The Opossum's Pouch Sanctuary, Rescue and Rehabilitation

11/23/2025

This girl came in today after being hit by a car. It was the afternoon before I was called and she had so much dried blood in her mouth and nose. I always flush their mouth and keep a warm mist humidifier going so the blood in the nose will stay moist enough to drain. Breathing through her mouth is necessary for now until the swelling and blood is clear from her nose. Often times they sleep for days after being hit this hard which is good for healing. She's tucked in her blankets tonight on heat and medicated. I'll be constantly checking in on her, she really took a hard hit. I pray for all injured this way and no one stops to help, its hard to think about.

11/22/2025

This is the back of my hand with a little lady bug on it. This may sound strange to some and I hope there's more people in the world who do these things! lol.

While in Walmart stocking up on the weeks supply of opossum veggies, salmon, shrimp, some chicken, various fruits for this weeks meal plan...a lady bug landed on me. As crazy as it seems my mind went into "rescue mode"! LOL I was in a long line and couldn't leave to get outside.... Sooooo into my sunglasses case to be safe. I thought about a small park on the way home but decided my place would be best. This little one went onto my pecan tree right outside the Sanctuary. Little wings came out and this little lady bug went higher into the few leaves left on the tree. So many may not understand but it was one of the best smiles of my day!

11/22/2025

This is Seymour who was hit by a car and showed up in a ladies yard days later. The eye will need to be removed once he's a bit stronger. We also removed a number of maggots from the damaged eye. His left front foot appears to be broken and will be addressed in a day or two. Seymour was hydrated, given pain meds, cleaned and applied eye meds and antibiotics. After a few hours of sleep, he woke up and drank some formula. He filled his tummy and went right back to sleep. Opossums do well with the bare minimum being done until they have time to recover from the trauma on their own. I've seen some do too much too soon and the stress on them can be more than they can recover from.

Seymour is so easy to work with, it'll be such a joy to give him a home here at The Pouch!

11/20/2025

Sorry so late to post these. I took in a young male who cannot use his back legs, nerve damage and have been working with him.

So many has asked for Kenzie's plans. If mounting in a tree, it would need to be on a larger limb and facing the tree so the opossum could walk in and out. I've also seen them placed on the side of a building with a ramp leading up. I hope to mount these if weather allows this weekend. There should be a few ways to get creative that will work easy for the opossum.

11/19/2025

Will post about mounting opossum boxes later today or tonight. Running out on a rescue....

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11/19/2025

Kinzie Rumph did a remarkable job on these opossum boxes for the outdoor opossums at the Sanctuary. We are surrounded by wooded areas with so many pecan trees. These will also work also at some of the pre-release sites. They are sealed with a water sealer and over hang to prevent rain from blowing in. We're going to get some straw in them and get them mounted in the best trees.
Kinzie, THANK YOU! These are amazing and I can't wait to see some of my guys move in!

FYI- Kinzie was sweet enough to text me the plans.... I can send them to you via text or I can send to my laptop and message them to you.

11/18/2025

For those of you who may see this.... THIS IS A HORRIBLE IDEA! Poultry livers carry a high risk of campylobacter. The bacteria can be present throughout the liver, not just on the surface as is the case for poultry meat, and may remain a source of infection if they are not cooked sufficiently.
I've seen so many sick animals from this and I cannot stress enough to please don't feed raw chicken, especially liver. Liver is a. filter for all the bad we and animal ingest. This is a tiny little one who needs a calcium rich diet and lower in protein so they don't come down with Metabolic Bone Disease. I try so hard to educate other rehabbers and facilities. There is a reason we don't walk into a restaurant and order our chicken medium rare. It must be cooked. It breaks my heart to see this.

11/16/2025

Many of you have asked for an update on the older boy in such bad shape in the post below. Its not the best photo but he deserves his sleep so I didn't want to wake him. Its pretty safe to say, after a warm bath, Capstar for the fleas and a full tummy.... Jonah has slept for the past 2 days. He wakes to eat, potty and back to sleep and it does my heart good for him to finally have some comfort.

His fur is missing and thin. Jonah had so much flea dirt on him. I'm treating for anemia and we've started his worming. He looks so much better (and fluffy) after a warm bath and he actually seemed to enjoy it. I'm sure it feels so nice to be clean. THANK YOU all who have donated. The Pouch is now caring for 84 opossums. We have old ones, blind ones, we have several with 3 legs from traps, many hit by cars with head trauma, neurological issues with some and also 19 too small to be released so they will winter over.

We will have a full house for Thanksgiving! And I am Thankful they found their way to me!

11/14/2025

According to 2023 data from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, animal cruelty cases increased by nearly 40% from 2020 to 2022. https://www.wate.com/news/tennessee/bill-would-increase-animal-cruelty-penalties-for-adults-juveniles/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook_WATE_6_On_Your_Side

11/14/2025

The cold is much harder on the older ones and this old guy had just given up. Most at this age are unable to find food and fleas still cause such misery even in the cooler weather. This poor guy has some puncture wounds that appear to have been made by a younger and probably stronger male opossum.

Tonight he's clean, he's warm, wounds have been medicated and he has a full tummy. I believe for the first time in a very long time, he's going to get some much needed sleep and he will never go to bed hungry again. The mouths needing fed are mounting. To all who have sent donations in various ways, thank you. My days seem to run into the next (its already near 5 am) so sending out thank you notes seems impossible however I have every name from those of you who help.

11/11/2025

Cut open bails of straw left where opossums can find it is so welcomed by them to build a next for cold weather. This little guy is working hard gathers bedding material. They grab leaves with their mouth, push it under their tummy and kick it into their tails with their back legs. Its such an interesting behavior! https://www.facebook.com/groups/QuietOrganicYards/posts/4557451941009712/

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11/11/2025

Many of us are experiencing extremely cold weather. If you find an old cooler at the thrift store, one beside the road or in the dumpster, these make excellent warm shelters. You can even ask on your page if anyone has an old cooler they would like to donate. 18 gallon totes with a styrofoam cooler inside also works.

Here is an important tip. Wildlife in most cases, will not use a shelter like this if there is only one hole in and out. They need a second hole cut in the back side in case a predator enters. If a male and another male enters, a fight is inevitable. Having an escape helps them feel safe and they are more likely to use the shelter.

Keep in mind, cat kibble can be put out in freezing weather and its still eatable. Water freezes, please put out luke warm water as often as you can. I spent most of the day tarping up pens for the outdoor chickens, ducks and quail. All have heat lamps. I put out straw for all the outdoor opossums and raccoons in the area I know they sleep. Remember - "Compassion is free" it can help much more than you will ever know.