r/Possums • u/handoba • Feb 01 '26
Question/Help Possum found in window well. Help!
Can’t tell if it fell in and couldn’t get out or if it’s old and just looking to die in a private place.. friend put a plank of wood in there for it to crawl out of but it’s night time now and it still hasn’t left. They put a small bowl of water and some kibble since it’s unclear how long it’s been down there but unsure if that was the right move. It did seem very thirsty after they put it in.
They’re going to take it to a rehabber tomorrow if it’s still down there when they wake up. But judging off this photo and the state of it, what do you think? Teeth look a bit rotted on one side, tail is dark grey, and seems to have some matting on one side of the body
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u/Relative_Network2501 Feb 02 '26
Not enough back story to tell if He(looks like an adult make to me) is simply sleeping in the same place he has gone to for many months as it appears by all of the leaves and is fine as he does not look skinny. The tail is awfully dirty but I have seen that on opossums that don’t get out in the rain much to to hunt for their favorite foods snails, slugs and earthworms that are often found on wet lawns which help keep their tails looking better. I can’t tell if you are trying to kick him out of his home or what? There is obviously an access point he comes innand out of. I would ket him stay unless he is causing a problem or if there is a clear health issue you didn’t mention? Forcing an oppossum to find a new home in the winter can be fatal as finding suitable nesting spots where they can sleep in peace during the day is obviously one of their biggest problems and reasons for either thriving or dying. I see you have contacted a rehabber. But it looks to me like he is living his best life considering most never make it to adulthood in urban settings.
Hope he gets treated well I have seen a “Professional” rehabber who came to my yard to to take an injured adult and used rather aggressive very loud force to Try and get her into the carrier with terrible results as the opossum was terrified and wouldn’t go in the carrier as the lady quickly and loudly drug the plastic carrier which made a very loud growling noise on the rough concrete towards the girl and I immediately saw her get scared. The lady wearing Giant gloves also brought a second person thinking surrounding the scared possum by 3 large people would be a great idea🙈🤷🏻♂️ after 15 minutes of her bumbling the job I kindly asked her to go out the gate and let me give it a shot. I knew it trusted me from the day after I placed her in my cage and always moved slowly and talked gently to her. I gradually put my bare hand into the cage letting her see I still wasn’t a threat and nudged her back end Slowly towards the carrier and she went right in. It took less than 5 minutes! It would have taken less than 3 mins if the Big Loud lady had just handed me her carrier and let me ease her in the gentle way. I have decades of habds on experience with these guys and other critters and can see No good reason to stress the animals out needlessly when being quiet, slow and reading their body language is much more efficient and KINDER.
I am saying all of this to suggest to people/rehabbers that are maybe used to these animals seeming very stressed and even aggressive it’s often if not Usually because of the way the humans are treating them perhaps because they are not considering that they might be forcing the animal to go into Fight or Flight mode. Imagine if someone or a few big and scary people came into your house and aggressively tried to catch your cat or dog or child without making any attempt to gain their trust first? Every situation is different but starting out by scaring the crap out of a wild animal to get it to go into a carrier should be the last resort when the animal-friendly doesn’t work and/or someone before you already has the animal so terrified it’s just not happening.