HALP! Baby Possies :)

[island rehabber]

So this adorable little girl was cowering under a ladder in the underground garage of the condo complex next door. A friend who lives there called me. They have seen possies come and go at night, but when we went to where he'd found the baby I saw a hundred places where mamma might have nested, and no way of finding out where she really was.

I have not rehabbed possies before. She weighs 65g, eyes opened, strong and pee is clear. :great WMB says at her weight she can have solids (hi-quality cat chow) and fruits & veg as well as formula, but I'm hydrating her with honey water just in case, first. Is FV 20/50 ok for her in a pinch? How often do you guys feed and is it around the clock or mostly at night?

She is beyond precious.....:Love_Icon

[Nancy in New York]

Akkkkkkkkkkkkk adorable. :klunk
I will alert some possie members to this thread.
Do you have FV 32/40?

[lukaslolamaus]

:serene she is precious :Love_Icon

[kendradfw]

Baby Possies are sooooo cute!

[Rhapsody]

No FV for these little guys...... Esbilac with Probiotics only.
I feed my possums Esbilac only until they are 200 mg, then
I introduce them to Peters Food (add a little formula in a bowl
with the mix to get them started).

At this age they can be feed from a syringe while teaching
them to lap from a bowl. I would feed at 7% of their body weight every 6 hours...... then morning and night as they change over to possum time.

PM me your email and I will send you some possum info.

[Rhapsody]

The Possum Care Manuel has been sent........ :Love_Icon
Let me know if you have any questions.

You can also check out my FB for possums, it has the
Peters Food recipe on it that I follow. :)

https://www.facebook.com/Opossum-Care-468773769812948/?notif_t=page_user_activity

[Nancy in New York]

No FV for these little guys...... Esbilac with Probiotics only.
I feed my possums Esbilac only until they are 200 mg, then
I introduce them to Peters Food (add a little formula in a bowl
with the mix to get them started).

At this age they can be feed from a syringe while teaching
them to lap from a bowl. I would feed at 7% of their body weight every 6 hours...... then morning and night as they change over to possum time.

PM me your email and I will send you some possum info.

Thank you sweetie! :hug

[squirrelsrule&bunniestoo]

I agree with what Rhapsody posted :thumbsup, only things not mentioned is that 3:1 is full strength for possums, not 2:1 like other mammals. I usually only feed 3 times a day at that age, but more feedings never hurts.

[stepnstone]

She is adorable! :Love_Icon
Looks like somebody in that condo development has a heart,
glad they came to you. :great

[Rhapsody]

I agree with what Rhapsody posted :thumbsup,
only things not mentioned is that 3:1 is full strength for possums, not 2:1 like other mammals.


Thanks for the mention ....... I forgot.
Possums are always 3:1 ratio



:serene

[island rehabber]

Thanks everyone....I have her here at work with me and since I only had FV at home, I haven't done formula yet. She's taken about 4cc hydration altogether...not enthusiastically, but she takes it. Soooooooo ka-yooooooot! :klunk

[Chickenlegs]

Gaaaaaaaaa! She's beautiful--likely old enough to try a dish with some formula and soft scrambled egg. She'll wade in it so be prepared. There is an infant formula from the National Opossum Society but my book is at home. I think Julie has the orphan book. I haven't been able to contact our house sitter to look for the recipe.

[Rhapsody]

There is an infant formula from the National Opossum Society but my book is at home. I think Julie has the orphan book. I haven't been able to contact our house sitter to look for the recipe.

The Care Manuel I sent her is from NOS, the recipe is included
if she wishes to use it, but reg Esbilac does just fine til the
babies are 200 grams and ready to eat Peters Food.

[lennysmom]

She's ADORABLE!!!:Love_Icon:Love_Icon:Love_Icon

[island rehabber]

Just got word from the same neighbor who found this one that there is another one "in hand" right now, and residents have seen a third baby running around the complex -- aaagh! I will try to collect them all tonight and put them together -- but I may need to take up the offer of a well-known possie rehabber in Putnam County who said she would take mine if I needed her. One is one thing, three is .....a possie of possies! :grin2

[stosh2010]

CITY ISLAND POSSIES............................can't get any COOLER than that !!

CLICK on PIC >>>273437

[stosh2010]

Do you have all 3 ???????????????

273438 <<< click for action

[Shewhosweptforest]

Oh my gosh :Love_Icon thanks Nancy for directing me here :serene baby opossums are sooo incredibly cute....and snugly :Love_Icon I sure hope you can find them all IR :please momma may have been killed and they are moving out looking for food and "a momma" ...people are not kind to opossums:sadness you may want to take your friend up on the help...lots of clean up as they get older...although you can litter train...or latrine train them:great I'd definitely hold on to them for a little while though....just to enjoy their awesomeness :klunk

[island rehabber]

:blissI have all three. :bliss:bliss Safe and warm, on heat, in my state-of-the-art rehab facility (tiny guest bathroom :grin2). They have tried formula and mushed bananas and approved of both. The woman who found the third one gave him sardines and said he inhaled them!! Well, yeah....he's a 'possum. They eat everything. :grin2

My only worry is housing; as they grow and need more lateral space (vs height, like my squirrels), I have no cage that would be suitable for them and no floor space even if I borrowed one. Well....we'll cross that bridge yada yada yada....
For now, I'm lovin' their faces!

[lennysmom]

Yay!!!! So glad that little girl could be reunited with her sibs!:serene Ah, welcome to the world of sweet little possies!:Love_Icon Their little pink noses and hands are just so adorable to me!:blowkiss But boy can those little hands grip!:grin I'm sure you'll enjoy those three sweeties Maura.:dance

[Nancy in New York]

Oh this is just the best news ever!
It was SO sad to see that little possie without his siblings,
and now they are back together again. It doesn't get any better than this! :w00t

Oh, well pictures of all three would make it a little better! :hidechair :grin2

[island rehabber]

Oh this is just the best news ever!
It was SO sad to see that little possie without his siblings,
and now they are back together again. It doesn't get any better than this! :w00t

Oh, well pictures of all three would make it a little better! :hidechair :grin2

Will do --- letting them be Dark Warm $ Quiet for a while :grin2

[Nancy in New York]

Will do --- letting them be Dark Warm $ Quiet for a while :grin2

Poor little babies. Don't worry about pictures. They've been through so much already.
There's plenty of time, I will just envision the photo you posted times 3. :grin2

[island rehabber]

CITY ISLAND POSSIES............................can't get any COOLER than that !!



Isn't it amazing? All these years rehabbing and never got a possie baby. Then
I get THREE from the place next door! :dono :grin2

[island rehabber]

The kids are alright. They've had honey water and warmed blueberry mush and banana mush with formula. They're peeing and pooping and they are SO freakin' adorable. I believe I have two girls and a boy, which seems to be my pattern this season with squirrels, too. Here are pix of all three sibs -- as they perked up they became hard to hold onto and I wasn't able to hold all three for a photo op, so I did my best with two at a time.

[Nancy in New York]

The kids are alright. They've had honey water and warmed blueberry mush and banana mush with formula. They're peeing and pooping and they are SO freakin' adorable. I believe I have two girls and a boy, which seems to be my pattern this season with squirrels, too. Here are pix of all three sibs -- as they perked up they became hard to hold onto and I wasn't able to hold all three for a photo op, so I did my best with two at a time.


Weren't you coming for a visit tomorrow?
Oh, and don't forget the possies. :rolf
They are SO adorable.
I've never seen a baby. :klunk:klunk:klunk

Are they squirmy and want to get down?
Do they snuggle with each other?
They are just too cute for words.

[island rehabber]

Weren't you coming for a visit tomorrow?
Oh, and don't forget the possies. :rolf
They are SO adorable.
I've never seen a baby. :klunk:klunk:klunk

Are they squirmy and want to get down?
Do they snuggle with each other?
They are just too cute for words.


I wish I was, Auntie Nancy -- but I am working -- again -- on Saturday! The Nature Center gets rented out for birthday parties and if there are more than 15 kids then two of us must be on hand to work. I'd rather be at your house, possies included!

They are getting squirmy like chipmunk/red squirrel squirmy, now that they are hydrated and perky and it's nighttime, too. They not only snuggle, they hold onto each other with all four paws and their grips are phenomenally strong! Yes, they are too darn cute for words, that's for sure.

[Nancy in New York]

I wish I was, Auntie Nancy -- but I am working -- again -- on Saturday! The Nature Center gets rented out for birthday parties and if there are more than 15 kids then two of us must be on hand to work. I'd rather be at your house, possies included!

They are getting squirmy like chipmunk/red squirrel squirmy, now that they are hydrated and perky and it's nighttime, too. They not only snuggle, they hold onto each other with all four paws and their grips are phenomenally strong! Yes, they are too darn cute for words, that's for sure.

Oh that's precious Maura, them holding onto each other...........you must be in your glory.
Oh squirmy like reds.....gottcha! :)

Have fun at the Nature Center, hope they are well behaved kids. :tap
If you need a sitter while you're there, just give me a call. :w00t

[Chickenlegs]

Look at those faces! They're smiling! Or getting ready to bite you--hard to tell sometimes. I love how little possums wade through their food and get it all over and then lick each other sparkly clean. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaak! :klunk

[Rhapsody]

I believe I have two girls and a boy
The females will have a tiny slit on their belly...... this will grow and become their pouch as they mature.
The males will have tiny poof balls down around the anal area...... these will grow into their boys.

[island rehabber]

How much do I LOVE these guys? omg.....:Love_Icon:Love_Icon:Love_Icon

[pappy1264]

They are very easy to love~ They look great!!

[Shewhosweptforest]

Oh they do look great IR :serene and they look to be a good age...I didn't give any advice because you had gotten great advice :great But I was wondering if they need a course of antibiotics...I've always had to give it...but mine have always been quite a bit younger...so they needed some extra protection without the natural antibodies in momma's milk :dono I'm thinking these guys are old enough to be be fine without...but maybe someone else with more experience would know different :thinking

Nancy when they are smaller they love to cuddle in your shirt...just like little squirrels and they make the cutest possie piles :klunk at this age my guys wouldn't snuggle as much...with me :tap...they were on the move :grin3

[island rehabber]

The females will have a tiny slit on their belly...... this will grow and become their pouch as they mature.
The males will have tiny poof balls down around the anal area...... these will grow into their boys.


Seems I have two slits and one poof! :rofl4

[Nancy in New York]

How much do I LOVE these guys? omg.....:Love_Icon:Love_Icon:Love_Icon

Now your just showing off!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :grin2
THEY ARE SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO DARNED CUTE!!!!!!!!!!!!
:klunk:klunk:klunk

[stepnstone]

Seems I have two slits and one poof! :rofl4
Only you... http://www.sherv.net/cm/emo/laughing/crying.gif

Just catching up, how awesome you were able to get all that was out there! :dance
Glad you were able to have this experience and are enjoying them. :grouphug
Their little faces are adorable. :Love_Icon

[HRT4SQRLS]

Nancy when they are smaller they love to cuddle in your shirt...just like little squirrels and they make the cutest possie piles :klunk :grin3

Yeah, that's what scares me about them ... The possie piles. :rotfl

[island rehabber]

Little Omar, my only boy possie, does NOT appreciate being woken up in the morning! Wait for it :rofl4

https://vimeo.com/168287991

[island rehabber]

New pic of the three....they are growing fast!

[Nancy in New York]

Love that video. The little growl and lunge, scared me, that's for sure! :grin2
They are just precious!
Are you going to continue raising or are you looking for someone.

[lennysmom]

Too cute!:Love_Icon That video made me laugh!:rolf They defiantly make it clear when they disapprove of something.:shakehead:grin When little Graham was that age and we needed to take him out of his cage to clean it, he would use those little feet to grip onto the sides and before we could get those loose, he would use his tail! It became a two person job!:grin2

[island rehabber]

Love that video. The little growl and lunge, scared me, that's for sure! :grin2
They are just precious!
Are you going to continue raising or are you looking for someone.

I've got a wonderful connection to the best opossum rehabber in these parts: Maggie Ciarcia. She has been walking me through the process, and I will be transitioning them to her. Because possies are so prone to MBD, worse than squirrels, she is better prepared to provide the varied meat/veg diet that they need (not to mention "live" stuff :eek). She also lives on 20+ acres and releases them at her home. :dance I will probably bring them to her sometime in the next 2 weeks. :grin2

[island rehabber]

Too cute!:Love_Icon That video made me laugh!:rolf They defiantly make it clear when they disapprove of something.:shakehead:grin When little Graham was that age and we needed to take him out of his cage to clean it, he would use those little feet to grip onto the sides and before we could get those loose, he would use his tail! It became a two person job!:grin2

Their grip is unbelievable!!!

[Nancy in New York]

I've got a wonderful connection to the best opossum rehabber in these parts: Maggie Ciarcia. She has been walking me through the process, and I will be transitioning them to her. Because possies are so prone to MBD, worse than squirrels, she is better prepared to provide the varied meat/veg diet that they need (not to mention "live" stuff :eek). She also lives on 20+ acres and releases them at her home. :dance I will probably bring them to her sometime in the next 2 weeks. :grin2

You're going to miss these little buggers.
Definitely the BEST place for them is with an expert.
I wouldn't know the first thing to do with a possie,
so I give you lots of credit getting them this far! :bowdown :w00t

[TubeDriver]

Aww, what a cute bundle of fuzzbutts. That video is pretty funny, possums look so mean but I heard they are really gentle creatures. Sounds like they have a great life ahead of them, thanks to you! :great

[island rehabber]

:grin3:grin3:grin3

[Nancy in New York]

Akkkkkkkkkkk look at these little monkeys! :Love_Icon:Love_Icon:Love_Icon
How much do they weigh now?
Can you believe you're raising possies?
They sure put a huge smile on my face. :grin3

[lennysmom]

ADORABLE!:Love_Icon:Love_Icon:Love_Icon

[island rehabber]

Akkkkkkkkkkk look at these little monkeys! :Love_Icon:Love_Icon:Love_Icon
How much do they weigh now?
Can you believe you're raising possies?
They sure put a huge smile on my face. :grin3

As of last night they weighed 122, 123 and 127g. When I got them they were 65, 68 & 71 I think. They still LOVE their formula, so they get the other good stuff smooshed up in it. I would take baby possies again anytime -- I love them! :Love_Icon

[Shewhosweptforest]

Oh they are sooo cute :w00t I'm glad you've come over to the possie side :laugh2 also if you get them a little younger...they aren't as afraid of you....they seem aggressive ....but they're really just frightened (which I know you understand IR:grin3) Omar was adorable....lots of good bluster going on there :grin3 these guys are sooo lucky...first to have you IR and then to go on to what sounds like a possie paradise :bliss

HRT "squirrel piles" :highfive I walked right into that one :jump oh jeesh...I hope I didn't walk into one :eek

[Chickenlegs]

I loooooooove pozumz! My license plate reads "possums". Had someone follow us home because he found a car hit possum in front of his house. Poor ol boy had been hurt awhile back. His spine was broken and he had fly eggs on him. The nice man made arrangements to help him go home. He was in pain and scared and never tried to use those teeth on me. Posums are unique and wonderful. Not suggesting anybody corner one and play "grab the possum" tho. Thry know how to use those 50 teeth. Enjoy your babies while you have them Maura. Bet you smile a lot these days.

[crazy4squirrels]

They are beautiful. Watch the diet very carefully as they are extremely prone to MBD. They need to be near a window and the NOS formula mix is EXTREMELY important...extra calcium, brewers yeast, nutrical and egg yolk. Low on the protein and high on the veggies and formula....peters food mix...

[island rehabber]

I guess this is as good a time as any to say that tomorrow morning I will be packing up Ophelia, Olivia and Omar and bringing them to one of the best possie mammas on the East coast (Maggie Ciarcia) to finish their raising and release. She has been coaching me all along, and once I understood fully what these sweeties will need as they grow, I knew that I didn't have the time or place right now to do it right. (And if I can't do it right, I'm not doing it.) They are just starting to nibble solids but are still on formula mostly, so I think their calcium intake is good for now. Maggie will have the right habitat for them, where they can get their UV light and even learn to eat live foods (erk :yuck).

I truly love these little ones and won't hesitate for a second to take in others in the future. Thanks to everyone here who encouraged me and made this a 100% feel-good learning experience! :thankyou

[lennysmom]

I'm glad you got to experience the fun of little possies Maura!:) I'm sure you will miss the little cuties once they are gone, but it sounds like they are going to the best place possible.:thumbsup They all look wonderful - happy and healthy little possies ready for their next adventure!:dance:Love_Icon

[Shewhosweptforest]

:hug It's hard sending our littles off :( but it helps so much knowing they will have such a wonderful place to go:Love_Icon and it was so cool that you got to rehab lil neighbors ....I mean these guys were literally your neighbors:serene thank you for biting the bullet and giving them a chance :Love_Iconthey sure were some lucky kiddos :grin3

[stepnstone]

I guess this is as good a time as any to say that tomorrow morning I will be packing up Ophelia, Olivia and Omar and bringing them to one of the best possie mammas on the East coast (Maggie Ciarcia) to finish their raising and release. She has been coaching me all along, and once I understood fully what these sweeties will need as they grow, I knew that I didn't have the time or place right now to do it right. (And if I can't do it right, I'm not doing it.) They are just starting to nibble solids but are still on formula mostly, so I think their calcium intake is good for now. Maggie will have the right habitat for them, where they can get their UV light and even learn to eat live foods (erk :yuck).

I truly love these little ones and won't hesitate for a second to take in others in the future. Thanks to everyone here who encouraged me and made this a 100% feel-good learning experience! :thankyou

You've already done a beautiful job with them and it continues with seeking
the best care for their future. How fortunate and blessed these little's have
already been to have found their way to you. :grouphug

[island rehabber]

.... and it was so cool that you got to rehab lil neighbors ....I mean these guys were literally your neighbors:serene thank you for biting the bullet and giving them a chance :Love_Iconthey sure were some lucky kiddos :grin3

Thank you, sweeps! I know, isn't it wonderful that these tiny babies from right next door-- well, across the street -- ended up with me and now are going to have as perfect lives as little possies could ever want? I love it :grin3.

If anyone is wondering why, with two release sites, I'm not releasing them here, it seemed like a great idea until I really thought about it and discussed it with Maggie. The nature center where I work is right near a major parkway; I mean, in wintertime I can see the cars zipping by through the trees. Possies travel large distances at night, on the ground, and where do you usually see them hit? Yeah...... So what about my other site, the one where no cars are allowed and it's in a salt marsh with 80 acres of forest? Sounded perfect, right?

No fresh water to drink.

THAT is why that nature center hooked up a large, elaborate birdbath which is electrified so it doesn't freeze; there was no other source of fresh water nearby (all salt). Although it's perfect for the birds, squirrels and deer, poor possies cannot climb a pedestal-style birdbath that is four feet off the ground.

So, I'm so excited for them today but I'm a little sad, too. My job ends tomorrow for the summer and hopefully I will be re-hired in the fall.....Monday the BF and I have a stressful hearing in Bronx County court.....June 21 the arbitration hearings start. I need to get my squirrels out between those two dates, along with other peoples' squirrels I agreed to release. Stressed? Yeah, a little. :crazy1:panic:madd:headbang

[Nancy in New York]

Well it was a pleasure watching these little possies being raised.
They are absolutely adorable.
Glad you found an expert to continue their journey to freedom.

It doesn't get any better than this! :w00t
Nice job! :blowkiss

[island rehabber]

Well I gave Omar, Ophelia and Olivia smoochies on their possie heads this morning and extra blueberries for the ride upstate. They were perfect little angels and happily tumbled out of the carrier right into a nice cage Maggie had prepared for them -- complete with logs, branches, climby things and a big sleepy sack. http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=273938&stc=1


Last night Maggie texted me that she "had just released 8 squirrels, so I have plenty of room and a little more time." How things change for wildlife rehabbers in just one overnight: here's what a nice man brought her this morning. He'd found them all on their dead mamma who'd been hit by a car. :Cry http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=273939&stc=1

I told her if I didn't have all this court-related crap to do next week I would have taken half of them -- there are 13!!!
Her place is so beautiful; her other opossums were gorgeous. Her squirrel pre-release enclosure is bigger than my condo. I know the three O's are gonna have a fantastic life.

But I miss them so much. :tilt

[stepnstone]

Whoa! 13 in one slam! http://www.sherv.net/cm/emo/word/omg.gif
So much for free time...

[SammysMom]

Whoa! 13 in one slam! http://www.sherv.net/cm/emo/word/omg.gif
So much for free time...

Holy crap! 13?!!! :eek

[island rehabber]

Holy crap! 13?!!! :eek

Yes! Makes me wonder if there were 9 or 10 other sibs of my three, out there :(

[island rehabber]

Well it's been a few weeks since I brought my three (first!) baby opossums to Maggie, the Possie Queen of my area, to finish their raising and then releasing. I knew that either Thursday or Friday night was going to be the big night, and sure enough last night they went free in beautiful, private woods free from cars. Maggie took this pic with her phone: I cannot believe how big they are! And I'll bet that's Omar in the middle, gargling at the camera just to remind us that nobody better ever, ever mess with him or his sisters :grin2 :Love_Icon:Love_Icon:Love_Icon
Godspeed, babies! Try not to be too mean to the locals! :rotfl I will definitely do possies again, if the opportunity presents itself! http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=275075&stc=1

[Milo's Mom]

Awww, good luck babies!! Possies are some of the very best.

[squirrelsrule&bunniestoo]

How big were your little tykes at release? It's recommended to keep them to 1000 grams or 12 inches long without the tail.

[island rehabber]

How big were your little tykes at release? It's recommended to keep them to 1000 grams or 12 inches long without the tail.

I didn't release them myself, but the rehabber who did has raised & released hundreds of opossums over the last decade and is one of the most highly respected rehabbers in NY State. I've got total faith in her. :grin2

[SammysMom]

Go carefully, but remember to do whatever it is that possies call fun! :grouphug:Love_Icon:grouphug

[Nancy in New York]

Good luck little babies, hope you have a happy and healthy life. :Love_Icon:Love_Icon:Love_Icon

[Shewhosweptforest]

Oh aren't they beautiful :grin3 I just think they are such cutie pies :klunk some cuter than others....these are definitely in the precious category :klunk I'm so glad they are in an area without cars :Love_Icon they really do well if they aren't near roads :great

[Chickenlegs]

They ars just beautiful. Possums are some of my VERY favoritest critters (well--after squirrels) Bye babies! Have wonderful possumly lives :blowkiss

[stepnstone]

And they're off...
Bye babies enjoy your lives. http://www.sherv.net/cm/emoticons/bye/teary-eyes-waving-bye-smiley-emoticon.gif

[island rehabber]

Oh aren't they beautiful :grin3 I just think they are such cutie pies :klunk some cuter than others....these are definitely in the precious category :klunk I'm so glad they are in an area without cars :Love_Icon they really do well if they aren't near roads :great


They were released at this beautiful wildlife sanctuary, which also holds classes and seminars for rehabbers from time to time. :great I love it there, although it's a hike from my house so I wouldn't want to have to soft release up there and go every day.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teatown_Lake_Reservation

[Rhapsody]

Best sight in the world....... baby possums growing up and being set free. :)