Yes and no. Throughout America the opossum is often referred to colloquially as a possum (similarly to the way some people refer to a potato as a tater or to a mosquito as a skeeter), but its actual name is opossum. When we refer to it by its colloquial name on this website, we usually add an apostrophe at the beginning to indicate the omission of the initial o: 'possum.

Most are about the size of a large house cat, from 15 to 20 inches long. They generally weigh 10 to 13 pounds. This can vary, however, just as height and weight vary among humans. Some well-fed opossums can seem gargantuan, especially when they startle you on an evening walk.

The best thing to do is to call a local veterinarian or animal control officer. Although opossums are rarely aggressive, any injured animal that is in pain may react unpredictably and should not be handled except by an expert.

The only place I know of that sells pet opossums is Brighten Farms of Marshall, Indiana. But bear in mind that in some states it is illegal to buy, sell, or keep opossums. You should always check your local laws before pursuing the purchase of an opossum.

Remember, if you intend to trap the possum yourself then you must obtain a Permit to Trap and Release from Environment ACTbefore you trap the possum. The RSPCA (ACT) and some equipment hire companies hire possum traps. Please note there may be a waiting period of 2-3 weeks to obtain use of a trap.

Injured possums should be taken to a registered vet or to a wildlife carer/rescue organisation. In the ACT the RSPCA accepts injured possums. Wildlife carer/rescue organisations can be found in the Yellow Pages listed under Animal Welfare Organisations or the White Pages under Wildlife or RSPCA (ACT) Inc

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Possums are protected animals and even if trapped and removed they must be released no more than 50 metres away. Once vacant the area will be an attractive territory for other possums so the removed possum will soon be replaced by nature. You can place a container of moth balls in the roof. The container ( a tin can or ice cream container )should be sealed and have holes punched in it. A light placed in the roof can provide a temporary deterrent.

Again, it is best to consult with a local veterinarian or animal control officer for assistance. Also try to locate a rehabber in your area with experience in caring for orphaned animals.

First of all, it is never necessary to kill the animal. The kindest way to remove an opossum is to set a Have-A-Heart trap baited with tinned cat food. These are harmless traps that can be obtained at many hardware or farm supply stores or from some rent-all establishments. Once the opossum has been captured, it can be taken to a remote area and released.

If I did, I wouldn't give them to you. Although some people do eat opossum (it is said to taste a lot like pork), I simply don't subscribe to the idea. One word of caution, however, to those who insist on trying to make a meal of the critter: Opossums should not simply be killed and eaten because they do sometimes consume carrion. Instead, they should be captured and fed table scraps and other clean food until the carrion is out of their system.

For residents experiencing problems with possums in their roof, Council has a number of traps available for hire to residents of the City of Ryde only. However, before any trapping is undertaken, written permission (Permit) must first be obtained from You will then need to bring the permit to Council's Customer Service Centre where you will be able to collect a possum trap. There Due to demand, traps are not always available and there is often a waiting list.

Put some flour in the ceiling around the manhole and observe the next day for footprints. Possum footprints will look like a medium size cat footprint, and there will be no tail drag mark as possums hold their tails up when walking.

Step.3 Install the possum box. Place the possum box at least 4 metres from the ground to protect the possum from domestic pets and feral foxes. Possum boxes should be monitored to ensure they are not used by other feral animals such as starlings, house sparrows, bees, and European wasps.

Possum Traps are available for hire from the Town of Cambridge Administration Centre. These are able to be reserved by calling a Customer Service Officer. The cost for a weeks hire of a trap is $11.00 normal rate, and $5.50 for pensioners. Possums can then be released in Perry Lakes Reserrve.

Although nocturnal animals are most active throughout the night, it is not an indication that something is necessarily wrong if seen out during the day. Nocturnal animals often DO come out during the day. Pet food, bird seed, and garbage can be powerful attractants. Weather changes also affect wildlife. A mother skunk or raccoon will often venture out in the daytime to take a well deserved break from her babies.

with most mammals the number will vary, but generally opossums will give birth to between 6-25 young one to three times a year, usually between January and July. Most litters consist of 6 to 9 young. Of these no more than 13 will survive because the mother only has 13 teats with which to feed them. Each joey will latch onto a teat, and those who do not secure a place in their mother's pouch will starve and die.

Unless the animal is injured, they can not be disturbed, even in your backyard. You can call (714) 536-3538 for further assistance. If the animal is injured, you can call the Orange County Animal Control at (714) 935-6848.

Keep the possum in the trap and release at sunset on the day of capture, on the same property, within 50 metres of the capture site. Possums must be released within 24 hours of capture. The trap must be covered with a breathable cloth, such as a hessian bag and kept in a quiet place until sunset. It should also be protected from domestic pets, other wildlife and weather.

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Fleece can be washed by machine — low temperature water is best. Turn it inside out first, if possible. Allow to air dry (it won’t take long.) Faux fur should first be shaken out, then can be machine or handwashed in cold water, and air dried. Using any heat with faux fur will cause it to matt up permanently, so stick to cold! Once it’s dry you can shake it out to fluff it up.

Some organisations sent in their information in their own language of service, which is just great! I'd like to translate the whole thing, starting with French and Spanish, and then moving on to other languages. If you want to include your organisation's description in languages other than English, please feel free to do so!

Unless you find a section that says otherwise, this document is the product of one Nate Waddoups, a heli flyer in Bellevue Washington USA.

Not likely. Opossums are rather lazy and will always seek out readily available food whenever possible. It is not generally industrious enough to catch fish or try to attack an animal that might fight back. The disappearance of fish or chickens is more likely due to a racoon, fox, or badger. If you see an opossum eating your fish, most likely it came across the remains that another creature left behind on the bank.

Opossums are very quiet creatures. You are far more likely to see one long before hearing any noises from it. When threatened they often will hiss, much like a cat, and can make a low growling sound. Some have reported hearing opossums softly purring to their young, though I have never been so privileged. One person wrote me to say they'd once heard a young opossum mewing like a kitten, but it is the only such report I've received.

If there is no time to call animal control, you may be able to coax it out with a broom. Try to avoid hurting the animal, but simply attempt just to urge him along. Sometimes they can become quite stubborn and hide under a table or couch, looking very fearsome by baring their 50 teeth. I once removed an opossum from a neighbor's house by cautiously picking it up by the tail, but I did have on heavy gloves. Opossums usually will not bite, but they certainly can if given the opportunity.

The Washington State Department of Wildlife trains and licenses Nuisance Wildlife Control Operators (NWCO) to assist with nuisance wildlife problems. For more information, call the Washington State Department of Wildlife at (360) 696-6211, or Animal Protection and Control at (360) 397-2488. Wildlife may be humanely captured, relocated or delivered to the shelter.

Possums are nocturnal and should not be out in daylight. There is a good chance it is sick, injured or orphaned. Call WIRES and we will check the animal.