Fall 2019

HOW TO PICK UP AN OPOSSUM

If the opossum is very small (still sprained, pay attention to where each foot distance possible. Secure the carrier flap by thermoregulating) you can pick it up by and the tail is as you lift the opossum from keeping your fingers on the outside. They the tail or body, always taking care to make its enclosure. will bite fingers they see coming down your final approach from the rear. Going towards them on the inside of the flap. right over their head is threatening and Up until about three pounds, you can will usually gain a harmless snap up at pick it up by the tip of the tail, which For opossums over three pounds, you will you at that age. Once you have hold of offers maximum distance of your hand want to grasp it by the base of the tail. the opossum, make sure you gather up the from its mouth. Always move slowly, faster Dangling that much weight from a tip legs and tail within your hand or quickly movements will be threatening and cause of the tail grasp could dislocate tail bones transfer to a piece of cloth to wrap up. the opossum to turn and face you. If the once it gets heavier. Still use the rolled If their tail is loose, it will be whipping opossum IS facing you, take a section of up newspaper for them to grasp as they around looking for purchase. If the feet are tightly rolled up newspaper and gently go airborne. loose, they will be grabbing onto anything push the head around from you until along the path, including your sleeve, hair the tail is exposed for you to grasp. All For a tail-less opossum; use the rolled up or the opening of the cage you’re moving in one swift motion you should pick up newspaper to gently push its head away it through. the butt half by the tail and as the rest from you. If it bites at the newspaper, it of the body is rising, slip the rolled up cannot hurt its teeth. I touch it gently on If their little nails grab hold of their newspaper between both sets of legs and the butt to see how quickly it will attempt bedding or the side of the cage, use a as the opossum becomes airborne, it will to whip around to try and bite me. I keep forward, then up motion of their body to naturally grasp the rolled up newspaper pushing its head gently away, walking my unhook their little feet. Just like you were for security. Always hold the opossum at fingers with a light touch up its butt, onto removing a hanging water bottle from arm’s length from your body, in case it tries its back and in one quick motion, pin the side of a cage with one hand. Little to transfer its grip from the newspaper to the shoulders down, with my thumb on nails can be ripped out, little feet can be your clothes, body or loose hair. Always one side and my forefinger on the on the have your carrier OPEN and nearby to other side, just behind the front legs. In place the opossum in. You don’t want that position, my fingers will almost reach to travel too far; else it finds a way to the jawline. The positioning of my thumb get out of your grasp. You could let it and fingers at the jaw line on either side dangle by its tail for a short distance. It Continued on page 8 doesn’t like being upside- down and unsupported. In This Issue It will try to double back up its tail. A gentle shake How to Pick Up an Opossum...... Page 1 will disorient it enough to Rehabbing Opossums in Oregon ( Pouch)...... Page 2 get it into a carrier. Always Trimming an Opossum’s Nails (Mail Pouch)...... Page 3 have the carrier close by Selecting a Dog Food (Mail Pouch)...... Page 6 and completely open. You Reporting Internet Animal Abuse (Mail Pouch)...... Page 6 want to travel the shortest Leptosporosis (Mail Pouch)...... Page 6-7

Visit OSUS at www.opossumsocietyus.org those items, but rats will. And the in Oregon. It is illegal for licensed opossum will wind up eating the rehabbers in Oregon to rehab rat. Opossums are fairly regular them. Even if they are babies and on their nightly routes, so you can orphaned. Our only Marsupial put the food out just before you in should be have seen him/her in the past. protected.I was happy to see your It’s hard to say where the opossum organization exist thank you! may have set up its many Reva designated crash pads. I have seen them carrying plastic shopping : First, I would start with Note: We print these select Internet , balled up newspapers, twigs Athe law. Is there a written questions we receive without grammatical and clean rags to fortify their law that specifically forbids the corrections. Grammatic scrutiny is applied rehabilitating of opossum in to our responses. den. I don’t know if leaving out any of these materials will assist Oregon? Find out the statute, read : Hello, your opossum because their nest it. Or is it more of Memorandum type thing where someone is We have a little possum that site may be a ways from where Q interpreting aforementioned keeps visiting our porch in the they are foraging at your house. statute and not really a law, is evening, probably because we Plus there’s the factor of material it just “the way we’ve done it.” have a bird feeder. We live on the getting wet with snow. You can Talk to licensed rehabilitators in third floor of a large New England leave a little something out and see Oregon, listen to what they’ve house. So this little guy is climbing if it takes it. It has to be something been told. Contact the Oregon the stairs to get up here lol. We do they can gather up with their Department of Fish & Wildlife, not mind at all, but we wanted forepaws and pass through their ask them why, ask them for the to check with you about what is rear legs and secure in their rolled specific law, memo, direction that best for the possum. It is winter up tail, that’s how they transport. says you can’t rehab opossums, in Massachusetts, so we want to If you see the bedding item moved ask for a copy or the weblink. help him survive the winter, but halfway down the stairs, you’ll https://www.dfw.state.or.us/ of course we do not want to make know they were interested but agency/directory/contact_us.asp things worse for nature or for dropped it. Start bugging Oregon Fish & him. Can we leave him some sort Leslie Wildlife and the Oregon State Fish of food in the evening? Should we & Game commission, following leave him a blanket? Should we : Subject: Opossum in my their procedures, go to their put some food down in yard for garbage pail meetings and let your voice be him? Do nothing? Let us know! Q I’ve noticed an opossum in my heard https://www.dfw.state. He’s adorable and we just want empty garbage Pail for three or.us/agency/commission/ him and everyone to be safe. days. I’m concerned that its sick It’s not easy, it takes a lot of time, -Kayleigh Or pregnant. What are your suggestions? research, reading the law and Massachusetts asking a bunch of questions. George : I’m going to send you the : Hello, I contacted you about ACaptive Opossum Diet sheet so : Sometimes they drop into Qan opossum that had been hit that you can look at all the things Athings that they can’t climb by a car earlier this year. My name an opossum would eat. Some of out of. Pick up the pail tonight is Diane and I have Peppa. She these things might be set aside at dusk (keep your fingers on the needs to have her nails trimmed, while you’re cooking to place out outside of the pail while doing so) and she won’t let me. I’m trying for the opossum. Just make sure and tip the pail over by a thick, to find someone to make me a it’s never something like hot dogs low-lying shrub for it to seek special muzzle type thing - not or deli meat. You may purchase shelter under until it gets full dark letting them know what it is for. a of small dog kibble and and it goes on its way. Do you have any ideas on a good leave it out. Don’t leave out too Leslie way to trim nails? The wildlife much, you don’t want to attract vet that saw her is gone for every cat in the neighborhood. : How can we get Oregon several weeks, emergency family Fruits and vegetables (uncooked) Department of Fish & Wildlife Continued on page 3 are good because cats won’t eat Qto allow opossums to be rehabbed

2 OSUS www.opossumsocietyus.org MAIL POUCH continued from page 2 situation, and I don’t want to : Hi: We are taking care of a : You can contact: wait that long. I’m finding out in Qdisabled possum by feeding ASacramento Wildlife Care general conversations that people him/her a great diet of mixed nuts, Association Inc.(916) 965-9453 don’t understand opossums at sliced apples, bananas, avocados all. I never tell them about her, and cat food. Our problem is we You will have to relinquish but if they see one they’ll bring are also attracting lots of rats. We the opossum to the wildlife the subject up. Even other wildlife don’t dislike rats but some people rehabilitator in order for them to rehabbers act like put them out do and so here is the question: get one of their vets to treat the they’ll figure it out, but it doesn’t What can we feed our darling opossum. always happen that way. She likes little disabled possum WITHOUT The best you can do is tell them to sit in the sun sometimes. Is that attracting more and more rats? they would be welcome to re- unusual? Thank you. We’re sending to you $20 in release the opossum in your yard advance for your assistance. after he has healed. : Trimming their nails usually takes two people. First, you Marie You won’t have any influence on haveA to have her where she feels how they treat him or if they : As members, you receive a decide to just euthanize him. comfortable, in your lap or on membership which your shoulder. The second person containsA the various food you can Perhaps if you could really sell gently lifts the foot and trims one feed an opossum that are good for that he’s been seen in your yard at a time. You can easily see on an their health. Unfortunately, these for months and has lived quite a opossum’s clear toenail where the foods will also attract and sustain full life, and his life would continue “quick” is, the pink pulp that will rats. Opossums eat rats, but to its fullest if released back into bleed if you cut into it. If it’s been being disabled may preclude the your yard. At least give him a a while, you will have to cut just opossum from making the quick, chance, he’s got a known habitat a little, up to the quick, the quick precise movements to capture and to be returned to. will recede in a couple weeks, cut eat the rat. Opossums are fairly You can’t allude the opossum again, repeat until the nails are a punctual on their nightly foraging is being kept in a pet-like reasonable length. If you haven’t route. Put out food on a night relationship (that’s illegal in CA), done it in a while, have a towel you can watch your backyard, else they won’t consider releasing in your lap or on your shoulder keep watching for the opossum it back into your yard. Saying you in case you do nip the quick and to arrive. Once it arrives, quietly brought him in and have been it starts bleeding. Also have at put out the food, then remove trying to find treatment for him is hand Quik Stop powder to dip the after the opossum the perfect way to say it (citizens the nail in to stop it from bleeding leaves. Every subsequent night, aren’t allowed to keep wildlife immediately. I don’t know about a put the food out at the same time over 72 hours, but if you’ve been muzzle. I’m sure a small dog muzzle and remove leftovers again. The looking futilely for help, latitude would fit, but putting it on an opossum feeding time will probably is given). Present yourself as opossum’s face will probably cause be later than when the rats are concerned citizens willing to help the opossum to thrash around and up and feeding. Rats generally lay with transport and re-release of fight the muzzle which would keep low after dusk because of all the the opossum. you from safely clipping the nails. active nocturnal wildlife that will Opossums, like all mammals, need eat them. : Hello, I live in Orange County 20-30 minutes of sunlight a week CA, I’ve been hearing loud Leslie in order to create Vitamin D3 in Qnoises of Opposums right outside their system, which is linked to : I can’t find a vet that will and seems to be near my window. making everything run efficiently pull an infected canine tooth (This was 2-3 weeks ago, which I in the body. It must be direct or Qfor the opossum we raised. He’s thought were just cats fighting or dappled sunlight (like through the free to roam but I’ve had to keep trying to mate, or a neighbor’s cat) leaves of a tree or bush). They can’t him in until he’s better. I’m in Today, I encountered a very large get their Vitamin D3 through a Sacramento CA. If you have any opossum when I walked out to my window. information please help. Thank you Continued on page 4

OSUS 3 www.opossumsocietyus.org MAIL POUCH continued from page 3 patio with a tent on top. I keep the as with my previous encounters leaving out food doesn’t upset the whole area visible with adequate with opossums? (in which I just opossum. If it found food before, lighting on and over night nearly wait 30min or so when they leave it may sniff around a bit longer to every day. This encounter initiated and continue my actitivies) find it again. If no food is found, me to read about opossums which ALSO: This current encounter I they move on to the next source. led me here to you guys. More am concerned is a new location/ : A few days ago a neighbor specifically because, I never heard house I recently moved to. All loud noises and that frequently, brought us an injured baby my prior encounters have been a Qopossum that she found on the and especially close to my open different location. window with bright lights on as side walk playing dead. I am using the computer. (I’ve Thank you, I really appreciate She is over 8” long maybe even encountered opossums before your help and time. I just realized 10” and had what looks like a outside when I smoke a cigarette they have 50 teeth, yikes! small gash in the head but also within couple feet, and they have : Opossums are prey animals, looks like a scab. We left her always just froze or moved very they will eat what won’t eat warming up on a heat blanket slowly.) But earlier today this them.A They are opportunistic and waited till the night to see opossum was right under the eaters, not putting much thought if the shock had gone so we could patio/tent even with the light or planning to their meals except release her but she was looking on, and myself and other people creating a regular route through a very weak and dehydrated. I got have just been in and out of since neighborhood that offers a variety in contact with the wild life care it was only about 8-9pm. When I of food sources (left out dog or cat of socal but it was already to late noticed the animal, it was about food, overripe fruit on the ground, to take her that day. 3-4 ft away, I turned around snails in a garden, crickets, rats At night we gave her espilac with and quickly walked back inside, or mice foolish enough to cross a syringe and that seemed to do but it reacted quickly also turning their paths). Opossums will get the trick. She perked up and got around scurrying the opposite used to lighting left on all night; up a bit. We gave her some banana direction. I’ve read everywhere either flood lights or decorative and egg. To shorten the story we online and only found that scared lights or security lights. They took her the following day to the opossums either fake a death, or will also become accustomed to wildlife care and they said she is grow/hiss showing their teeth. motion sensing lights and not be already old enough to be on her I was walking to the patio to alarmed when they trip it time own. They said she probably had open my bbq grill. Is this opossum and time again. They also get used flea anemia. They checked her out aggressive or just waiting to to hearing our voices and “inside gave her treatment. We offered to ambush me? Because I know some noises” like T.V.s and appliances. release her in our back yard. people/neighbors would simply They have excellent hearing and assume their behavior is just like When the night came we put know what sounds to expect any animal and not read and do the cage outside and let her out coming from inside our houses. research online like myself and to roam but all she would do is What it sounds like is your yard spend couple hours to read about walk in circles. For over an hour is part of the established route them, thus they might just throw that’s all she did. We had noticed the opossum takes each night food out somewhere far over the it before but thought it was from to forage for food. If your yard fence, (a school is behind my being cooped up in the cage. doesn’t provide a food source, backyard), to get them to leave then it just happens to be in the It was past midnight so we decided after an encounter. I remember path of the next house that will to put her back in the cage for the reading somewhere from my have food. It is not disturbed by night. research that when opossums are lighting or noises that occur every fed, they can get aggressive when Last night we left her out again. night. It will avoid new situations they are not fed anymore. She seemed find for a while that it encounters like you being roaming the yard looking for Is this a major concern that I outside at the exact time it crosses food. But after a while she started should worry about? Or should I your yard (they are very punctual walking in circles again. just treat this situation the same on their routes).Leaving or not Continued on page 5

4 OSUS www.opossumsocietyus.org MAIL POUCH continued from page 4

Anyway there is more to the story Return A: Opossums that circle : Not certain what to do with and I can get into more detail will cease their circling when an orphaned opossum in my but I’m concerned about doing concentrating on something like Qback yard. It is about 6-8 inches the right thing. Is there anyway I eating, drinking or eliminating. long, it’s teeth are barely showing. could speak with someone that can When they aren’t engaged in a I am leaving food and water out guide me or maybe she shouldn’t certain task, and their brain is in for it but it does not appear to be be released. Not sure what to do. “neutral” shall we say, they will eating. It does roam my yard at Thank you start circling. If the healing head night. Any suggestions? injury you describe caused head I have included a picture of her. Hannie trauma and it is healing, the Apis Mellifica will help with swelling. If Susan : I understand you just spoke the circling is caused by another with another OSUS member. A source, then it won’t help. You might also go purchase the You allowing it to recover where homeopathic Apis Mellica, from it found, in a safe environment , a health food store which would is the best that can happen. It will be for any brain swelling from either recover or not. the head injury he received. Let a pellet dissolve in some water for Leslie him to drink or syringe up some to squirt in his mouth. : Subject: Misleading : Hello Susan, information on your webpage Give one dose daily or until Q AShe looks right on the cusp of symptoms subside. Good morning! I’m so glad to being old enough. Mom lets them have found your site. When I go at approximately 7”. I’ve seen Leslie google searched “do possums Moms let them go smaller. As Return Comment: carry rabies” this morning your long as she is seeking concealment FAQ page popped right up. The during the day, foraging around Thank you so much for your reply first statement in the response on at night and not just huddled, and for what you do. your page is misleading however. trembling in a corner of your Yes, I did speak with a member It states that all mammals can yard, she should be alright. She is and she was very nice and super carry rabies.... Isn’t the possum displaying appropriate predator helpful. She gave me peace of a marsupial, as opposed to a (you being the predator) response; mind that we are doing is really mammal? Thanks so much for freezing, backing up to something all that can be done. your awesome dedication to this that will cover her rear and At times she also acts completely understated and misunderstood displaying her teeth. This is their normal. She spent most of the animal. Cheers! most vulnerable stage, probably morning running around the yard Emma only one out of nine make it to and then out of the blue she starts nine months of age. She’ll be A: Wikipedia growing quickly and have as good circling. We are noticing that she The Virginia opossum circles and spins mostly when she (Didelphisvirginiana) is the only of a chance as any opossum in the is sleepy. At least that’s what we species in the US USA. think. Leslie Scientific classification Anyway, we will continue to do Kingdom: Animalia : Subject: Please rescue this the best we can for her and I will Phylum: Chordata poor Creature!!! go to the health food store this Class: Mammalia Q afternoon. Infraclass: Marsupialia Hi Hopefully with time she will get Order: Didelphimorphia I love animals and am one of better and be off on her own. Gill, 1872 those ridiculous people around the Family: Didelphidae world who actually google things Thanks again! Gray, 1821 Hannie Continued on page 6

OSUS 5 www.opossumsocietyus.org MAIL POUCH continued from page 5 like ‘pet opossum’ after watching Here’s to charity! : I don’t know where you are, The Dodo etc. Samantha but you need to contact the officialsA of your state to see if it is Anyway, I was completely legal to keep a Virginia opossum. HORRIFIED to come across this : What brand/type of Once you do that, we’d be happy video of this woman ‘talking’ commercial animal food Q to help you with enrichment (I use the term VERY loosely - do you recommend as the 90% suggestions for your opossum’s rambling is more apt) about how of your 90/10 diet for adult habitat. In California, it’s illegal to her ‘pet’ opossum has attacked opossums? keep an opossum unless you are her repeatedly. Thank you! going to use it for an education It’s VERY clear from the video Michael program, zoo or university. she is off her face on opiates and Permits are required. For 1-5 isn’t even capable off looking after : I avoid grocery and big box education animals, the annual herself, let alone another living Astores dog food. I go to feed permit costs nearly $900.00, creature. stores, PetCo, PetSmart, etc. if you have more animals, the to purchase a small kibble size, PLEASE try to find out where she permit costs more. You must highest protein dog food. Read lives over there in the states and also submit an agenda of the the labels, find one that is at rescue this poor creature from education programs you will be least 25% protein. I’ve purchased her. I’m deeply troubled after conducting during that year. You Nutro and Solid Gold brands. I watching this video. Not for her, are subject to annual inspections also frequently check the FDA pet because she has CHOICE, but for by the California Department of food recall list: https://www.fda. that poor creature. Who clearly Fish & Wildlife (CDFW) and the gov/animal-veterinary/safety- doesn’t. United States Department of health/recalls-withdrawals It is Agricultural (USDA). You must https://youtu.be/ImlTyQxcS1k just sickening what is getting into also pay separately for an annual Thank you, our pet foods. USDA permit. Samantha One thing about opossums, For example, in Oklahoma, it’s whatever we feed them, it’s illegal to possess an opossum except : You need to report the extremely short-term. Probably for short-term rehabilitation. animal abuse to the FBI: 3 months, tops, on some brand https://www.americanhumane.A of dog food. Three months Leslie org/fact-sheet/reporting- of contaminated food can be : How common is it for a internet-animal-abuse/ We are overcome by the opossum eating opossum to carry lepto? We not a law enforcement agency and correct nutrients it seeks out after Qlive in Ohio and my dog came in have no investigative resources to release. Years of feeding your pet contact with one last night. It played determine IP addresses nor take the wrong food has disastrous dead and I think my dog nudged it enforcement action. consequences. possibly licked it. Just worried about Return response: Leslie my dog getting something. What a disappointingly terse and : Subject: Opossum Adoption. Jessyka weird response! I am not from the U.S and - wrongly -assumed QI am interested in adopting : Hello Jessyka, an opossum. Can you tell me the you would be concerned enough To check what emerging best way to do this and what I A to take the matter up with your diseases are occurring in the will need to construct a natural internal agencies or a local animal U.S., you can always search on habitat for my new friend? My rescue. the U.S. Geological Survey site: space is luxurious but not quite https://www.usgs.gov/centers/ So sad when national organisations yet ready for their arrival. I was nwhc/science/emerging-wildlife- react in such a way, hopefully the also wondering the number of diseases which currently does not creature bites her enough that opossums that could be adopted mention leptospirosis. she’ll lose interest and do the right and housed at one time. thing voluntarily. Thank you Continued on page 7

6 OSUS www.opossumsocietyus.org MAIL POUCH continued from page 6

Leptosporosis is a bacteria that is including cattle, goats, horses. The American Veterinary Medical spread from contaminated water The disease can be transmitted to Association has a good article (from an infected animal’s urine humans also. Remember, for an on leptosporosis: https://www. or feces) that your dog might opossum to get infected, it must avma.org/public/PetCare/Pages/ drink or contaminated soil. It’s also drink water contaminated by Leptospirosis.aspx not as likely to be transmitted another. The best prevention for The distribution of leptosporosis from direct contact with an leptosporosis is the canine vaccine, is covered in this 2017 article: animal carrying the bacteria. unless you always keep your dog https://www.sciencedirect. The bacteria is commonly carried inside the house or on a tight leash com/science/article/pii/ by not only wildlife, but most where it won’t attempt to drink S109002331730059X domestic and livestock species, standing water or dig in the soil. Leslie WILLIAM AND THE TICK INVASION My name mountain lion named Gregg, and is Lauren a wise opossum named Sha to save Lovejoy. his friends. I run and organize It would be our greatest pleasure the non- to offer you a complimentary copy profit, of our book for your review, and Lyme promotion. We are pleased with this Warrior. book and would like to share it with Our goal is to spread awareness for sanctuaries such as yours. Opossums the Lyme epidemic as well as to raise are crucial to stopping the spread of continued funding for research and ticks all over the country. As you the struggling Lyme community. I are aware, they can eat up to 5,000 am also the author of 2 children’s ticks in one season. Our love for books for Lyme Disease awareness. opossums in the lyme community Our newest book, titled William is the reason for this beloved book. and the Tick Invasion is a story of an opossum that is sad because none The book can be purchased of his forest friends will come out for $12.99 at our website: to play. When he discovers that the www.lymewarrior.us or forest is being run by ticks, he will [email protected] have to enlist the help of an old

LEFT: Late season litter

RIGHT: When the baby opossum in the photo was rushed to WildCare’s Wildlife Hospital in San Rafael, CA a few weeks ago after a vicious dog attack, they had no splints small enough to stabilize his front right leg. So they repurposed paper clips and padding.

OSUS 7 www.opossumsocietyus.org RALPH ROLLS OVER ENROLLMENT IN THE COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTION PROGRAM AGAIN THIS YEAR

The Opossum Society of California (dba your Ralphs Reward Card at www.Ralphs. by asking your California friends, family Opossum Society of the United States) has com and click on No Account? Register. and neighbors if they would be willing been approved by Ralphs grocery store for Don’t forget to enter your “preferred to register their Club Card with the their Community Contribution Programs Ralphs store” by city and state or type in Opossum Society of California. Encourage for charitable organizations incorporated a ZIP code and choose a store. your friends and family to sign up for a under 501(c)(3). This applies to California card if they don’t have one and shop at Ralphs and Food 4 Less grocery stores. After you create an online account with Ralphs to help the opossums. your Ralphs Reward card, you may Ralphs automatically enrolled everyone register for the Ralphs Community back into the program September 1, Charity Program by returning 2019. Everyone will remain enrolled until to www.Ralphs.com and Click September 1, 2020 at which time they on Community, then Ralphs will be changing the program. If you were Community Contributions current in the Ralphs Reward Program and Program, and then click on Enroll signed up for Ralphs to contribute to the Now. The Opossum Society of Opossum Society of California, you don’t California NPO number is FK048. For those of you in northern California, have to do anything this year to renew. Don’t forget to click on the circle to the you may register your CALA Foods or Bell left of our organization’s name. markets Club Card number in addition to If you don’t have a Ralphs Reward card, all the other information requested above. and you live in California, you need to sign Once you register the Opossum Society up for your free card at your local Ralphs of California as your designated charity If you have already registered your Ralphs grocery store customer service desk. Ralphs will donate back to OSUS 4% of Club card with another charity, you can your purchases (up to $500.00 monthly). change charities to the Opossum Society Once you have your Ralphs Reward card, OSUS would receive 5% if your purchases of California. you must create an online account with are over $500.00 monthly. You can help

HOW TO PICK UP AN OPOSSUM continued from page 1 while keeping the opossum pinned keeps Gently tilt the whole carrier and all the BASE of the tail with the other hand and the opossum from turning its head around tails will come up as the opossums use lifting her upward, maintaining the same to try and bite me. I then pull it towards their tails to readjust their balance. Pick horizontal attitude to the carrier or final me with a shoulder grasp and as soon as one or more tails at a time and gently lift placement. Do not put any pressure on I can, I grasp the tail base with my other the opossums by the tail and carry them her midsection. Just because you see one hand which stabilizes the opossum from the short distance to the release point you or more babies on her back, doesn’t mean thrashing around and lends support to have determined. there aren’t more babies in the pouch. If the rear half as I go airborne with you’re picking up a very fat opossum, the opossum to the open carrier. For an opossum it’s probably a mother with babies in the mother with pouch. Search the immediate area for any When you go to release the babies, you’ll dropped babies and reunite them with opossums, at about one and one need to lift her by their mother. half pounds, and you open the providing support carrier at the release site and all under her sternum Leslie Bale you have is open mouths full of with one hand teeth looking up at you… and grasping the

8 OSUS www.opossumsocietyus.org The Opossum Society of the United States Wishes to Thank Our Contributors Barbara Cimini Cris Alvis Stephanie Foye Here is a fun way to help opossums. Combine your two favorite Julianna Sand – In honor of my husband, hobbies - shopping and opossums! Visit our online gift catalog. Follow Gabriel, a heartfelt opossum enthusiast the links to some great shopping sites such as smile.amazon.com and iGive.com. Buy books, videos, music, toys, gifts and lots more! Every Michelle King purchase you make helps the opossums. OSUS receives a portion of Caroline Kenner every purchase. So Spend! Spend! Spend! After all, it is for a good cause! Barbara Trevino Tell your friends! Remember, you must access smile.amazon.com and OZ-Some Success iGive.com from the LINKS on the OSUS webpage in order for us to Pamela Schaming get credit for your purchase. Do not go directly to Amazon or iGive. Martha Smith Denise Thibault OSUS MEMBERSHIP/RENEWAL FORM Nancy Lukas _____Please find enclosed my tax-deductible donation. Gloria Karpus ____I want to become a member of O.S.U.S. Marcia Rybak Christina Gantz ($30 / year U.S/, $40.00 year int’l) Without our contributors and those members ____ Please renew my membership of OSUS ($30/year) whose work generates donations to OSUS, we (Check one of the above) would not be able to care for as many orphans, save as many injured or reach so many people with our information on opossums. Good job, and thank you Name: ______all! Your generosity really make a difference.

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OSUS 9 www.opossumsocietyus.org Opossum Society of the United States P.O. Box 16724 Irvine, CA 92623

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Phone Calls and Mail: • Quarterly Issues of ‘Possum Prints. Due to the tremendous volume of messages left • Updated diet/development/medical sheets. on our Board of Directors, • Orphan/Injured care information. Counselor, and City • Veterinarian/emergency care list. Coordinators’ answering • A warm, fuzzy feeling! machines, toll and long distance calls which require an answer will be returned collect. When requesting information from the Society, please enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope (SASE). Due to the high volume of mail requests and the cost of postage, the Society can no longer absorb this expense. Donations to defray the costs of printed materials will be accepted at any time. Address correction requested. Postage Guaranteed Please take the time to send us a change of address card when you move so that you do not miss out on any issues of ‘Possum Prints. Printed on recycled paper. Meetings and Events 2019 Event Location

Nov 01-04 CCWR 25th Annual Symposium...... Tenaya Lodge, Yosemite, CA Nov 03-04 IWRC Pain & Wound Management*...... Tenaya Lodge, Yosemite, CA Nov 04 IWRC Zoonosis*...... Tenaya Lodge, Yosemite, CA Nov 02-03 IWRC Basic Wildlife Rehabilitation*...... Oconomowoc, WI Nov 02 IWRC Pain & Wound Management* ...... Oconomowoc, WI Nov 03 IWRC Zoonosis* ...... Oconomowoc, WI Nov 09-10 IWRC Basic Wildlife Rehabilitation*...... Bowling Green, KY * All IWRC courses are described and available to purchase on their website (www.theIWRC.org) 2020 Feb 25-28 NWRA Symposium...... South Padre Island, TX http://www.opossumsocietyus.org OSUS Board of Directors August 2019-2021 Leslie Bale • (562) 804-3038 • President/Liaison, Official Agencies • [email protected] Tammy Williams • (909) 790-5182 • Vice President • [email protected] Leslie Brogan • (818) 255-0925 • Secretary Crystal Norris • Email: [email protected] • Treasurer Melinda Smith • Email: [email protected] • At Large