Opossums as a Pet

Considerations before Commitment

1. Housing Requirements

Opossums as a Pet

Opossums change den sites frequently – every few days – Opossums  rarely dig their own burrows.

 In the Wild Opossums live in

• Tree cavities
• Brush and wood piles
• Abandoned burrows

2. In Urban Areas Opossums live in:

• Opossums readily nest in crawl spaces
• Opossums readily nest under decks
• Opossums readily nest in sheds
• Opossums readily nest in attics

A safe shelter for your Opossum can readily be built in your yard inexpensive materials – an Opossum require much more than a conventional rodent cage – an Opossum’s nest would require a large secure escape-resistant environment with:

1. Strong climbing branches
2. Platforms and ramps
3. Secure sleeping boxes
4. Soft nesting materials
5. Dry nesting materials
6. Hiding areas
7. Foraging opportunities
8. Safe environmental enrichment
9. Appropriate temperature and ventilation
10. Easy-to-clean flooring
11. Protection from children and household pets

The Opossum enclosure would need to accommodate climbing and exploration while preventing falls and escapes.

 

2. Food Requirements

Opossums as a Pet

 As opportunistic omnivores – Opossums will eat almost anything:

 Opossums Natural Diet includes:

• Insects
• Snails
• Slugs
• Ticks
• Fallen fruit
• Rodents
• Carrion

2. Opossums Urban Diet includes:

• Pet food
• Garbage
• Compost

3. Opossums Management:
4. Opossums are beneficial for backyard pest control
5. Avoid nuisance encounters
6. Secure all outdoor garbage in latched metal bins
7. Bring house pet bowls inside at night
8. An inappropriate Opossums diet can contribute to:

• Obesity
• Nutritional deficiencies
• Dental problems
• Serious bone disease

5. Do not over-feed your pet Opossums:

• Fruit
• Meat
• Cat food
• Dog food
• Table scraps
• Sweet treats

A captive Opossum animal may require a professionally formulated diet containing appropriate amounts of:

1. Calcium
2. Phosphorus
3. Protein
4. Fibre
5. Vegetables and plant material
6. Carefully selected animal-based foods

A young pet Opossum should not be raised using an internet recipe – without guidance from an experienced wildlife rehabilitator – or exotic-animal Veterinarian.

3. Water Requirements

Opossums as a Pet

Water is essential for urban Opossums, especially during hot dry summer spells:

• Simply leaving out a shallow bowl of fresh water
• In an accessible location helps Opossums immensely
• Keep the area around the water bowl clean and change the water daily

 

4. Veterinary Care

Opossums as a Pet

Some Veterinarians cannot treat wildlife held as a pet without appropriate Legal Authorization – other Veterinarians may not have experience with Opossums.

Possible health concerns include:

1. Nutritional bone disease
2. Obesity
3. Dental disease
4. Parasites
5. Skin conditions
6. Respiratory illness
7. Injuries
8. Age-related illness

Emergency Veterinarian care may be expensive and difficult to find.

 

5. Opossums as a Pet

Never take a Healthy Wild Opossum Home

A young Opossum seen alone is not automatically orphaned – if you find one:

1. Keep children and pets away
2. Observe the Opossum from a safe distance
3. Do not chase the Opossum
4. Do not repeatedly handle the Opossum
5. Do not offer the Opossum milk
6. Do not attempt to raise the Opossum as a pet
7. Contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator if the Opossum appears injured
8. Contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator if the Opossum very young
9. Contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator if the Opossum weak
10. Contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator if the Opossum cold
11. Contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator if the Opossum isr genuinely orphaned

Wildlife rehabilitators are trained to provide specialized Opossum care – while preventing unnecessary Opossum dependence on people – the goal is usually safe Opossum release back into the wild.

 

6. An Opossum is a Wild Animal

An Opossum not a Domesticated Pet

An Opossum raised by people retains natural wild Opossum behaviours -an Opossum may become accustomed to a certain caregiver – however the Opossum can still become frightened – defensive – destructive difficult to handle.

An opossum can may:

1. Bare its teeth or hiss when frightened
2. Drool as a defensive response
3. Urinate or defecate when stressed
4. Become active when the family is trying to sleep
5. Climb furniture
6. Investigate cupboards
7. Tear soft materials while exploring
8. Bite or scratch if cornered or restrained
9. “Play dead” when severely frightened

A calm juvenile Opossum may become less tolerant of handling as ithe Opossum matures – A friendly young Opossum animal is not guaranteed to become a predictable Opossum adult family pet.

 

7. Opossums as a Pet

Opossums are usually Unsuitable

For young children

Young children may want to hug – carry – chase – or wake a pet – these interactions with an Opossum could frighten an Opossum and create a risk of bites – scratches – falls – injury to the animal.

Children should never:

• Carry an Opossum around the house
• Pull the Opossum tail
• Wake the Opossum to play
• Corner the Opossum under furniture
• Put the Opossum faces close to the child’s face
• Feed the Opossum by hand
• Disturb the Opossum while eating or sleeping

If an Opossum is temporarily being cared for under professional wildlife-rehabilitation direction – children should observe quietly – rather than handle the Opossum.

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