Can You Have A Possum As A Pet
Olivia Luz
People sometimes find orphaned possums and consider raising these cute animals as pets.
Now to see opossums coming and going in your backyard is a thing and having them living with you in your home as a pet companion a completely different one. Northland regional council biosecurity manager don mckenzie said the council recently posted a warning to social media after seeing people discuss keeping possums as pets. Opossum attacks are rare but they do take place which is why having a possum as a pet is not such a good idea. While the opossum is not generally an aggressive animal this aspect should not be ignored.
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. I work in a wildlife shelter with brushtail possums can tell you that as babies they are so cute but as they mature become aggressive. By contrast any adult native animal including birds and possums that has been reared in the wild has learnt to fear humans watch for other predators find a diet of natural food and interact with other members of its own species. An apple hung on a string will encourage the animal to bob for apples.
For possums in captivity the animals can be kept stimulated by hiding their favorite foods inside logs or hollow gourds. Sure they can admittedly be pretty jarring to look at especially when you shine a light at them and make their eyes. The possum is a beautiful animal but there are many specific concerns regarding keeping them as a pet. They re wild animals who don t fare well often in captivity.
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They are not on the dwa list either so a license is not necessary. Possums attack pets or even humans with massively pointed teeth. Can you keep a possum as a pet.
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