Considering an opossum as a pet? These unique creatures might seem intriguing, especially if you’re drawn to unconventional animals. However, before you envision a cuddly companion, it’s crucial to understand the significant challenges and ethical considerations involved in keeping Opossums As Pets. Often misunderstood, opossums have very specific needs that are incredibly difficult to meet in a domestic setting. This article delves into the realities of opossum ownership, drawing on expert insights to help you make an informed and responsible decision. Spoiler alert: keeping an opossum as a pet is rarely, if ever, recommended for their well-being and yours.
The Complex Dietary Needs of Pet Opossums
One of the most significant hurdles in caring for opossums as pets is their highly specialized diet. These animals require a meticulously balanced diet, rich in fresh foods and with precise calcium to phosphorus ratios. This isn’t just about offering fruits and vegetables; it’s about mimicking their natural wild diet to prevent severe health issues.
If an opossum’s diet is not perfectly managed, they are highly susceptible to metabolic bone disease. This debilitating condition can cripple their bones and teeth, leading to deformities, fractures, and dental problems. Furthermore, metabolic bone disease wreaks havoc on their internal organs, causing widespread systemic damage. Opossums are also prone to obesity, even with slight dietary imbalances, which can trigger a cascade of other health problems, further shortening their already brief lifespan. Providing the “particular diet with fresh foods and proper calcium: phosphorous ratios” mentioned in expert advice is not a simple task for the average pet owner.
The Impossible Task of Providing Adequate Exercise for a Pet Opossum
Opossums are naturally active animals, designed by nature to roam and forage extensively. In their natural habitat, opossums can walk up to half a mile each night in search of food and exploring their territory. Confining such an active animal to a cage, regardless of its size, or even allowing it to roam within a house, fundamentally restricts their ability to express this essential natural behavior.
It is virtually impossible to replicate the space and stimulation an opossum needs to thrive. Unlike domestic pets that have adapted to human environments over generations, opossums retain their wild instincts and physical requirements. Depriving them of adequate exercise not only impacts their physical health but also contributes to stress and psychological distress in captivity. The assertion that “It is impossible to provide adequate exercise” for opossums as pets is a critical point to consider.
Veterinary Care for Opossums: A Major Challenge
Finding a veterinarian experienced in treating opossums can be incredibly difficult. While vets are trained in animal health, opossum physiology is quite distinct from common pets like dogs and cats. Most veterinarians have limited or no experience with opossums, making it challenging to obtain accurate diagnoses and effective treatments when health issues arise.
Moreover, access to necessary medications and laboratory tests tailored for opossums can also be problematic. Opossums are prone to various illnesses, and as stated, “Because they WILL get sick,” having a reliable and knowledgeable vet is not just recommended, but essential. Without specialized veterinary care readily available, pet opossum owners are often left unprepared to handle the inevitable health crises that occur. Female opossums, in particular, are susceptible to urinary tract and genital tract bacterial infections, requiring prompt and appropriate veterinary intervention. Any signs of discharge, increased urination frequency, or offensive odors are abnormal and necessitate immediate expert attention.
The Ethical Dilemma of Keeping a Wild Animal as a Pet
Beyond the practical difficulties of care, there’s a significant ethical dimension to consider when thinking about opossums as pets. Opossums are wild animals, not domesticated creatures. Even if an opossum appears docile or seems to adapt to captivity, they are fundamentally unsuited for life in a human home.
Confining a wild animal to a domestic setting is, in essence, imprisoning it. While an opossum might exhibit a “pleasant nature,” this doesn’t equate to contentment or well-being in captivity. The constant stress of being in an unnatural environment takes a toll on their immune system, making them more vulnerable to diseases and reducing their overall quality of life. Opossums are naturally short-lived animals in the wild, and captivity often exacerbates health issues and shortens their lifespan even further. The question “Ethically, you are imprisoning him. He is not domestic, he is a wild animal” highlights the core ethical concern.
A Heartbreaking Personal Experience: Why Opossums Aren’t Pets
To further illustrate the profound challenges and emotional toll of keeping opossums as pets, consider this poignant account:
“I hear that you are thinking about trying to keep a wild opossum baby as a pet and want to share with you my recent heartbreaking experiences. I, too, wanted to keep captive a healthy baby opossum – and since I volunteer at wildlife clinics – last year I took in an orphaned baby whose mother had been hit by a car and killed. It has been one of the most heart breaking, stressful, confusing and selfish mistakes I have made in my whole life. I didn’t listen to any of the people who told me to let them be free–as they were born to be. I thought that if I followed the expert advice of possum specialists, I could keep my baby alive and happy. Instead, I had to bury him after a long, hard death. I loved him dearly and it broke my heart. Opossums are not meant to be kept as pets, and I swear to you it is the most expensive, gut wrenching heart-breaking experience I have suffered thus far. I have rehabbed and kept many other domestic animals and some other species of injured wildlife, but opossums are only sure to suffer in human hands. Please spare yourself and these babies. I have spent over a thousand dollars just on vet bills so far, and now my Mickey is dead. Every day I wonder if he would still be alive chasing bugs and eating slugs and having a family if only I weren’t so selfish and could have let him be free like he was meant to be. I know they are cute and cuddly and adorable little critters to see and touch, but please don’t keep them — it will break your heart for sure-but most importantly, it is a very selfish thing to do. They only suffer in the hands of humans, and if they can be free, please don’t be selfish-let them have the life they were meant to live. If you someday want to have an opossum as a pet – you might be able to get one from a wildlife rehabilitator that has a non-releasable— one that isn’t well enough to be free on its own. If you volunteer for awhile, and prove you are responsible, this could very well happen. Please do the unselfish thing and set these kids free. Please. It will only break your heart and theirs if you don’t.”
This deeply personal account underscores the emotional and financial burdens, and ultimately, the ethical implications of attempting to keep a wild opossum as a pet, even with the best intentions.
Conclusion: Choose Wildness Over Captivity for Opossums
In conclusion, while the idea of an opossum as a pet might seem appealing, the reality is fraught with challenges and ethical concerns. The specialized dietary needs, the impossibility of providing adequate exercise, the difficulties in accessing appropriate veterinary care, and the inherent stress of captivity all contribute to making opossum ownership a poor choice for both the animal and the prospective owner.
The most responsible and ethical approach is to appreciate opossums in their natural wild environment. If you are passionate about helping opossums, consider supporting or volunteering with wildlife rehabilitation centers that specialize in caring for injured or orphaned opossums with the goal of eventual release back into the wild. This way, you can contribute to their well-being without compromising their natural instincts and freedom. Let opossums live the wild lives they were meant to lead.
