I Found an opossum! What now?

@twrcwildlifecenter

If you find opossums (or any wildlife) who are abandoned babies or adults in distress, pairing them with a rehabber right away is essential to their survival! Using a towel or gloves, safely place the opossum in a box on soft, dry fabric. Keep them warm and cover the box to keep them inside and help them relax. Get them to a rehabber where they'll get fluids, nutrients, and medical care. Adult female opossums will often have babies in their pouch. The best course of action is to bring the mother and babies to a wildlife rescuer (even if the mother appears deceased—with opossums' acting skills, you never know!). 

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Finding a rehabber:

Animal Help Now uses your address to find rehabbers and rescue facilities closest to you. Visit their website or download the app to find exactly who to call when you find injured or abandoned wildlife. 

​Tilly's Story 

 An intimate glimpse into the life cycle of opossums and their contributions to planet Earth
​"Quite possibly the best, most educational lovestory about a mom and her eleven babies ever told!!!"
— Starry the Film Critic
Please note: The video shows an injury in the beginning, but quickly transitions to a non-graphic story of love and resilience!
Begin at 0:16 if sensitive to injuries

The breakout hit of the year—Tilly's Story—will change the way you look at opossums forever. Featuring Tilly and her eleven seedlings, each one unique, beautiful, and sweet. Enjoy Tilly's story and share with friends! Video and music by the amazing Melissa Irwin. For updates and more, follow The Opossum's Pouch rescue on Facebook. Consider sending them a treat of any amount (every penny counts!) via PayPal by visiting paypal.me/theopossumpouch.

If you would like Starry to make you a painting as a thank you for your contribution, donate to Sesame's Treat Fund (paypal.me/itsmesesame) and put as a "Note" that you would like your donation to go straight to The Opossum's Pouch please! Starry will send 100% your donation directly to her seedling friends at The Opossum's Pouch. 

Building a Winter Home for Your Outdoor OPossum Neighbors

Although Virginia opossums are found throughout the United States and even up into Canada, they are not generally fans of cold weather. Their furless fingers, tails, and ears are particularly ill-suited to chilly temperatures, and in some regions researchers use use signs of frostbite to gauge how many winters a wild opossum has lived through. If you live in a chilly place, please be extra kind to the wild opossums—you can leave out some fresh water and fruits or nuts/snacks, and you can make an insulated wildlife den from the instructions above. Opossums do not migrate or hibernate, so helping them out does not mess with instinctual patterns like it might with some other wildlife. Every effort is much appreciated by seedlings who may not have warm fresh laundry to snuggle up in like we do!!!

Some of Our Favorite Rescues to Support!

Sesame and Starry's artwork and advocacy allows them to support fantastic rescues worldwide!
In addition to providing crucial financial assistance through Sesame's Treat Fund,
they partner with rescues to accomplish educational and outreach goals.
A huge Thank You to Sesame & Starry's friends and fans,
who lovingly join with them to accomplish this mission of helping animals --
THANK YOU, FRIENDS!