Does this baby need to be rescued?

Most opossums are born between February and June, although some are born as late as September.

Unlike many animals, if a joey (a baby opossum) gets separated from its mother, the mother will not always retrieve it. The baby is now on its own.

Rescue the joey and transport to a licensed rehabber if:

• Its body, not counting the tail, is less than 8” long

• It is clinging to its deceased mother or is crawling nearby

• It has visible injuries and/or is covered in fly eggs (which look like rice)

• It is shivering, lethargic, crying, sneezing, or feels cold to the touch

• It has been in an animal’s mouth

If any of these conditions are met, the joey needs to be in the care of a professional wildlife rehabilitator.

Do not disturb the animal if:

• Its body, not counting the tail, is more than 8” long (about the length of a human hand, or dollar bill)

• It appears healthy and alert

• It is moving without appearing to be in pain

If all these conditions are met, the youngster is mature enough to survive on its own and will do best if left alone.

To get the joey to a professional wildlife rehabilitator.

What to do:

• Prepare a box with soft cloth bedding

• Wear gloves if possible.  Or, you can gently wrap the baby in a soft towel

• Gently place the baby in the box

• For warmth, place a warm (not hot!) bottle of water wrapped in a towel in the box

• Do not offer food or water.  Joeys have very specialized needs and it can be fatal for them to eat the wrong thing or to drink water before they have been weaned.

• Immediately contact a wildlife rehabilitator. Time is of the essence if the baby is to survive.

How to find help:

• The ‘Get Help’ page on our website lists licensed wildlife rehabilitators throughout New England. Click Here

• Animal Help Now is another resource for finding a licensed wildlife rehabilitator near you: https://ahnow.org