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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Though opossums (didelphis virginiana) are usually found in areas near streams and swamps, they also can live in many different regions of eastern, central and west-coast United States. Opossums naturally make dens in anything from tree cavities to brush piles. Opossums are also very opportunistic and will make a home in another animal’s abandoned burrow. Opossums usually live solitary lives, but they will group together for food or shelter needs.

Opossums are nocturnal, so you won’t see or hear much from them during the day. An opossum in your home may make thumping noises as it heads out for dinner at about 10 p.m. You may hear an opossum again when it returns at dawn. Opossum mating season usually runs from January to July and each female will produce about seven opossum babies, with two to three litters per year. Opossum babies, about the size of a quarter, live in the opossum mom’s pouch after her two-week pregnancy.

Opossums will get into any opening they can squeeze their heads through. Opossums can enter into a roof’s overhangs, shingles, gable vents and where two roofs meet. Opossums can even get into the attic through crevices in the chimney. Opossums are very opportunistic animals and will use any hole to enter, even if another animal has made it. opossum getting onto your roof is no trick, either.

There have been many cases during spring where opossums live and sleep throughout the day in a chimney. At night, the opossums will enter the home and raid the kitchen, leaving a mess in their wake. Not only will you have to clean up after this rampage, but don’t forget the disease and bugs the opossum will bring along with it. In addition, what seems to be a safe trip to the fridge for a glass of milk may turn into a confrontation with a mother opossum protecting her babies.

Opossums are top on the list of wildlife that destroys vegetable gardens. Opossums will also throw garbage around from your cans in search of food. Opossums enjoy grubs, so will often tear apart sod to find them. Even if the opossum hasn’t found a way into your home yet, but is acclimated to your area, it can do significant damage. For an opossum making trouble outside your home, trapping is not the answer. There are simply too many of them out there.

They cannot jump, but they are superb climbers. One should never hope to keep an opossum out of a yard with a mere fence. With their opposable thumbs and prehensile tail, they can scale practically any obstacle.

Answer: First, we would like to thank you for helping the opossum. Second, please read the section titled "Found an Orphaned or Injured Opossum?" for information about what to do next. For help locating a wildlife rehabilitator near you please see the nest question and answer.

Answer: No. All wild animals belong in the wild. Give the opossum the chance to live the life nature intended...in the wild. In most states it is illegal to be in possession of a wild animal without the proper permits. If the opossum is an orphan or injured then seek immediate assistance. Read the "Found an Orphaned or Injured Opossum?" section. Otherwise, release the animal.

Answer: Nothing. Leave it alone. If it is injured or orphaned then read the "Found an Orphaned or Injured Opossum?" section. Otherwise, enjoy watching wildlife in your own backyard! Opossums are beneficial: eating the harmful, unwanted pests around your home such as snails, slugs, spiders, cockroaches, rats, mice and snakes. Think of the opossum as your free gardener. The opossum is known as "Nature's Little Sanitation Engineer" for a good reason!

Answer: First contact your local animal shelter to determine if an officer will assist you. Always make sure the opossum will not be trapped and killed! opossum can safely be trapped by leaning an empty, tall kitchen trash can at approximately a 30-45? angle against something the opossum can climb onto such as a stack of books. Place cat food or ripe fruit at the bottom of the trash can. The opossum will be able to climb into the trash can but will be unable to climb or jump out.

Trapping and relocating does not work. If you are determined to remove an opossum then encourage it to do so on its own by removing whatever is attracting it to your area. You must determine what is attracting the opossum to your area and remove the attractants or other opossums and animals will come and fill the vacated niche. Opossums are usually attracted by pet food left outside and dense shrubs to hide under. If you are determined to trap then please contact a humane trapper.

Answer: If safe to do so, pull over and move the body to the side of the road. If alive then seek immediate assistance. If it is a deceased female then check the pouch for any live young. If found then wrap in a soft, ravel-free towel and transport to a wildlife rehabilitator immediately. Young opossums can not survive long outside the pouch environment. For more information read the "Found an Orphaned or Injured Opossum?" section.

Answer: It is more likely that a dog will injure or kill an opossum. A cat may attack and kill young rat-sized opossums. Adult opossums and cats seem to have a mutual respect and leave each other alone. In general, opossums are docile, non-aggressive animals and will not attack your pets. They prefer to escape and avoid confrontations, if possible. If not, the threatened opossum may "play 'possum", show its teeth, or bite in self-defense, as any animal would.

Answer: Children should be taught not to attempt to feed or touch a wild animal. Opossums are nocturnal, that is they sleep during the day and come out at night, so the chance that a small child will come into contact with an opossum is slim. Opossums prefer to sleep in dark, secluded places. If your children play in this type of an area then there is greater danger of being bitten by a poisonous spider or snake.

Answer: A zoonotic disease is a diseased passed between animals and humans. There are diseases you can get from any animal, including pets. As long as you exercise common sense then the chance of getting a disease from an opossum is slim. Do not attempt to pet or get too close to the opossum. As mentioned in the question and answer above, rabies is extremely rare in the opossum.

There are only two things sold in Black Rock City: coffee and ice, both found in Center Camp. Profits from ice sales are given directly to the communities of Empire and Gerlach. Check out the 2006 Afterburn Report for Camparctica to see the exact distribution of monies. Profits from the café go directly to the commissary to sustain the onsite nutritional needs of our kick-ass staff. You need to bring ALL supplies, food, water and tools you will need for survival in a harsh environment.