9 more opossums

This litter of 9 opossums was brought to me by the Humane Society. Three of them were seriously injured and did not make it. The healthy six are doing well.

Opossums released

Well, the opossum is a very interesting creature...
I decided to leave their cage open one night (they are nocturnal) to see if they would forage on their own and then return. They high-tailed it out of there and never came back! I guess they were ready. They were a little bigger than they are in these pics.

Raising Possums

We have three orphaned possums! They are doing well. They have a flannel "pouch" to snuggle in, and they have been licking up food on their own. Speaking of food, apparently the diet of the opossum is complex. If anyone reading this has experience with possums please contact me; I could use the advice.

Opossums

Today I received 4 baby opossums. I think they are about 8 to 9 weeks old. Their eyes are still closed. The mother opossum was hit by a car. A kind, elderly gentleman (who doesn't own a car and walks everywhere) was brave enough to check her pouch and found 9 babies! Two were already dead, and another three died before he could get them to me. But I'm cautiously optimistic that the four left will make it. I was able to get some fluids into them tonight with my trusty catac nipple and 1cc syringe.
I've never handled opossums before. They are really weird. They have thumbs on their back feet and prehensile tails. They look like little monkeys. I really hope they survive so I can learn more about them. They are the only marsupial species in North America.