Three week opossum baby feeding

Please note: this is not an instructional video on tube-feeding, where a tube is inserted down the throat to the stomach, a technique commonly used with litters of opossums that would still be in the pouch. This baby was too small for that technique - instead she is nursing from the end of a tube. If you find an orphaned opossum or other wildlife in need of help, please contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator in your area right away; do not attempt to raise it yourself. One can usually be located by searching the terms "wildlife rehabilitator" and the name of your city, state, or other location.

This tiny opossum baby is between three and four weeks old and weighed only 8 grams on arrival (newborn opossums are about the size of a raisin). She is the only survivor from a litter whose mom was hit and killed by a car.

Normally, babies this young can't stick their tongues out at all because their mouths are sealed, except for a tiny opening for the nipple in their mother's pouch. After several days of hand feeding, however, this baby's mouth has unsealed enough for her to start to lick and slurp, and she's learned that handling means feeding time, so she gets very squirmy and excited! It has taken her about a week to learn nurse from the end of this tiny tube and to guzzle the milk down this quickly. Her skin is so transparent you can see the milk inside her stomach.

Update: this baby went on to grow up into a healthy adult opossum! While in the pre-release cage outdoors she unfortunately lost her tail to a raccoon attack, and because as a single baby she had remained very tame and friendly, she ended up staying as an educational ambassador for nearly four years (a long life for an opossum) and helped educate thousands of kids and families.