The SPCA Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Heart is asking for the general public’s assist in saving orphaned opossum infants throughout Monterey County.
Each spring, usually between February and June, feminine opossums give delivery to infants as tiny as honeybees. Whereas tucked inside pouches to soundly end improvement, exterior threats like being hit by a automotive or caught by a canine nonetheless loom for opossum moms, and by extension, their infants. However with group assist, the SPCA is hoping to search out and care for native child opossums left on their very own.
“This isn’t a simple job,” mentioned Beth Brookhouser, vice chairman of promoting and communications for SPCA Monterey County. “It’s not fairly, and it’s undoubtedly not a simple factor to ask of the group, but it surely does make a distinction for our animals.”
The SPCA Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Heart is primarily inserting a highlight on opossums discovered on the facet of the highway. Final yr alone, the group cared for 79 opossum infants after their moms had been hit by vehicles and an extra 100 infants that had been in any other case orphaned, although Brookhouser mentioned that quantity is probably going a “small share of infants that suffered.”
At this time, the middle is at the moment caring for 9 rescued opossum infants whose mom died after being hit by a automotive in Salinas. A great samaritan discovered the mom, then positioned her infants in a field and stored them in a single day earlier than bringing the litter to the SPCA for emergency consideration.
“Opossum infants typically survive the preliminary influence of being hit by a automotive, however when a mom is killed they usually aren’t rescued, they face a gradual dying by hunger or freezing,” mentioned Brookhouser. “So saving the infants not solely prevents dying, but it surely additionally prevents lots of struggling.”
For those who hit an opossum or see one mendacity on the facet of the highway, and it’s protected to cease, the SPCA Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Heart recommends the next:
- If the opossum is alive however injured, name the middle at (831) 264-5427 or go to spcamc.org/wildlife.
- If the opossum is lately deceased on the highway, examine to see if the opossum is male or feminine. If the opossum is feminine, use gloves and a towel, rag or washcloth to softly open the pouch and examine for infants. If infants are discovered, name for assist. Don't try and take away the infants as injury may very well be inflicted on their small mouths. Wash palms after dealing with any animals discovered.
Brookhouser added that saving child opossums is a profit to the native surroundings as an entire. By way of only a common food regimen of mice, rats, snails, slugs and ticks, opossums assist groom native ecosystems for invasive pests.
“Lots of people have a concern of opossums, however they're actually useful for retaining the surroundings protected and wholesome,” she mentioned.
Yearly, the SPCA Wildlife Heart rescues greater than 2,500 injured or orphaned wild animals. This work is made doable by way of donations. To offer to assist, go to www.SPCAmc.org/donate.