Opossum: Emergency Care

If you have a found a baby opossum please check the area for other babies. Opossum moms have up to 13 babies at a time. If you know the mom is dead, here is what you need to do until you can contact a wildlife rehabilitator.

Keep the babies warm. Make a pouch out of a pillowcase or other linens for the babies to hide. A hot water bottle is a good source of heat. If the babies have no fur contact a wildlife rehabilitator immediately, these babies do not have a lot of time.

The babies will open their mouths and try to growl at you but they are pretty harmless at that age. Do not pick the babies up by the tail as it will break and never grow back.

The babies need to be fed warm pedialyte every 3-4 hours for the first 24 hours, even through the night. Use an eyedropper and feed one drop at time to make sure the babies swallow. Keep the baby in an upright position; never feed a baby on its back, it will choke.

Feed the baby until the tummy is full but not tight. After feeding take a warm, damp cloth and rub the babies tummy until it goes to the bathroom. What goes in must come out. This mimics the licking a mom opossum would do. Keep the baby in a warm, quiet place away from drafts, noises and household pets.

This information is just for emergency purposes until you contact a wildlife rehabilitator.

If you cannot locate a rehabber in your area please contact your conservation office, vet clinic, humane society, animal shelter, or use Wildlife International's Rehab Search. If you are still having trouble please contact Symbiotic Wildlife Rehabilitation Society for more information.