How long do possums live as pets?

Short-tailed opossums have grown in popularity as an exotic pet. They are very good pets for beginners because of their cleanliness, omnivorous diet, and general good health. These opossums are small, generally friendly creatures with easy care requirements, and they certainly are cute!Jun 16, 2020

The opossum has an average lifespan of 1 to 2 years. This short lifespan is due in part to the presence of many predators including dogs, cats and people. … The opossum does not hang upside down by the tail, a common misconception. The opossum also has opposable thumbs on its hind feet for holding onto branches.

It’s illegal to keep them without a wildlife rehabilitation permit, though, and once they’re old enough to survive on their own, healthy possums can, and should, be released. … They’re wild animals who don’t fare well often in captivity.

Opossums carry diseases such as leptospirosis, tuberculosis, relapsing fever, tularemia, spotted fever, toxoplasmosis, coccidiosis, trichomoniasis, and Chagas disease. They may also be infested with fleas, ticks, mites, and lice. Opossums are hosts for cat and dog fleas, especially in urban environments.

In most cases, it is illegal to keep squirrels as pets, but most importantly, it is inhumane as well. They aren’t domestic animals and are supposed to be in the wild where they belong. They need their freedom and space, so the process of trying to domesticate them will be highly stressful.Dec 27, 2018

It may even cuddle and form a relationship with you. But, as it grows, your will notice that it is turning into a wild animal, and that it starts displaying some animal instincts. More often than not, adult possums are eventually removed and relocated from their home, because they can no longer cohabitate with people.

Whether you’ve just adopted a short tailed or a Virginia opossum as a pet, you can train your opossum to use a litter box. Both opossum species are clean animals and both tend to choose designated areas to defecate and urinate. These qualities make litter box training easier to accomplish.

Wait for the opossum to come over and sniff your hand. This may take a few minutes, or require a few more attempts at a later time, but opossums are generally such curious animals that they will eventually come over and approach you. Just make sure you don’t make any sudden movements or noises that may startle it.

25, 2020 Updated: Sep. 25, 2020 11:45 a.m. Opossums play dead to convince predators to leave them alone — sometimes for hours — but they’re still very much alive. Wait before disposing of a body to make sure it’s really expired.Sep 25, 2020

In captivity, the oldest recorded opossum was four years and five months old. However, in the wild, opossums have a much lower life expectancy and do not commonly make it past their first year of life. The oldest opossum ever captured in the wild was only three years old.

When an opossum goes into this comatose state, they also begin to emit a foul odor similar to that of a decaying corpse. Their body secretes this smelly substance from their anus when the comatose reaction is triggered. This putrid smell along with their “dead” state is what really drives the predators away.Jan 17, 2019

Rabies. … In fact, rabies is extremely rare in opossums, perhaps because they have a much lower body temperature compared to other warm-blooded animals.

Opossums Eat Ticks. … While possums wander around the forest or the outskirts of your own yard, they pick up ticks in their fur along the way, and then they eat them. All of them, well 95% at least. One possum will likely eat up to 5,000 ticks a season.May 5, 2020

Opossums are more likely to growl, hiss and show their 50 sharp teeth than to bite. They are a relatively placid animal and like to avoid confrontation at all costs. However, if cornered they do have the ability to bite.

Did you know possums hate the smell of garlic? That’s right! So, you could consider crushing garlic pods and spreading them around the area. Although they hate the smell of ammonia too, we advise you to stay away from it to avoid any health-hazards caused due to exposure.Jun 13, 2018

Opossums do not prey on cats or other larger mammals but will attack them if cornered, or if competing for food. Opossums cause loss to home gardens by eating nuts, berries, fruits, and grapes.Nov 29, 2018

Opossums generally eat fruit, grains and insects, but will also eat out of compost piles, garbage cans and pet food dishes if they can get access. They have been known to eat fish, birds and mammals as well.

Average life span: The life period of an opossum is the shortest for mammals of their size. They generally live for about 2 – 4 years. The majority are killed by predators and in road kills.

Opossums become dangerous with their ability to transmit diseases to pets and people. Known to carry leptospirosis, tuberculosis, coccidiosis, spotted fever, tularemia, and other diseases, the pesky creatures pose serious health threats when they invade urban environments.

Opossums are not dangerous as long as they are not cornered and their interaction with other animals and humans is kept to a minimum. They are beneficial to eliminate rodents, snakes, insects and carrion, and they provide a VITAL “grounds-keeping” function in most urban environments. A.

Possums have good eyesight, good hearing and are good climbers. They live solitary and are nocturnal. When cornered they will hiss or “play dead” hence the old saying playing possum. Possums prefer to feed on insects, frogs, snakes, small mammals, earthworms, berries, corn, fish and garbage.