Opossums are nocturnal, and need a quiet and dark place during the daytime. They are attracted by pet food, ripe fruit, water and snails. They are generally not destructive or predatory. They are usually solitary.
They are marsupials, carrying their babies in a pouch, often not making a nest until the babies are several months old. Their breeding season begins in February and can go through November. Opossums can have 3 litters a year. Litters average about 8 young, but can be up to 13.
It is not good to feed opossums, either intentionally or unintentionally. Don''t leave pet food outside at night, keep ripe fruit picked, keep garbage cans securely covered.
Opossums may "play dead" when startled or confronted; they may lie there for up to an hour before coming to and scurrying away.
If there are babies under the house, allow the babies to mature until they are old enough to join the mother outside, then close the opening when they have left.
If there are babies in the attic, allow the babies to mature until they are old enough to join the mother outside, then close the opening when they have left.
Leave the hole open and make the area unpleasant by lights and noise. The mother will move her babies to another nest site and you can then safely close the hole.
Fawn... as in Bambi?? in a cat carrier?? Awwwww!! those baby coons sound sooo cute!!Date: 3/11/2005 1:11:34 AM
Author: websailor
I used to volunteer at the Lindsay Wildlife Museum, working in the Wildlife Hospital. Mostly we would feed the hundreds of baby birds that came in. But we also got some unusual animals at times.
One night, fairly late (probably around 9pm), this person brings in a cardboard cat carrier - since I was hot and tired, not thinking too much, I started to open it to see what was inside, expecting another baby bird. Instead a good sized fawn unfolds itself and stands up! How the person got it into the box I don''t know! Let''s just say I woke up pretty fast!
The tiny baby raccoons are really cute (BUT leave them alone - they CAN carry rabies). When they are six inches in size or less, the Staff members (the only people allowed by law to handle them) would feed them - you stroke their tummies and give them an eye dropper to suck from. They make tiny cooing noises while feeding. Their eyes are still closed and they move their feet, complete with tiny hands, experimenting just like a human baby does.
I have fond memories of those days....
Thanks!Date: 3/10/2005 11:442 PM
Author: kaleigh
Fortekitty,
You and your sister have such kind hearts, please share some pictures with us we''d love to see them. I am a huge animal lover and take care of all kind of creatures!!
I have some in my backyard right now.. they live in the other dog house, and eat our dog food. They were born in our yard (we think) but their mom got hit by a car, so they never left. We put an old sleeping bag into the dog house for them to sleep in, and when my mom waters her roses they''ll come out and watch her! Those are wild tho... they were quite large when we discovered them. Much bigger than the cutie above!Date: 3/11/2005 12:18:15 AM
Author: Kaili
I''m dying... he looks so cute. Reminds me of when I was a child and the mommy opposum would bring her babies into our back yard to eat the cat food.... I''m so glad you guys are taking care of the little sweetie!
300x240.png)
