Do not litter train them if they can be. READ MORE: *Temuka woman's beloved pet possum goes missing *Possum punch video 'animal cruelty': Environment Canterbury, SPCA *Luna the baby possum bids farewell to her 'mother' who saved her *Pet possum safely home after lolly lure *Secret possum rescuers: the people who love a hated New Zealand pest. Breeding Opossum. So it isn’t a good idea to have a possum if you have parrots. The damage done by possums costs NZ farmers about $35 million every year. "They eat the birds eggs, I have to provide a safe habitat. Possums as Pets: General Guidelines and Tips. To keep the opossum/possum legally, a wildlife rehabilitation permit is needed from the state. These creatures are curious and agile. Agreed... "Opossums do not fare well in captivity" has to be the worst line of the whole article... in the wild they Are the "fare" so to speak. They do not like to be held captive and will need to seriously bond with a human when they are young if you can expect them to co-habitate peacefully. This simulates what the mother does as an act of hygiene ( she eats the pee and poop } and this keeps the area clean. This is particularly the case with a baby possum as they are indeed vulnerable. They are not rodents! Thats why hunters rave about feeding possum to … Possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) were introduced to New Zealand from Australia in 1837 to establish a fur industry. Cannibalism is the consumption of another human's body matter, whether consensual or not. Diets in captivity cannot hope to match the diversity of the animal's diet in the wild. Wibowo Djatmiko. "They make highly intelligent lovely pets, but they can do a lot of damage.". The possum is the animal we are discussing in this article, but it is also known as the opossum. These creatures are a similar size and have similar behavior, but are not the same species. Catching a live possum can reap a handsome reward. But by then, possums were already living in 450 different parts of New Zealand. Your possum also needs to be trained to use a litter box since childhood if they are never able to be returned to the wild. Cold Case murder mystery: What happened to Marion Granville? ... especially the fact that keeping an opossum as a pet will bring a lot of serious challenges for the owner. However, making the distinction can help clear up any concerns on what you are dealing with. These pets love to chew on wires and wires so search around to see to it that they are no place near your electric wiring as fires might be caused. Posted: (1 days ago) As many posts on r/Opossums will be quick to inform you, possums should only be kept as pets when they require rehabilitative care and couldn’t survive on their own in the wild. Use our trapping best practice to ensure you get the best results. The diet is varied including corn and poultry. Another Kaitaia woman who didn't wish to be named, said she grew up with a young possum after it was found curled up in her father's army coat pocket. What occurs will depend on the individual animal. I sleep with mine and he has free run of the house. Furthermore, is it right to take wild animals away from their natural habitat? Opossum’s lifespan can vary in the wild and in captivity. This leads to many kind-hearted animal lovers wanting to take the animal in and raise them as a pet. Scientists have no idea why they age so quickly. In 1946, possums were officially declared a pest in the New Zealand environment. Technically, you need a permit to keep a possum as a pet, but the Department of Conservation doesn't enforce that law, as long as the possum stays on the property. In addition, opossums are solitary animals and may not get along with other animals. Lack of immunity in captivity conditions can lead to bacterial diseases. Here are just a few of the animals that you can't keep as pets in Alabama (not that you'd want a pet piranha of course.) Fish and Wildlife Service Opossums can carry parasites that affect horses and birds. Update: Ju5tin - I regret to inform you that youre wrong. They are quite gentle, as trapper Blake O’Laughlin demonstrates in the photo below by ‘trapping’ his hand in one. The Brush-tailed Possum [Trichosurus vulpecula] is a marsupial or pouched mammal. Like all marsupials, possums have a pouch, or a marsupium. Another black possum caused Hitchens disbelief when she found it playing with her cats. In North America, opossum and possum describe the same thing, but in Australia the word possum refers to a completely different animal. Photo via flickr. However, possums come in grey and dark forms and there also are occasional albino animals. They are not on the DWA list either, so a license is not necessary. They make very poor pets. The possum will likely want to run out of the house, much like many a pet cat. As others have said here, it takes work and dedication to assure their health and well being. We want to do what is best for him. They rarely last more than a year or two because they are food for other animals. Possums are vectors of bovine tuberculosis (Mycobacterium bovis), which is a major threat to the dairy, beef, and deer farming industries. You should go to a pet store and buy puppy milk to feed it. It eats a wide variety of food on its nightly rounds. This female possum lived happily in Ronnie Hitchen's shed in Kaitaia. Possum fur is very soft and luxurious (the reason why they were introduced into NZ). We want to keep him but this article makes me question are we doing the right thing? They will wander around and snoop at everything eating bugs and such. A possums size can be little and computer mouse like yet various other types such as the Australian Brush rear can show up to be the dimension of your pet cat. There are two colour forms of the species - grey and black, with many vari… Others have become reliant on humans to the point that sending them to the wild will mean they have little chance of surviving. Grow vegetation that will provide natural food sources, like flowers and fruit, for brushtail possums. But it happened to me. When you notice that the opossum is lapping up it's puppy milk, you can offer solid foods in the form of baby food, Pay close attention for the first week when offering solid foods as the opossum has a tendency to take too much and choke. Unfortunately, many introduced species, such as possum, are threatening those native species. Should I keep possums as pets? There is a baby food that comes in a tube that is very handy for portioning out and storing, Handle your opossum as much as possible. Permits must be obtained before trapping possums. By contrast any adult native animal, including birds and possums, that has been reared in the wild, has learnt to fear humans, watch for other predators, find a diet of natural food and interact with other members of its own species. Transforming a possum into a pet can be an expensive proposition and one fraught with dangers for these animals. Possums also have a short lifespan; around three years or less in the wild. Possums are also prone to disease, death, and infections in captivity. If they are being kept as pets, they could become overweight and potentially unhealthy. The marsupials compete with native wildlife for food, and eat birds eggs and insects. Even when confronted with a predator, they will use the infamous "playing possum" technique to appear dead and avoid an actual brawl. Sometimes, an orphaned possum may be found abandoned. Both need the care of a vet and treatment should basic health issues arise. Some are capable of surviving on their own, while others aren’t. Diego Astúa, R., et al. Purchase a humane possum trap. Instead, I had to bury him after a long, hard death. We service over 500 USA locations! Now the woman has a bird sanctuary at her Kaitaia home, and while she said she still loves possums, she shoots them if they come onto her property. I work in a wildlife shelter with brushtail possums & can tell you that as babies they are so cute but as they mature become aggressive. You need to possum-proof your home. The best way to keep them from visiting is to have tight-fitting lids on garbage cans, not to leave any pet food outside overnight and to remember to pick up any fruit that has fallen from trees. Ronnie Hitchens fed a female possum for two years after it made a home between sheds at her Kaitaia farm. The opossum is an omnivore. Good Luck! Breath. As many posts on r/Opossums will be quick to inform you, possums should only be kept as pets when they require rehabilitative care and couldn’t survive on their own in the wild. The worst part about keeping an opossum for a pet is that they don't have a long lifespan..... Other than that they make Awesome pets! They are marsupials with prehensile tails, making them very good climbers. They are found in North, South and Central America, but mainly in the North. Ensure they are safe from pets on your property Keep cats indoors, or confined to outdoor enclosures. They have long snouts and small, sharp teeth. Also, if you're in Australia its totally illegal to have a brushtail possum as a pet. 0 0 1 0 Stimulation is a simple process. Possums that live longer than a year may suffer from cataracts, lose coordination and become obese. Learn more about possums as pets in terms of their advantages and disadvantages. Possums have natural habits and behaviors they need to carry out. "But I wouldn't deliberately go out and find a possum to make a pet out of it.". They have to deal with predators and human intrusions. Dangers of a possum infestation. Obviously the person who wrote this article has never had a pet possum. "I never pushed the relationship but she would let me stroke her and I would feed her grain twice a day and willow when it started to sprout," Hitchens said. Opossums will want to climb over everything in your home. Possum Enrichment. Common brushtail possum. While the opossum is not generally an aggressive animal, this aspect should not be ignored. They are Northland's number one animal pest, according to the Northland Regional Council. They seem to understand and appreciate they are safe and more comfortable inside where they are free from predators, parasites, and the other elements of nature. No person is allowed to keep a possum in captivity as a pet, without the permission of the Minister of Conservation. Possums are established over more than 90% of New Zealand and are a very serious problem. Even though some people to it, more often than not, it turns out bad for the animal. Possums as pets dangers. If you have existing pets (e.g., dog, cat), an opossum may not be a great addition. Virginia possums run up about £500 each for babies, more for adults. In the southern rātā–kāmahi forests of Westland, many valleys lost more than 50% of canopy trees within 15–20 years of possums arriving. 1. Once healthy, rehabilitated possums should be released into the wild where possible. "She died half-way through bringing up her last but it was well developed and certainly able to survive. Apply for a permit. But, is it truly right to keep a possum as a pet? Based on where one resides, a volunteer may be needed with a wildlife rehabilitator to ensure your pet possum remains in good health. Possums are defined as a pest under most regional pest management plans in New Zealand. The possum has a thick, bushy tail, thick body fur, a pointed snout and large, pointed ears. Keep the possum away from horses. A couple of news stories about pests as pets recently caught our attention and while we’re animal lovers too, the council’s focus is on protecting our native species from extinction as they can’t always defend themselves. Posted: (1 days ago) The possum is a beautiful animal, but there are many specific concerns regarding keeping them as a pet. Stress and tension experienced due to confinement and lack of exercise as well as proper diet are the main barriers to the survival of possums in captivity. In which states is it legal to have a pet Opossum? - 10 points to whoever finds out!? This AnimalWised article explores the possibility of raising possums as pets and whether they should be released once they reach adulthood. This is something important when considering opossums as pets. According to the article "keeping him in captivity" will make him aggressive and is not the best choice? & you dont have to find them all* but it would be cool if you could find as many as possible. 1. In this article we are talking about the North American possum, but it would be just as accurate to ask can you keep an opossum as a pet? Possums are commonly found in the forests of New Zealand - their natural habitat. Take a look at our article whether Possums dangerous for humans or pets? The average density in the North Island is equivalent to four possums per hectare, but can reach 25 animals per hectare on pasture bordering areas of native forest and shrubland. Northland Regional Council biosecurity manager Don McKenzie said the council recently posted a warning to social media, after seeing people discuss keeping possums as pets. People often ask the same question about domestication for animals such as otters or kangaroo rats. If not, then they may attack you our of frustration or in defense of being locked up. If you don't have the dedication and time commitment it takes to raise an opossum, find a wild life rehabber ASAP. The possum is a beautiful animal, but there are many specific concerns regarding keeping them as a pet. They cannot be applied to every animal in a given species. Although there are mixed opinions about the issue, you’ll still hear conservationists and the New Zealand government push for possum eradication. It may even cuddle and form a relationship with you. Yes you can. Possums as Pets: General Guidelines and Tips, Kiwis as Pets: General Guidelines and Tips. Symptoms of Labor, Teaching a Child to Care for a Pet: Guidelines and Tips, Caring for Puppy Dogs: Guidelines and Tips, How to Get a Dog to Sleep - Tips and Home Remedies, How to Take Care of a Short-Haired Guinea Pig. This tends to happen after about 1 1/2 to 2 years or when your "pet" is sexually mature. They also seem to enjoy our companionship as they will wander around the house, then climb up on the couch where we are sitting, curl up against us, and take a nap. As with any non-domesticated animal, we need to start with a question. Black possums predominate in wetter, forested areas, including the Kaimai Range, Te Urewera, Westland, Fiordland and western Southland, and on Stewart Island and Chatham Island. So now we obtain to the great stuff. Pygmy possums are not opossums, but the kind found in Australia we discussed above. (2015). opossums and possums aren’t the same animal. By 1950 possums were found in over half of New Zealand and they kept spreading. I've even been told that he needs rabies shots? Because possums are so regularly hit by cars or otherwise killed, there are many orphaned baby possums in the world. So quickly if I had to bury him after a long, hard death volunteer may be with... 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