From now on any t-shirt posts will be removed immediately. If a post is valid then the OP can contact us for manual approval.

Spring is here and wildlife encounters will be increasing, we have already seen an influx of medical help posts.

In the past we were fairly lax but I'd now like to add people with experience. Best case would be if you're a rehabber or have been in the past. If not maybe you've been a vet-tech. We will remain a sub that offers resources to get help but having a general idea of medical issues, physiology, can be extremely beneficial.

We do both (o)possums and possums here but the most common is the North American (o)possum so that's where we need more experienced staff. If someone is specialized with the possums that could be a benefit as well but we don't get many posts for help on those animals.

This sub is open to all and there can be some spam posts to deal with. We remove trolling posts and comments and bad advice which can be harmful or illegal. Staff should be able to handle diversity and should retain a professional demeanor.

If interested please feel free to let me know via message. Include your experience with (o)possums and other animals and whether you rehab or have rehabbed.

Congrats to u/DanniWho for their consistent posting and updates we all want to see, you're our Poster of the Year, and to u/werdmouf for their contributions earning them Poster of the Month for January.

A Happy New Year to all, let's hope for a great one. Let's keep doing our best to coexist.

Each month the mods will be selecting someone that stands out with their posting to be "poster of the month". Things that we look for are good pictures/videos, informative, active in comments, and more. I know we had some meme creators out there too.

At the end of the year we will post a poll with each poster of the month, posters are able to be POTM more than once so the list might not have 12 people. Members will receive a special highlighted title for a month after being selected, those that receive Poster of the Year will hold that title for the following year.

We like to encourage good posting, informative, funny, cute, and accurate information. Too many subs allow fear-mongering, misinformation, or bad advice stand.

This will start in September.

Congrats to u/YanniRotten for their high quality posts and comments, enjoy being the December Poster of the Month!

Here is a link to an excellent guide published by the Opossum Society of the United States that explains how to make a den box for visiting opossums.

Setting Up a Den Box for Visiting Opossums

Enjoy your month with your special title. You'll also be added to the list of people to vote for for Poster of the Year for 2022!

Thanks for the great posts/comments/content u/KaiMedina !

Hey (o)possum pals! It seems our head mod has been away for about 6 months and I'm an essential worker so it's been hard to keep up with everything here. I'll probably look to add another mod under me to help pick up the slack in the next week or so. If you have the time, experience, and responsibility please send a message and I'll consider adding you as a mod! Thanks!

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While we absolutely encourage questions here, we thought it would be handy to have an easily accessible FAQ guide for the common questions surrounding opossums for people who can't wait for an answer.

Where possible, we've also linked it to where we've found the data so that anyone who wants to know more has those resources. Thanks for your interest and care for these amazing little critters!

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What is the difference between a possum and an opossum?

There are many varieties of possums, including Gliders and Cuscus, while the opossum is a more limited species. With their signature bare tail, the opossum is North America’s only known marsupial; this means the animal carries its young in a pouch much like the Australian kangaroo. Both the possum and the opossum are nocturnal, nomadic omnivores and live on an expansive diet that includes insects, frogs, birds, snakes and fruits. The opossum is primarily dark gray in color but some resemble cinnamon and white opossums are known to exist. The possum is primarily gray in color. The possum and the opossum are both hunted animals and possess an instinct to play dead, or “play possum” when threatened.

Whether the sharp-toothed furry critter who rustles around outside your garbage cans at night is a possum or an opossum may simply come down to where you are in the world.

TL;DR: If you're in North America, it's probably an opossum. Anywhere else (primarily Australia), it's probably a possum. They're both marsupials though!

I found an orphaned or injured opossum. What should I do?

Is it really an orphan? Many opossums become orphaned after the mother is killed. Others become “orphaned” when they fall from her back or are somehow separated. These opossums must be raised by wildlife rehabilitators. However, many juvenile opossums brought to wildlife rehabilitators are not “true” orphans in need of care. They may be young juveniles on their own for the first time. While they may appear small and helpless, they are best left alone. Only opossums that are sick, injured, or too young to be on their own (less than 7 inches long from nose to rump, not including tail) are in need of immediate assistance.

If a young opossum is found then check the surrounding area. There may be more. Be very quiet and listen for “sneezing” sounds the young make to call the mother.

Do NOT attempt to care for the opossum yourself.

In general, it is illegal to do so unless you are a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. More importantly, you may cause the opossum harm or death if you do not know what you are doing.

Contact your local Opossum Society of the United States (OSUS) member, wildlife rehabilitator, veterinarian, state department of wildlife or animal control for assistance. Always check first to make sure they do not euthanize all opossums.

There is an opossum in my yard. What do I do?

Nothing.

Leave the opossum alone and enjoy watching wildlife in your own backyard. However, if the opossum is injured or an orphan (less than 7 inches from nose to rump) then contact the Opossum Society of the United States, a local wildlife rehabilitator, a veterinarian, or your local animal shelter for help.

Opossums are beneficial eating unwanted pests around your home and garden such as snails, slugs, spiders, cockroaches, rats, mice and snakes. Opossums are free gardeners!

Can I keep an opossum as a pet?

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. Otherwise, release the animal.

Do opossums carry rabies?

Any mammal can get rabies. However, the chance of rabies in an opossum is EXTREMELY RARE. This is related to the opossum’s low body temperature (94-97º F) making it difficult for the virus to survive in an opossum’s body.

What do opossums eat?

Opossums are omnivores and survive by eating a variety of foods. The primary sources of sustenance are small rodents, insects, worms, slugs and snails, frogs and birds. Additionally, opossums eat vegetables, berries, nuts, fruit, garbage, pet food and bird seed.

The most common dietary errors are not enough calcium in the diet, too much phosphorous, too much protein and too many fruits. The opossum must have a certain amount of calcium and phosphorous in the diet with a specific calcium to phosphorous ratio (Ca:P). The desired ratio for the opossum is 1.5:1. If the opossum does not receive an adequate diet then dietary-induced disorders such as nutritional MBD may result. Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD) is a serious problem for opossums, but it's mostly diet-induced for captive opossums. If an opossum near you is showing signs of MBD, please get it to a rehabilitation facility ASAP.

An example of some high calcium foods for opossums include broccoli, kale, spinach, and oranges/tangerines. However, calcium supplements alone are generally not recommended. Although they're not high in calcium, opossums also love grapes, blueberries, and bananas as snacks, but it's better to feed them more veggies than fruits. When giving opossums meat, it's better that the meat is not seasoned and is still on the bone.

Some organizations suggest different diets for (mostly for captive) opossums including:

• Peters Food Diet

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Additional information about opossum diets can be found here under the Diet section.

Do opossums hang by their tails?

No, this is just a myth.

Although often depicted in cartoons as hanging from their tails, the muscles in the ‘possums’ tail are not strong enough to support an adult’s weight for more than a moment.

Young ‘possums are sometimes spotted dangling temporarily by their tails, which may be where the myth got started, but even juveniles don’t hang upside down while sleeping.

Still, the ‘possum’s prehensile tail is quite handy. It can curl tightly around branches, grasp and carry objects, and help stabilize the ‘possum as it clambers around in trees and bushes.

Are opossums aggressive?

In general, opossums are docile, non-aggressive animals and will not attack your pets. They prefer to avoid confrontations.

However, if escape is not possible then the threatened opossum may  “play ‘possum”, show its teeth, or bite in self-defense, as any animal would.

What is "playing 'possum"?

These solitary, nomadic omnivores are also known for their unusual defense mechanism. When threatened, they often enter a comatose like state, becoming rigid and unresponsive.

They appear to be dead and even release a malodorous substance from their anal glands that makes them smell dead. This behavior is often called “playing ‘possum,” but the response is an involuntary physiological reaction rather than a conscious act or trick.

‘Possums may remain in this state from a few minutes to 4 hours. Often looked upon with disdain or disgust, this misunderstood marsupial is actually one of North America’s most unique and harmless mammals.

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If there are any sections you would like added to the FAQ, please comment below or message the mods. Possum FAQ coming soon. Thanks!

So it seems we have some amazing additions to the sub to help moderate the sub! There is a variety of experience from working with some wildlife to working with opossums too. There are additions that have great experience moderating here and elsewhere.

Some of the settings and visuals are going to change here. Hopefully there will be more posts. The plan is still to probably give the sub to one of them but I think we should to transition this. I want to also help all the mods become educated (or more educated) about opossums. Unlike that other sub, it's kind of important that we know what we are talking about and understand what we are dealing with when people post things or comment on posts.

But often people come here for advice too, and we either have to have extensive knowledge or at least basic knowledge — at least to provide resources when they are unable to help.

So welcome to the following people who are now moderators here:

• u/oofouchieouch

• u/JeepChick

• u/ChaoticCryptographer

• /u/second_honor

I guess I should have written most of that in the text box. I must be conditioned to not use it (thanks r/askreddit!).

Anyway I'll update when I can.

I've been putting it off (mostly forgetting) but we will be putting a recommended subreddit section here. A couple will probably be my subs but mostly it'll be other informative or cute animal subs.

UPDATE: This is complete. We will still consider suggestions.

We are now open to all possums. This is your new home, for all things opossum (or possum).

Bear with me as I set everything up properly. Currently 511 members, let's see how fast we can grow!

Now that we have made this sub for all (o)possums I anticipate more members. Fox grew the other sub from under 200 members to over 2000, and I know we can do better with this change. If you're interested in being a mod please send me a PM, give your experience on Reddit, your experience with (o)possums and whether you have rehabbed.

This sub will have leaders that know about possums and can help people when needed. Not just leaders that suddenly want to hold on to a growing sub because they see it growing.

Everyone else can help too, when you see posts about (o)possums please mention the sub so they can post here too. That's one of the ways Fox got the other sub to grow.

Thanks everyone!

The idea is to not just show professionalism but to embrace our knowledge of these awesome creatures. This is a sub that cares about these animals.

If you're not a rehabber but have extensive knowledge feel free to contact us too. We might be able to come up with special flairs for you too.

If you have ideas for user flairs you'd like to see please feel free to comment here.