Last Updated on August 4, 2022
Possums are marsupials that are native to Australia. They have a long snout and prehensile tail. Possums are nocturnal animals and spend most of their time in trees.
There are more than 60 species of possum, and the most common is the Brushtail Possum. Baby possums, or joeys, eat milk from their mother’s pouch. Once they’re old enough to leave the pouch, they eat leaves, fruits, flowers, and insects.
Possums are marsupials that are found in the Americas. Most possums are nocturnal and they live in trees. Baby possums, or joeys, are born after a gestation period of 12-13 days.
They are about the size of a jellybean when they’re born, and they crawl into their mother’s pouch to continue developing. Joeys will stay in their mother’s pouch for 4-5 months before emerging.
Once joeys emerge from their mother’s pouch, they begin to eat solid food.
baby possums will eat the same things as adult possums: insects, fruits, vegetables, small mammals, and carrion. Baby possums have sharp teeth that grow quickly, so they’re able to start eating solid food soon after leaving their mother’s pouch.
As baby possums grow older, they’ll spend less time with their mothers and more time on their own.
By the time they’re 6-7 months old, most young possums are independent and ready to fend for themselves in the wild.
Baby Opossum Age Chart Pictures
If you’re like most people, you probably don’t know much about opossums. Did you know, for example, that a baby opossum is called a joey? And did you know that joeys are born blind and hairless?
If not, don’t worry – we’re here to tell you everything you need to know about these fascinating creatures. In this blog post, we’ll be taking a look at the different stages of an opossum’s life cycle, from birth to adulthood. We’ll also be sharing some fun facts along the way!
So, without further ado, let’s learn more about baby opossums…
As we mentioned above, baby opossums are known as joeys. Joeys are born blind and hairless, and they’re incredibly small – usually just a few inches long.
They spend the first few weeks of their lives clinging to their mother’s back or belly, where they will feed on her milk until they’re old enough to start exploring the world on their own.
Once they start to venture out into the world, joeys begin to grow rapidly. Their fur starts to come in and their eyes open.
At around three months old, joeys are ready to start eating solid food; at this point, they typically weigh between five and eight ounces (140-227 grams).
At six months old, joeys are fully independent and ready to fend for themselves in the wild. However, they will continue to grow for several more months; by 12 months old, most opossums will weigh between 10 and 12 pounds (4-5 kg).
After 12 months of age, growth slows down considerably; adult opossums typically only gain one or two pounds (0.5-1 kg) per year after reaching maturity.
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What Do You Feed an Abandoned Baby Opossum?
If you find an abandoned baby opossum, the best thing to do is to take it to a wildlife rehabilitator. If you can’t do that, then you will need to care for the opossum yourself. You will need to feed it every two to three hours, and you will need to use a syringe or eyedropper to give it milk replacer.
The milk replacer should be made for kittens, and you should follow the directions on the package. Be sure to warm the milk replacer before feeding it to the opossum.
What Do You Do With an Abandoned Baby Possum?
If you find an abandoned baby possum, the best thing to do is to call your local wildlife rehabilitator. Baby possums are very delicate and need special care in order to survive. Wildlife rehabilitators are trained in how to care for these animals and will give the animal the best chance at survival.
Can a Baby Possum Survive Without Its Mother?
A baby possum, also called a joey, can survive without its mother for short periods of time. If a joey is less than six months old, it will likely die if separated from its mother. If a joey is more than six months old, it has a better chance of surviving on its own.
However, even older joeys benefit from their mothers’ care and are more likely to thrive when they are together.
How Do You Take Care of a Wild Baby Possum?
If you find a wild baby possum, it’s important to take care of it properly. Here are some tips:
1. Keep the possum warm.
Baby possums are very sensitive to temperature changes and can easily get hypothermia. Wrap the possum in a soft towel or blanket and place it in a box or container with a lid. Put the container in a warm room, away from drafts.
2. Do not attempt to feed the possum yourself. Possums are omnivores and their diet is complex. If you try to feed them cow’s milk or other human foods, they could become seriously ill.
Instead, contact a wildlife rehabilitation center for advice on how to best care for the animal until it can be released back into the wild.
3. Handle the possum carefully and avoid stressing it out unnecessarily. Although they may look tough, baby possums are delicate creatures and can easily die from stress-related injuries (such as heart attacks).
Gently pick them up using two hands – one hand should support their chest while the other cradles their bottom – and avoid handling them more than necessary.
4. Keep noise and activity levels low around the possum . Like all animals, possums are sensitive to loud noises and sudden movements .
Turn off any music or television that might be playing nearby , and ask everyone in your household to be quiet while the animal is present . This will help keep the possum calm and reduce its stress levels .
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Conclusion
Possums are omnivores, so their diet consists of both plants and animals. Baby possums will eat the same things as their adult counterparts, but in smaller quantities. Some of the plants they consume include fruits, vegetables, leaves, and stems.
The animals they eat include insects, rodents, birds, and reptiles.
