What do I do with a baby opossum that I found in my yard?

Could it be infected?What do I do with a baby opossum that I found in my yard?
People here like to joke about killing and eating the possum or whatever but do you guys know they help to maintain a clean and healthy environment? They eat all types of insects, including cockroaches, crickets, beetles, etcetera.


They catch and eat rats, roof rats, mice, and they consume dead animals of all types (carrion). They like over-ripe fruit, berries, and grapes. And they think snails and slugs are a delicacy! They are Nature's little Sanitation Engineers!!








What is the COST of Killing Opossums or Removing them from an Urban Environment? In terms of the environment, the cost is ...





loss of a harmless animal which eats all manner of pests and carrion.





leaving a vacant ecological niche which will be filled by adjacent opossums or by other mammals, such as rats, skunks, raccoons, etc. Opossums do not dig into the soil, nor do they destroy property; the risk of exposure to disease is lowest with them and higher with all other mammals; and they don't have a strong scent.





Baby opossums are so well protected in their mother鈥檚 pouch that when she suffers a fatal trauma, such as getting hit by a car, the baby possums often remain unharmed. If you come across an orphaned opossum, understand that it has very special needs unlike other orphaned wildlife and should be handed over to a wildlife rehabilitator as soon as possible. But in the meantime, your care could mean the difference between life and death.








Things You'll Need:


Eyedropper


Heating pad, hot water bottle or heat pack


Electrolyte solution


Distilled water


Milk


Honey


Egg yolk


Salt


Dog or cat food


Cotton balls











Determine whether or not the baby opossum is actually an orphan and requires help. An orphaned opossum that is in need of help will be less than 7 inches long from the nose to the rear, not including the length of its tail. If the opossum you have come across is larger than this, it is able to survive on its own and is best left alone unless it is injured. If it is an actual orphan or if it is injured proceed to the next step.





Step 2Warm the orphaned opossum by wrapping it in a blanket, sweatshirt, towel, fleece or similar material. Place the baby animal in a box that is near a source of heat. For example, place the orphaned opossum in a box atop a heating pad set on the lowest temperature. If you do not have a heating pad, hot water bottles or heated rice packs are also effective. Be sure that the animal doesn鈥檛 come in direct contact with the heat to avoid burning or overheating it. Keep the temperature as close to 95 degrees as you can. This is the opossum's normal body temperature.





Step 3Offer the orphaned opossum an electrolyte solution such as pedialyte diluted in distilled water--1/2 cup of electrolyte solution mixed with 1 cup of water is a good rule of thumb. Make sure the fluids are lukewarm, not cold, before you attempt giving it to the opossum. You can try to dispense the fluids from an eye dropper or if the opossum is older and has fur you can try to offer it in a small bowl. It is important not to give too much fluid; offering a little amount frequently is far better than too much at one time.





Step 4Help the animal eliminate waste to prevent bloating, ruptured bladder and other serious problems caused by not urinating or having a bowel movement. To do this, use a soft cloth or cotton ball dampened in warm water. Gently rub the opossum's genital area and anus to stimulate the elimination response. This might take a while but don鈥檛 give up; this step is imperative for the animal鈥檚 survival.





Step 5Contact an animal rehabilitator who specializes in caring for orphaned opossums. An experienced rehabilitator will give the animal the best chance for survival. Your local humane society or veterinarian may be able to put you in contact with a rehabilitator. You can also do an Internet search for opossum wildlife rehabilitators in your immediate vicinity





Step 6Try to feed the orphaned opossum with a homemade formula while waiting for the rehabilitator. Make the formula by mixing 1 egg yolk, 陆 cup of milk, 1 tablespoon of honey and a pinch of salt. Feed the baby possum frequently at about 2 hour intervals. It is important to continue frequent feedings at night to prevent dehydration. If the orphaned opossum is very small it should be fed more frequently at 1 hour intervals, the same goes for animals that appear weak. If the baby opossum is older, weighing a pound or more you can add either canned dog food or cat food to the formula. Don鈥檛 force feed.What do I do with a baby opossum that I found in my yard?
These animals are native to the eastern United States but it has been introduced into the west. Generally, if you find one, then try to trap it in a cage and call Animal Control of your local police department. I don't know if these animals carry rabies or not, but it is best not to take a chance and try to handle it. They do carry fleas on their bodies, the same type that are found on house cats. So it is best to treat your backyard with insecticide if you don't want the fleas to linger in your yard after the opossum has been removed. They are not endangered by any means, and they are considered pests in some areas. The authorities would most likely take it away from your premises and release it into the wild, although there are some animal rescue centers that may take one of them in. They are generally not aggressive and won't provoke a reaction from your cat, if you have one.
You kill it %26amp; have opossum soup for supper (=





Or if you're against killing animals, haul it off somewhere..somewhere far from town, out in the woods.





It could have diseases..rabies, lots of other things too.
I'd say take it to the vet for a quick checkup, and give it to your local animal society. They'll find a good home for it.
if it's not injured, leave it alone. If it is, call a local pet store or humane society or whatnot and ask about where you should take it. They may just have you take it there.
feed it milk for a few months. Then when it gets fat enough, thump it in the head and eat it with mashed potatoes and a glass of Chianti.
Call your city's animal control or wildlife center.


My city personally has a opossum society that rescues them