What's your thoughts (North American Opossum)

[vetusvates]

I had one as a kid, but it was given to me much smaller/younger. And was a sweet pet, would you believe?
I also had a raccoon, given to me not young enough. She was a PITA.
I was a kid, of course, and didn't have a clue about laws, though.

 

[Sinsational]

Is it illegal to keep opossums or racoons or things like that? or does it depend on where you are as to what their laws are? I know that some places have different laws on wild caught snakes, is this the same kind of thing?

 

[tyflier]

Is it illegal to keep opossums or racoons or things like that? or does it depend on where you are as to what their laws are? I know that some places have different laws on wild caught snakes, is this the same kind of thing?

Yea, most states have different laws regarding the status of wild animals as pets. Some allow it, some don't. It's always a good idea to know the laws about any specific choices before you make them...

 

[Outcast]

I rehabilitated an orphaned opossum when I was in high school. We were pushing our burn pile up closer together and the mom took off into the woods.. Then a few minutes later I saw what I thought was an albino rat, so I chased after it and caught it... I wrapped the little guy in my shirt and my parents said I could keep him... Well we were walking the property.. The little guy attached to my shirt, and what do you know, A 4ft speckled King was right in front of us... I took my shirt off, handed it to my mom and caught the snake, Then released it after letting the neighbor kids pet it... LOL

I had that baby opossum for about 7 months, It hated me, because I took the advice from the wildlife rehabilitater we called.. She said she couldn't take it in because she was full already, but told me to bottle feed it and then start feeding it cat food, but not to handle it too much because if it became attached to humans it would end up getting killed after I let it go... Well once I saw that It was eating on its own, I took it out to the woods and let the little guy go... As much as I wanted to keep it.. I knew it was better to let it go...

But If it were injured like yours is, I would have ended up building it a large enclosure and keeping it as a pet. they make great little pets. and pretty good conversational pieces. LOL

 

[Butch]

Is it illegal to keep opossums or racoons or things like that? or does it depend on where you are as to what their laws are? I know that some places have different laws on wild caught snakes, is this the same kind of thing?

In Florida certain animals can be kept without permit:
http://myfwc.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/myfwc.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=1728&p_created=1125003110&p_sid=lohqGI_j&p_accessibility=0&p_redirect=&p_srch=1&p_lva=&p_sp=cF9zcmNoPTEmcF9zb3J0X2J5PSZwX2dyaWRzb3J0PSZwX3Jvd19jbnQ9NDEsNDEmcF9wcm9kcz0mcF9jYXRzPSZwX3B2PSZwX2N2PSZwX3NlYXJjaF90eXBlPWFuc3dlcnMuc2VhcmNoX25sJnBfcGFnZT0xJnBfc2VhcmNoX3RleHQ9cGV0IHJhY2Nvbg!!&p_li=&p_topview=1

"The following wildlife may be possessed as personal pets without a permit: unprotected and nonvenomous reptiles and amphibians, gerbils, hedgehogs, honey possums, sugar gliders, brush-tailed possums, shell parakeets, rats and mice, canaries, moles, shrews, rabbits, squirrels, chipmunks, ferrets (domestic and European), lovebirds, guinea pigs, cockatiels, hamsters, parrots (psittacine birds), finches, myna birds, toucans, doves (ringed, diamond, and ruddy), button quail, prairie dogs, and chinchillas."

Unfortunately a North American Opossum (Florida's native species) doesn't fall under this category and neither do raccoons so if I decide to keep her I'll have to file for a Class III permit, which is at no cost due to it being a personal pet. I'm going to hold off building her a full size pen and file until I make a solid decision on her state of life.

As a nuisance trapper I am supposed to euthanasia any animal if I am going to remove them from the property owners land, thankfully with this particular situation there was a loophole as the ladies house that I removed this Opossum from is leased to her through my family and is still on the property.

Unfortunately that is also how the State of Florida gets many people, as it is legal to catch and keep certain types of wildlife such as any native, nonvenomous snakes and amphibians but they can not be removed from the property alive.

 

[Nanci]

What's her temperament like? Do you think she will adapt to a life in captivity, and enjoy her life, or do you think she will be miserable? I like possums a lot, and the few captive possums I've seen have been nice.

Too bad you don't live by me- we could x-ray her leg.

 

[wasuslitherin]

Good luck is all I can say.

 

[Susan]

A good friend had an opossum as a pet for many years, taking her to school for the kids to pet and everything (she is a Kindergarten teacher). Of course, she raised it since it was much younger than the one you have, but she was an absolute sweetie. Then some idiot got scratched by her (no aggression at all on the part of the opossum, she was just not being held properly by the idiot so tried to grab hold before she fell) and he threw a fit, demanding it be euthanized and the head sent off to be tested for rabies (which opossums are more resistant to as they are marsupials).

Anyway, Good luck, offer some dry or canned dog or cat food, and check this website out as they may be able to help you: National Opossum Society

A few other possible places: Wildlife Haven Rehab
Wildlife Rescue Ministries
Sky Harbor Wildlife Rehab Center These people are in my area, but what's an hour drive for a cute opossum

 

[Butch]

What's her temperament like? Do you think she will adapt to a life in captivity, and enjoy her life, or do you think she will be miserable? I like possums a lot, and the few captive possums I've seen have been nice.

Too bad you don't live by me- we could x-ray her leg.

She really does have a sweet temperment, I think she would do well in captivity given a roomy pen with plenty to climb and eat. Yeah if it wasn't a 2 hour trip I'd definitely bring her over for an x-ray.

Anyway, Good luck, offer some dry or canned dog or cat food, and check this website out as they may be able to help you: National Opossum Society

A few other possible places: Wildlife Haven Rehab
Wildlife Rescue Ministries
Sky Harbor Wildlife Rehab Center These people are in my area, but what's an hour drive for a cute opossum

:cheers: Thanks for those links I'll have to check with them tomorrow.

 

[vetusvates]

Anyway, Good luck, offer some dry or canned dog or cat food, and check this website out as they may be able to help you: National Opossum Society

A few other possible places: Wildlife Haven Rehab
Wildlife Rescue Ministries
Sky Harbor Wildlife Rehab Center These people are in my area, but what's an hour drive for a cute opossum

Susan, anybody who can cite a site like that NOS site, deserves a big hug. That is so sweet and so cool.

 

[Sinsational]

Thanks for the info! Butch, I just wanted to let you know that I was asking about the rules out of curiosity, not out of a "are you following the laws" kind of way!

 

[Butch]

Thanks for the info! Butch, I just wanted to let you know that I was asking about the rules out of curiosity, not out of a "are you following the laws" kind of way!

No problem :cheers: you never know so I like to keep myself covered

 

[Butch]

Ladies and Gentleman I am pleased to announce that "Possum" as she has come to be known as, on the 7th day of captivity has started to use her front left leg as a prop of sorts. So progress has officially been made

 

[pridecity]

That's great. I'm so glad you gave her a chance. Is she going to be released or is she officially Voodoo Kustom Designs' mascot?

 

[Butch]

lol we'll see, I might have to leave this one to chance and flip a coin because if I don't I'll end up just building her some huge pen and keeping her around

 

[pridecity]

I see in your sig that she is all ready listed as one of your kids though. How do you think she'd do with a C&C cage? Ever heard of those? I have them for my guinea pigs.

 

[Butch]

I see in your sig that she is all ready listed as one of your kids though. How do you think she'd do with a C&C cage? Ever heard of those? I have them for my guinea pigs.

Haha yeah all the others are jealous of the attention I give

Whats the C&C cage? the one I have planned would be at least 360 cu. ft. as thats the minimum amount of space recommended by the FWC for a full grown Possum.

 

[pridecity]

C&C cages may not work then as far as price goes. C&C is short for cubes and coroplast. Cubes are meaning storage cubes usually used for temporary storage. They are 14 inches by 14 inches divided into 9 squares both ways. There are 16 grids in a box, usually at $15+ dollars. I have half a million of them because I use them for everything including my guinea pig cages.

If you were to Google C&C cages, you'd find a ton of pictures. To give you an idea of how guinea pig people use them, a pair of pigs need a 2x4 grid cage. This is a 30 inch x 50 inch cage, giving 10.5 square feet of floor space. Does that make sense?

 

[Butch]

Thats a great little set-up unfortunately I don't think it'll work in this situation.

 

[Daenerys]

C&C cages may not work then as far as price goes. C&C is short for cubes and coroplast. Cubes are meaning storage cubes usually used for temporary storage. They are 14 inches by 14 inches divided into 9 squares both ways. There are 16 grids in a box, usually at $15+ dollars. I have half a million of them because I use them for everything including my guinea pig cages.

If you were to Google C&C cages, you'd find a ton of pictures. To give you an idea of how guinea pig people use them, a pair of pigs need a 2x4 grid cage. This is a 30 inch x 50 inch cage, giving 10.5 square feet of floor space. Does that make sense?

I have those made for my rabbits ^_^