Petting an Opossum

Animal care or raising pets is not a fun task to undertake. It does have its liabilities. One has to perform their daily duty, otherwise the innocent creature you are raising might get ill or eventually die. Raising possums as pets is a contrary issue to debate. The general opinion states that it is not good to keep an opossum have a pet. Possums are wild creatures and are highly passionate about their habitat, therefore, separating them from their environment will not make them happy.



Considering state law, it is not legally permitted to keep possums as a pet without seeking permission from wildlife rehabilitation. In some states it is unlawful to keep, buy, or sell possums. Local law will decide whether or not you are able to raise a possum as a pet. Once you get the permit, you may need some training sessions from wildlife rehabilitators about raising possums. It all depends on the area where you reside, or from where you want to adopt your possum as a pet. Generally, possums are released to their environment when they recover from an illness or injury, or they are old enough to survive on their own.

Knowledge, familiarity, time and funds are the key elements which factored into your ability to adopt a possum as a pet. The dietary option for raising an opossum healthily needs a varied aspect, because of its omnivorous traits, the mammal should be provided with a diet comprising of vegetable and non-editable substances like snails, berries, apples, grass, insects or mice. Pet foods are also a good set of choices for them. It is to be kept in mind that a nutrition that provides an effective calcium-phosphorus balance is crucial for the mammal as deficiency can lead to bone impairment which will cause you to spend extra cash.

Every possum is different from the other in behavior and temperament. A6-8 week old opossum would be a good pet to adopt. Discipline your pet opossum by training it in time outs, voice pace, gentle tapping, tone of voice and a water spray. The animal is quite aggressive and will bite at any irritating response. You should not cage the mammal for long hours as they become depressed and aggressive, so let your 5 month old opossum wander through your house. Restrict them to a specific room when you go out. Excessive bathing is not required. Just trimming the nails will groom your pet.

The life span ranges from 8-10 years, however the animal has less chance of survival in the wild due to predators and other perils. In captivity, if proper environment and food is provided, it can live a long life. A litter box is a necessity to provide and train where they can relieve themselves. Some opossums. Get used to the routine of the box while others deviate from the rule. Remember that you are bringing wildlife into your home so try to provide everything that helps to create its own environment.

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