To keep a captive opossum legally, you need a wildlife rehabilitation permit from your state. Opossums have a very short lifespan, usually three years or less in the wild, where they have to contend with predators and cars. A poor diet can result in metabolic bone disease, which is expensive to treat and potentially fatal. The opossum is a wild animal, and should not be kept as a pet. He also dines on rats, mice and roadkill. It's illegal to keep them without a wildlife rehabilitation permit, though, and once they're old enough to survive on their own, healthy possums can, and should, be released. Be Her Village. In many states it is illegal to keep an opossum as a pet, and can result in a hefty fine. not a rodent. They have 50 teeth, more than any other mammal. Fax: (207) 287-8094 or (207) 287-6395 University of Missouri: The Opossum -- Its Amazing Story, The Wildlife Rehabilitation Information Directory: Becoming a Wildlife Rehabilitator, Opossum Society of the United States: Opossum General Information, How to Stop Your Dog From Marking Indoors, How to Keep Your Pets From Overheating in the Summer. While the possum is not a common pet, you can follow these guidelines if you are in the position where you need to rear one until a wildlife rehabilitator can be found: The most important point is that these animals are nocturnal so they commonly sleep during the day and remain active in the night. 284 State Street Breeding Opossum. How to feed my pets when wild animals are attracted in Maine | Opossum. You may be able to get a permit if you do exhibition at a library, school, media, ect. They generally live around people in suburban and urban areas, foraging on a variety of foods as omnivores. For possums in captivity, the animals can be kept stimulated by hiding their favorite foods inside logs or hollow gourds. Maine > Animal is eating my pet's food that is outside > Opossum. Opossums require a … In captivity, they can live twice as long if they receive proper nutrition and care from a qualified keeper. Opossums are almost cat like… Oppie my opossum is a total sweet heart stays in my room all day and is also liter box trained, he’s never had a accident and never bit anyone once. Critter Control wildlife removal specialists have the proper training, knowledge, and tools to capture and remove opossums from homes and businesses. They're wild animals who don't fare well often in captivity. One of the most serious and deadly of these is rabies.According to the World Health Organization, rabies is “almost always fatal following the onset of clinical symptoms.” Obviously, this presents serious concerns when you’re keeping a raccoon as a pet.Dr. In the wild the diet of the opossum is very diverse, eating a mix of smaller mammals, insects and worms, along with fruits, seeds and almost any other edible food sources, so it is important to give them a diverse diet when they are kept as pets too. How Long Is the Painted Turtle's Life Span in Captivity? We can help you get rid of Southern Maine opossum problems. Augusta, ME 04333-0041, Mailing Address: - 10 points to whoever finds out!? Thankssss. Over the Counter Heartworm Prevention for Dogs. Trying to transform a possum into a pet can be expensive and heartbreaking. ... Feed your pets inside. Empower Her. Yup. Every state has exotic or wild pet laws specifying if a species is allowed, banned, or requires a special permit. Ch. They are immune to snake venom. They can have fleas and drop flea larvae and eggs in … Raccoons are susceptible to a few illnesses that are zoonotic, meaning they can be passed to humans. An opossum in your yard should not be a problem, as they are not aggressive or destructive and do not attack or threaten pets or dig burrows. Ideally, put the food out in the evening, watch the possums feeding, then remove the food bowls so you don't wind up feeding rodents. Opossums have digits on their hind feet that act like opposable thumbs. Broken teeth from biting the bars, neurotic pacing, obesity from lack of exercise, lethargy from becoming depressed, aggressiveness towards their owners etc. Ned Gentz, DVM, DACZM, writing for VetzInsight, says, “Raccoons a… Captive possums frequently have poor immune systems and are prone to bacterial illnesses. Opossum A relatively new mammal to Maine, ‘possums’ have expanded their range northward to become residents here. Keeping Possums as Pets: Why Possums Are Good for Nature. PART OF WILD SKY MEDIA | FAMILY & PARENTING. Shape The World. The North American Opossum is the only marsupial living in the north and parts of Center and South America. Opossums may carry pathogens that can cause human diseases such as leptospirosis, tuberculosis, relapsing fever, tularemia, spotted fever, toxoplasmosis, coccidiosis, trichomoniasis, and Chagas disease. I have one boy left from my short tail opossum litter, hes almost 8 weeks old and is ready to go to his new... by spencermenagerie - Stamford, Connecticut - - 20 days ago Looking to adopt opossum. If you have the knowledge, experience, time and finances to provide him with a good home, you might be able to adopt him. ‘Possums’ have a pouch, so are marsupials just like kangaroos. A relatively new mammal to Maine, ‘possums’ have expanded their range northward to become residents here. Opossum Care. This animal has always been perceived as a dirty scavenger, but possums do have a few positive features. However, the name “possum” began to appear in print as early as 1613 and is the accepted name for North America’s only marsupial. Like all marsupials, possums have a pouch, or a marsupium. Opossums are: not possums. Outstanding! They have a prehensile tail, which means the animal can use its tail to grasp; for example, it can grab a tree limb and hang upside down. They have excellent memories and return night after night to finish up what Fido or kitty leave behind. Consider these opossum facts before enticing them to stay: As scavengers, opossums will gladly consume pet food left outdoors. 5 ways to shape up your pet … Email us, Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife, Opportunities for People with Disabilities, Rulemaking Proposals Open to Public Comment. Hemera Technologies/Photos.com/Getty Images. It's extremely difficult to create a captive diet that reflects the diversity of a wild possum’s meals, meets his nutrition requirements and maintains the calcium-phosphorus balance he needs to remain healthy. An apple hung on a string will encourage the animal to bob for apples. In this article a pet owner is NOT a USDA-licensed facility that does exhibition or educational work. Physical Address: The possum is primarily gray in color. Opossum’s lifespan can vary in the wild and in captivity. His diet can include fruit, grass and other plants, as well as garden pests, such as insects and snails. People with a CWAFL can obtain them from a captive source that also has a CWAFL. These facilities (sometimes this is a person’s house) often can get permits in most states. To keep a captive opossum legally, you need a wildlife rehabilitation permit from your state. Caging a possum is the equivalent to someone capturing you, placing you in a 8X10 cell FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE. 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