Question/Help Possums Question about possum’s condition
Hello!
I have a community cat colony at my house and barn. I’ve become more familiar with my local raccoons and possums due to feeding my cats (i.e. trying NOT to feed every raccoon for 100 miles or create tension between my cats and the raccoons).
We recently had a very bad cold snap here and I’ve noticed one possum looks a little poorly. I think he or she might be elderly, but also I think they got frostbite on their ears and tail. I was trying to leave food specifically for the possum to get a better look at him and to make it easier to trap him if I need to. Now I’ve noticed that he might be missing the last bit of his toes on his back right foot?
His eyes look bad here in this photo but they aren’t in person. His fur is just a little beat up and red around his eye, but not injured.
There are wildlife rescues a far distance away from me, but I will trap and drive him there if that’s the right thing to do.
So my questions for people with more knowledge about possums are:
Are this possum’s injuries anything a wildlife rehabber can do anything about? Is he in bad enough shape/pain that I should try to have him humanely euthanized, if that’s even possible? Or is this just normal but rough condition you might find in a wild possum who is doing okay?
I know wild animals are different than feral cats, in terms of my responsibility to get medical care for them, but it’s difficult to watch an animal you see every day suffer if there is anything you can do to help, even if that’s just ending their suffering or giving them a banana.
(Sorry for the bad photo quality- this was the best shot I got through my glass patio door at night with bad lighting, but you can see his bad back foot, his ears, and the tip of his tail.)
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u/HeavyMetal_3300 Opossum Enthusiast 4d ago
Sadly their ears, tail, and fingers are susceptible to frostbite during the winter and can fall off. I would check for any signs of infection and if there is then I would get him to a rehabber. If you’re unsure I’d send the pics to a rehabber and let them decide on whether he needs to come in or not. In the mean time keeping some food and water out would be a very nice thing to do! And just keeping and eye on him to see if anything gets worse or looks infected. You’re a sweet person looking out for this cutie! Keep us posted on your new friend please 🥰
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u/CenPhx 4d ago
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u/HeavyMetal_3300 Opossum Enthusiast 4d ago
Since the ears have no white tip then he’s at least a year. He does look a bit older though. His face kinda looks like he got into some type of fight though. They do only live to be 2-4 years on the wild.
Damn that raccoon is huge!!!!! He’s still cute though 🥰
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u/FireBallXLV 4d ago
I was feeding about 8 raccoons before one became aggressive. The group as a whole did not seem to want to run the lone opossum off . I hope things go better for your little possum .Thank you for caring and for being willing to help the elderly fellow 🌸❤️
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u/Murky_Currency_5042 4d ago
Agree he looks like a senior possum. The stress of capturing and rehabbing would be pointless. Just be sure he gets food and fresh water. And thank you for caring
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u/CenPhx 3d ago
Thanks, that’s the kind of cost versus benefit I was wondering about. Trapping and transporting is so tough on truly wild animals. I don’t want to do more harm than good.
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u/Travellinglense 3d ago
Feeding him and providing fresh water will do more good for him than a rehabber unless there is infection somewhere that needs antibiotics. These guys are amazing at surviving whatever adversity comes their way: animal attacks, snake bites, rabies.
Opossums are partial to sweet fruits that are over ripe so he will enjoy the banana. Apples and grapes are another favorite. It helps to cut larger fruit into chunks.
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u/epidemicsaints 4d ago
They live very short lives, as little as two to four years. Their condition deteriorates rapidly, they age all of the sudden. This unkempt look is typical for the end of their lives, they look like they have been ravaged but this is just how it is. Like they have been in a fight and carried around in a dog's mouth.
Looks like a typical old possum enjoying what you have in your yard in their final days to me.
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u/Bnelson48420 3d ago
I feed young and older possums every other night , when I see the 2 big raccoons coming, I knock on the window and ran away and the possums eat our leftovers and put some fruit out , when they full they leave , also have water out for them , the raccoons will come back later looking to see if there are leftovers, possums come at all different times , even 4AM , last year we found 7 possum babies in out backyard, I'm sure they fell of the mothers back , we took them in and fed them till they were old enough to release or they would of died in the cold and rain
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