How to Save an Animal That's Been Hit by a Car. my dog is a terrier, so he goes for anything that moves. If this happens, try to remain calm. Raising orphaned and injured possums In the wild, the possum is usually docile and will not attack you without confrontation. However, if the opossum is injured or an orphan (less than 7 inches from nose to rump) then contact the Opossum Society of the United States, a local wildlife rehabilitator, a veterinarian, or your local animal shelter for help. Animals can be hard to see in the road, especially if it is dark. An opossum's hunt for food may lead it to a vegetable garden, garbage can, or chicken coop. Just because you have encountered an active possum in the middle of the day, it doesn’t mean it’s sick. Here are four tips for helping injured wildlife. A possum can be perfectly healthy and still roam around during the day. It's common to see baby wild animals outside during spring, as a new generation makes its way into the world. How wildlife carers should look after sick or injured possums, including housing, feeding and rehabilitation. Do not corner an opossum, thereby forcing it to defend itself. 2. It is important that they are assessed quickly as they will be suffering from severe injury such as fractures, internal bleeding and infection. 1. Note: If the opossum appears sick or injured, call a wildlife rehabilitator or your regional wildlife office. If the injured possum is a Ringtail (see below for how to identify one) you could use a large towel or blanket and gently wrap the possum up and then transport it to the nearest vet clinic, noting the exact location where the possum was found. ... Possums can be caught using a catch net or a large blanket. While the opossum is not generally an aggressive animal, this aspect should not be ignored. Leave the opossum alone and enjoy watching wildlife in your own backyard. Baby wild animals might seem like they need our help, but unless the animal is truly orphaned or injured, there is no need to rescue them. If necessary, gently use a broom to coral the opossum and help it move outside. Almost three years and 30 possums later, we can safely say that we know something about how to successfully take 40 grams of skin, bone and (if you’re lucky) fur, and raise it into a possum weighing from half to two kilograms and able to jump on your best curtains in a single bound. It is important to know how to handle them and keep them calm – a frightened animal can hurt both himself and you, especially if he is in pain. Fold a blanket around the possum's body to provide even pressure on the animal and to protect the handler. Rotator cuff tears are common injuries caused by damage to the muscles or tendons that stabilize your shoulder joint. At first i was freaked that a beautiful opossum had been killed for no reason, but then i … If you find a possum on the ground during daylight hours, something is wrong. The possum is a beautiful animal, but there are many specific concerns regarding keeping them as a pet. It's a nuisance. so it's the night-time and i let my dog out to go to the bathroom, and he wouldn't come back. So i went outside to check what was up and i found him in the compost with an opossum lying in a dead position next to him. They can be diagnosed by using a number of physical tests and imaging techniques. Honestly? You can't keep a possum as a pet 3. You don't want a possum hanging around your house and trash. ... How to tell a possum is ready to release. Sometimes, despite your best efforts, you might accidentally hit an animal. Possums and gliders that have been bitten by a dog or cat, must receive immediate veterinary attention, even if there is no visible sign of injury. Kill it. 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