How to Help Orphaned Virginia Opossums

Baby Opossum Found Alone

Get the Baby Opossum Contained

To keep the baby opossum safe while you figure out how to help them, put the opossum in a small cardboard box with a soft towel or t-shirt. Even when indoors, or on a warm day babies can get cold and even hypothermic, so give them a heat source:

a clean sock filled with dry, uncooked rice, and microwaved for one minute
a plastic bottle or jar with a tight-fitting lid from the recycling bin filled with hot tap water and wrapped in a tea towel or face cloth (secured to the box so that it does not squish the baby)
an electric heating pad set to “LOW” and placed under half of the box.
chemical hand warmers (e.g. Hot Paws) that stay warm for up to 8 hours

Do not give them any food or water – right now keeping them warm in a dark, and quiet place is more important.

Is the Baby Opossum Injured?

A baby opossum with any of the following signs needs medical attention:

There are obvious wounds or blood on their body
They have had contact with a cat – even with no obvious injuries, this is a medical emergency for baby animals
They are covered in bugs/insects

Give the baby a heat source and keep them in a covered box in a dark and quite place, away from pets and people. Don’t give them any food or water, and contact a wildlife rehabilitator right away.

Please note that Toronto Wildlife Centre is sometimes at capacity for common baby species, like opossums. If you have received an email stating that we are full for baby opossums, you will need to seek assistance from another wildlife rehabilitator. Please see the OMNRF list of authorized wildlife rehabilitators and/or the map on our website for more information.

How big is the opossum?

Baby opossums at this size or smaller are too young to be by themselves. Between two and three months of age, baby opossums ride on their mother’s back and are dependent on her for care. Sometimes babies fall off their mother’s back and if she doesn’t notice, she will continue on without them. Mother opossums do not come back for their babies.

If you find a baby opossum of that size alone with no mother in sight, contact a wildlife rehabilitator.

If the opossum is bigger than 18 cm (7 inches) nose to bum (not including the tail)

Baby opossums larger than 7 inches may be independent – their behaviour should indicate whether or not they need help. What does the opossum do when you approach them? If they are alert, run away or act defensive (stand still holding their mouth open while drooling), they might be just fine. Virginia opossums leave the care of their mother at about 3 months of age. They may not be full-grown yet, but they can take care of themselves! Keep pets inside until the opossum leaves the area on their own.

If the opossum doesn’t act defensive, try to get away from you, or stays in a highly exposed area for several hours, there may be something wrong. Keep them contained in a dark, quiet place and contact a wildlife rehabilitator for advice.

Temporary Care

While you are waiting to hear back from a wildlife rehabilitator, keep the baby opossum contained in a dark, quiet place. Make sure they have a heat source. Don’t give them any food or water until you have spoken to a rehabilitator. Further temporary care instructions can be found here.