My Lab caught an Opossum what do I do?

******WARNING********
if anything grosses you out DO NOT read this post!
(not really gross, just sad)
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Serious, I just went out back with him(my lab) 11:29 pm and he darted into "The Jungle" and came back out with a baby opossum. It's still breathing and it's bleeding a little from it's mouth and it's curled in a ball. You think he might be just "playin' possum?" I'm dead serious, I have it in a bucket and when I used the stick to push it into the bucket, I could tell it was trying to hiss at me. WHAT should I do? We don't have animal control here. Just the cops who ride around talking on their cell phones. UGHHHHHHHHHH I can't kill the poor thing.

 

you could raise it as a pet. Yes im serious there are sites that sell them for 100 dollars. or you could nurse it back to health and let it go. or just let it go and have nature take its course.

 

nah they are just too creepy for me. I don't want to see it in the morning in the bucket! It's in a 2.5-3 gallon bucket and it's tipped on it's side. Man what am I gonna do with that thing if it dies. I live in town......... I could chunk it over the neighbors fence. Nobody's lived there for years. But it's gonna smell......man I hope it's gone in the am. maybe the momma will come pick it up.......

 

Is he still alive? I would contact your local vet......I know you are thinking you are going to have pay for him. I work at a vet and have for years. Most vets will take in wild animals at not cost unless you are looking to keep him as a pet, assess the injuries, and decide what to do. Many of them also have lists of Rehabilitators in your area that will bring him back to health to be able to relase them again! Good luck. They aren't the nicest of creatures I will tell you!

 

well if it dies just put it in the garbage can. if your trash isnt gonna be picked up for a while freeze it and through it in the night before pick up

 

yes still alive, breathing, just not moving.

I think my dog may have broken it's back. When we lived in Fl, he caught a wild 40lb baby pig and snapped his back. He's a lab, it's what he does. It's all about the chase. He stands there barking at it as if saying get up, you gotta run some more.

If it's still alive in the morning, I'll bring it to our vet. He's the only one around and I'm sure he does a lot with wild animals. Good idea! Thanks! and no his/her teeth scare me and those claws..........

 

Friday is trash day and it's not coming in my house! I wouldn't sleep a wink.



btw thanks y'all...if it's alive in the am to the vet it goes, if dead it's going in the bin

 

They are nocturnal, so if it's well enough, it WILL leave tonight. If it's a baby it will die if it can't stay warm. When
they are frightened they go into a freeze (like a fainting goat) thus play possum.

Good Luck to you,
Sue in Salem

 

Thanks Sue, I'm going to go out, in a few minutes, to check on it. I'll update when I do.


also, not a baby, baby, looks like it could have been out of the nest for a week or two. Still not full grown. The tail is about 4 inches long and the body is about 6-8 inches long.

 

awesome! it's gone, out of the bucket and no where in site! phewww thanks for all your help!