Opossums, often misunderstood and sometimes even seen as pests, might strike some as unique and interesting pets. However, before you consider bringing a wild opossum into your home, it’s crucial to understand the significant challenges and ethical considerations involved. Keeping a Pet Opossum is far from simple, and the reality is often a far cry from the appealing image some might have. The truth is, despite their sometimes docile nature in captivity, opossums are fundamentally wild animals, and their complex needs make them exceptionally difficult to care for properly in a domestic setting.
The Myth of the Low-Maintenance Pet Opossum: Dietary Realities
One of the biggest hurdles in keeping a pet opossum is their highly specific dietary needs. Forget the notion that they’ll happily munch on standard pet food. Opossums require a meticulously balanced diet, rich in fresh foods and with precise calcium-to-phosphorus ratios. An improper diet can quickly lead to severe health problems, most notably metabolic bone disease. This debilitating condition can weaken their bones and teeth, and critically damage their internal organs. Furthermore, opossums are prone to obesity, and a poorly managed diet can easily trigger a cascade of related health issues, significantly impacting their quality of life.
Exercise and Enrichment: An Unmet Need for Pet Opossums
Providing adequate exercise for a pet opossum is another near-impossible task for the average pet owner. In their natural habitat, opossums are highly active creatures, covering distances of up to half a mile each night as they forage and explore. Confining them to a cage, no matter how large, or even allowing them to roam within a house, simply cannot replicate the space and stimulation they instinctively need. This lack of appropriate exercise can lead to stress, boredom, and contribute to health problems associated with a sedentary lifestyle.
Veterinary Care for Opossums: A Rare Expertise
Finding a veterinarian experienced in treating opossums presents a significant challenge. While you absolutely must have access to veterinary care for any pet, specialized knowledge of opossum physiology is rare in the veterinary field. Opossums have unique biological characteristics that differ considerably from common pets like dogs or cats. This means that even if you find a vet willing to see your opossum, they may lack the specific expertise needed to accurately diagnose and treat opossum-specific ailments. Furthermore, access to prescribed medications and appropriate laboratory tests can be complicated due to their exotic pet status. Unfortunately, illness in captive opossums is not uncommon, making this lack of readily available expert veterinary care a critical concern.
Female Opossum Health: Unique Vulnerabilities
Female opossums have particular health vulnerabilities that potential owners should be aware of. They are especially susceptible to bacterial infections of the urinary and genital tracts. It is crucial to recognize the signs of these infections, as symptoms like unusual discharge, increased urination frequency (more than once a day), or any offensive odor are abnormal and require immediate veterinary attention. These conditions can develop rapidly and become serious if left untreated.
The Ethical Dilemma of Keeping a Wild Animal as a Pet
Beyond the practical challenges, there’s a significant ethical dimension to consider. Opossums are wild animals, not domesticated pets. Confining them to a captive environment, regardless of how well-intentioned, inherently restricts their natural behaviors and freedoms. While an opossum might appear docile or even affectionate in captivity, this can be misleading. The constant stress of confinement can suppress their immune system, making them more vulnerable to diseases. Ethically, keeping a wild opossum as a pet raises serious questions about whether it’s fair to prioritize our desire for a unique pet over the animal’s well-being and natural instincts.
The original article poignantly asks, “What will you do and where will you turn when this animal becomes ill? Do you have a plan? Do you have a knowledgeable veterinarian? Do you have loads of money?” These are critical questions every potential opossum owner must honestly confront.
A Heartbreaking Personal Account: Learning from Experience
The article includes a powerful personal anecdote that underscores the difficulties and heartbreaks of attempting to keep a pet opossum. A wildlife clinic volunteer, despite having experience with animal care and access to expert advice, took in an orphaned opossum baby with the best intentions. Despite their efforts and significant financial investment in veterinary care (over a thousand dollars), the opossum tragically died after a prolonged illness. This experience vividly illustrates the immense challenges and potential for suffering involved in keeping these wild creatures as pets. The volunteer’s regret and plea to “let them be free—as they were born to be” serves as a stark warning and a compelling ethical argument against keeping opossums as pets.
A Responsible Alternative: Supporting Opossums in the Wild
If you are genuinely drawn to opossums and wish to contribute to their well-being, consider focusing your efforts on supporting them in their natural environment rather than attempting to keep one as a pet. Wildlife rehabilitation centers often need volunteers to care for injured or orphaned opossums with the goal of releasing them back into the wild. This allows you to engage with and help opossums in a way that respects their wild nature and contributes to their conservation. In rare cases, non-releasable opossums may require long-term care in captivity. Responsible wildlife rehabilitators or sanctuaries may offer opportunities to care for these animals, providing a more ethical and appropriate avenue for those with a strong desire to help opossums without compromising their well-being for the sake of pet ownership.
Conclusion: Opossums are Wild, Not Pets
In conclusion, while the idea of a pet opossum might seem intriguing, the reality is fraught with challenges and ethical concerns. Their highly specialized needs for diet, exercise, and veterinary care are incredibly difficult to meet in a domestic setting. Furthermore, keeping a wild animal in captivity raises serious ethical questions about their welfare and freedom. Before considering an opossum as a pet, carefully weigh the immense responsibility and potential for hardship against the animal’s best interests. In most cases, the most responsible and ethical decision is to admire opossums from afar and support their well-being in their natural wild habitat.
