O Possum, My Possum ~~ With Apologies to Walt Whitman

I forgot about our other news this week!

On Friday the 16th, Eler Beth rescued two baby 'possums from a cat.  They weren't very old, so we took them in, of course.  I called my sister Barbara who successfully raised three orphaned 'possums to adulthood a few years ago to get some practical advice.

Every two hours Eler Beth would feed them with kitten formula and a dropper.  I took two of the late night feedings, but other than that she did it all.  I cleaned them after the first two feedings, the way you would an orphaned pup or kitten to make sure they could "pee", but they seemed to be performing that (and the other function) very well on their own, so I stopped doing that.  We fixed them up a nice little cozy bed in a wire cage. 

Eler Beth named them Lewis and Clark, even though I couldn't tell for sure if they were males or females.  We figured they could always be Ms. Lewis and Ms. Clark.  On Saturday Eler Beth was outside in our yard when she heard our neighbor say something about a baby 'possum.  Sure enough there was a third one.  She named him Xavier. (!!)

Well, unfortunately on Sunday night Xavier died, but Lewis and Clark started eating peach baby food along with their formula.  By Monday they were also nibbling at potted meat and by Tuesday we caught sight of Clark picking up, holding, and trying to eat an apple slice.

Today I saw Clark drinking water on his own.  He is very mild, compared to Lewis, and loves being with Eler Beth.  We took them ouside to see what they'd do on the ground and Clark stayed right beside Eler Beth.  If she put her hand down to the ground he would immediately jump on it and try to climb up her arm.  He likes to grab the front of her shirt with his front paws and with his teeth (as yet very soft and just starting to come in good), and just hang there with his head tucked down.  I guess that's what he'd do if he was hanging onto his mama.

She knows she will have to set them free when they are old enough, but I think it will be hard for her to let Clark go.  They are cute little rascals I have to say.  I have to get some pictures of them.