Virginia Opossum Injured With Babies: Patient 20-293

We received a call from Wildlife in Need about an adult Virginia Opossum with joeys. She was found on the side of the road in Gettysburg, PA.  We suspect the mother opossum was clipped by a car. She had signs of head trauma and was totally exhausted — no obvious broken limbs but a minor jaw fracture. One Joey was severely injured in the accident but the others appeared okay.

Pain medications and a boost of fluids were started. The best thing our WSWC team could do was allow her to rest with her joeys.

Rise and Shine, Momma Opossum!

She continued to sleep and barely had enough energy to drink the emergency liquid diet we prepared. But when we opened the door the next morning, we saw a big opossum nose sticking out!

She was awake. She was active and climbing. A completely different opossum than the one we saw the night before. After her morning check up, she gave herself a quick bath. Later, we caught her cleaning her pouch full of joeys.

One Step at a Time

Over the next few days, Momma Opossum continued to improve. She began eating a soft diet and became more active. She was attentive to her joeys and acting more like a wild opossum. A few days after admission, the family moved outside to a spacious outdoor enclosure. The joeys began exploring the world around them under Momma’s watchful eye.

Before we knew it, it was time for Momma Opossum and her pouch full of joeys to return to the wild. They were released near the location she was found. The joeys now had the opportunity to grow up wild and free, and Momma had a second chance at a normal life with her babies.

We don’t often get the opportunity to see intricate wild families up close and personal. The honor of treating Momma and her family is one that we will never forget. Check out Momma’s release here.