain length. However, we now know that babies have a much better chance of survival if allowed to reach a particular weight range, rather then to go by body length. Most private rehabbers across the US don't release babies until they reach 3 lbs. The school of thought here is, larger babies are more likely to be able to stand on their own and more likely to avoid predation.

When you put vast amounts of time, money and effort into raising babies, the goal here is to release animals that have a decent chance of surviving. No one wants to release babies that are still small enough for a domestic cat to take down. I have found that wildlife centers tend to be the ones who release babies at much smaller sizes. They are still following old school protocols, and with the sheer numbers of wildlife they take in, they probably do not have the space, time or funding to do it any other way. As private, licensed rehabbers, we have the options to give them a better chance to survive.

Before You Release:

Before you release babies back into the wild, they need to meet a certain criteria:

All babies or recovered injured adults should have been thoroughly wormed and treated for fleas.
Healthy and eating well, eyes and ears are nice and clear, noses and gums nice and pink.
Have learned survival skills such as hunting and nest gathering.
Been moved outside for a length of time to be acclimated to weather and given natural materials in their enclosures.
They should be gaping their mouths open at you or trying to strike when you get too close.
Have been kept away from any household pets.
Limited access to humans (except the primary caretaker).
Once fully weaned and self feeding, caretaker should only interact to clean and feed.
Babies should weigh 3 lbs before you release them.

If any animal who is to be released does not display any fear of human beings or other animals because they have been exposed to cats and dogs, or too much human attention (etc), they will have little chance to survive out on their own once released. As hard as it might be, you have to distance yourself away from these babies once they are fully weaned.

If for some reason, these babies have become attached to you, I have found that sending them to another rehabber is often all it takes for them to begin to wild back up again.

Where to Release?

More and more evidence is being shown that possums do best if released back into the same basic location they were found, Babies can detect the scent trails of their mothers (and themselves) for up to a year. However, this is not always possible to do, especially if its an obvious dangerous location due to high traffic or other factors.

When releasing babies, look for an area that has the following criteria:

Good distance from any main roads.
Natural water source.
A lot of low-lying underbrush and trees.
Avoid areas where construction or clear cutting is going on nearby.
There have been some studies that suggest possums under 5 lbs have a higher survival rate if released into areas that are not too far from suburban neighborhoods.

In a study where possums were tracked, they discovered that these animals traveled a distance of appx 3 miles a day, so keep this in mind when you are looking for a place to release.

The Day Has Come:

The day is here and what a bittersweet day it can be for rehabbers. It can be a very emotional day for many to set babies free. You have poured out so much time, love, money and commitment into these little ones and its natural to acknowledge how much you will miss them and fear for their safety. But you have done an amazing thing! You took these helpless ones who would have otherwise perished, and given them the best possible chance to survive as nature intended. Say a prayer my friends and set them free.......