The Opossum's Pouch Sanctuary, Rescue and Rehabilitation

10/31/2026

This was video'd about 30 minutes ago.... "Bonneau" (named from the area he came to me from) Has drank formula, bowl after bowl. He seemed so hungry so one of my chickens always lay a smaller egg than the others. lol. I decided to soft scramble it for him....wow can he eat. When they first come in from the wild often they eat as much as possible not knowing if they will ever have a large meal again. Bonneau is still a bit sore, you can tell by the way he walks. However he's improved in such a short time.

I posted this video about 5 maybe 6 post down when about 2-3 hours ago a guy, Lance Brown from Michigan seemed to question allowing an animal to suffer in horrible pain because its often about the rescuer. I have rescued animals since I could walk! When I came in from playing my momma made me empty my pockets. I usually had a frog that I felt needed me....lol. I replied and you can all see it below. If I was too blunt, I'm sorry. It has been such a long summer of rescues and many other issues we rehabbers have to deal with.... he tap danced on my last tired nerve tonight! lol (Oh, the sound in the background is one of my little Quail who is older and limping. He needed some one on one attention). That sound is him "crowing".

10/30/2026

This small boy weighs a tiny bit over a pound. It's unknown what attacked him but he had multiple bite wounds all over his small body. Many were around his face where you see the dark areas around his mouth and eye. X-Rays showed one bite cracked and dislocated his jaw. He can't get his mouth all the way closed and it's a bit off set.

His food will be puree'd so he can lap from a bowl for now and he'll be getting formula as often as he'll drink. The calcium in the formula will be helpful with his healing. He's small and his little body is so sore. I had a bowl of formula with a syringe to feed him, he made it clear he was capable of lapping and grabbed for the bowl I was holding! lol.

His right eye is cloudy, it appears to be damaged as well. I believe there's some brain trauma due to his behavior being so docile. He is so easy to work with and has a big personality. They overcome so much, this little fellow will heal with the proper care.

10/28/2026

This page is targeting so many rescues. They copy your logo and show it on shirts they try to sell. I was able to get the page shut down and the next day they were back up and running again. I had a few help me and we contacted every rescue they created shirts with their info. Please report this page as a scam. I'm blocked of course. They make people believe they are going to be shipped a shirt but they just take the money and run. It's all a scam.

10/27/2026

All rehabbers pray there will be no late orphans that cannot be released before cold weather. I can't remember a season that I haven't had a few. 2.5-3 lbs is the smallest I release and I feel its irresponsible to release smaller. It's also irresponsible to release when cold weather is already upon us. It starts orphans out with no food source unless they find someone leaving out kibble for cats. Most will not make it.

This year I have 14 that will need to stay due to being too small. I have a litter of 6 that are small enough that all get along right now but as time goes by they will need separated. It's never easy finding room knowing most of what will be coming in this winter are the injured ones who will also need enclosures. I'm sure we'll figure it out, but it does cause a little stress attempting to "pre-plan"! lol. Here's a few of little ones needing to hunker down here for the winter.

10/24/2026

Update - I have all 5 baby mice in a container with proper food and all are eating on their own now! I moved the mom's bedding which she meticulously took from the cardboard off some new lightbulbs and a paper towel. They sleep under a tiny flannel blanket I gave them with the bedding.

I had forgotten how fast they grow. They'll move up in size of their living quarters as they get bigger, but it's a relief now they can eat on their own! I'll keep hands off but gosh they are so cute!

10/23/2026

There is someone named Heather W diamond on the page trying to sell T-shirts. This is a scam and please do not order from this person and if you see the post report it to Facebook as a scam.

10/22/2026

Opossums are often times the ones being bullied. Very few stand up for themselves when around another animal. I have watched the ones at my place cower and run from skunks, the raccoons and even an occasional cat. Other times different opossums just coexist at the feeding station with no issues. I think it’s safe to say this opossum is hungry and he is there for that last little bit of food and definitely is not going to stand down to the skunk. At the same time, the skunk is pretty upset about it and I hope this opossum didn’t get sprayed.😊

10/22/2026

For those facing the issues of other wildlife eating all the food and opossums getting very little or none. Tone Cantrell posted this and sent to me a few years ago. We made one and Bert placed a 5.5" PVC piece of pipe for the entrance. The further north the larger the raccoons and Tone has some large ones. One of the smaller raccoons here went right in so we were able to size the pipe down. The opossums fit through easily, lol. I still put out food for the raccoons but now the opossums can at least get their share.

10/21/2026

I have Courtinex Quail due to using a lot of quail eggs for various reasons with the opossums. As they get older, the can have a lot of hip problems. I now have 3 indoor geriatric cages for some needing a retirement home. I had a very sweet pair moving to a larger cage and I took their enclosure outside to clean today. A little mouse ran out from the cash tray below and under our shed. Jasper brought one back through the window kitty door from our cattery about 2+ weeks ago. Then he released it before I could get it safe, so I'm sure it was this little mom.

An hour later I needed a zip tie and opened the "catch all drawer" and there was a nest of 5 baby mice. Fully furred and eyes open but so tiny. The drawer was directly below where the quails were. Their momma was released when I took the cage out. I was so upset this little mom was separated from her babies and no way to fix it. I now have 5 new tiny mouths to feed! They are old enough to start eating but I've also been feeding formula drop by drop. I'll get them old enough to return outside, but this was not part of my plans this week, lol. (but they are cute) ☺️

10/18/2026

Winter is here and hard on opossums who has a body temp averaging 93-95. Must lower than other mammals... I'm posting a link that is not too costly to do for a shelter for opossums. This is an outdoor cat shelter so they use a larger rubbermaid tote. An 18 gallon tote will work because opossums are loners, so multiples will not be sharing the way cats do. TWO important things. #1 Create a circular hole if possible, 5 and 1/2 in diameter. It seems small but they can fit through it and hopefully larger animals won't so they will be safe. #2 Speaking of safe - You will need to create 2 holes on each end. It's not great for loosing some warmth, however an opossum needs an escape route should another animal attempt to enter. The ones I created didn't get used until I added the second hole for an exit. They will push straw up and block the holes once they are inside. Old chest coolers work perfectly and already insulated!! I embarrass Bert constantly by dumpster diving when I see one!

If you have outdoor sheds, a crawl space area or should there be anything in your yard covered with a tarp, i.e. wood pile...they will collect leaves, pine straw and make a nest to keep warm. Help them out by grabbing a bale of STRAW, not HAY and place it near the shed. Cut it open and they will find the straw to take and select their own place to build. I sectioned up two bales and placed in areas easy for them to collect on our property yesterday. One section has already been taken under our storage shed, so I'll place more out today. Opossums loose 1/3 of their body weight in the winter due to no food source to find. This makes staying warm even harder. COMPASSION DOESN'T HURT.

How to keep feral cats warm in the winter by creating this simple s...