WEN

[riley1]

Happy - so happy to hear of Troopers progress. Your little guy is growing up fast - you must be so proud!!!

[HappyDaze]

---

@riley1 wrote:

Happy - so happy to hear of Troopers progress. Your little guy is growing up fast - you must be so proud!!!

---

Thanks @riley1, I must admit, it brings little tears to my eyes when I hear how good he is doing. The ladies at the wildlife place are truly the heroes here though and deserve the kudos. I mean, to take him home so they can feed him every few hours for those first few weeks takes serious commitment. I've done that a number of times for other critters and it is hard work, especially when they are so wiggly like he was!

[bebe777]

@HappyDaze Thanks  so much for keeping us updated on little  Trooper's progress.

i'm so glad to hear that he can open his eyes now and that he has a healthy appetite. If they send you a photo I would love to see it.

Trooper is becoming  A healthy little trooper thanks to all your hard work.

-- bebe

[HappyDaze]

@bebe777 thank you, my friend. I will certainly share the photo if they send me one. I will try to post it on this thread. I hope I can get one. I bet he is handsome, lol, well, as handsome as an opossum can be

[ANewHue]

Hi HD,  that's happy news to hear Trooper is doing well.  You saved his life my friend. Yes, the people that are caring for him are committed BUT you were the key.  opossums scare me and I'm not sure I could have been so brave. I 

[cerinthe]

Audubon (the national society and local groups,) aren't certified wildlife rehabilitators nor facilities.  They focus more on habitat and politics and local native bird species.

You need to find a local wildlife rehabber who is professional and certified. In California, Possums are not considered a native species (as discussed.)  That can sometimes be a problem with regards to funding (much like pigeons.) Wildlife rehabbers have the biggest hearts and its very common that there are possum and pigeon specialists who coordinate with local rehabbers, and take them in (possums do need specialists since they can carry rabies and plague. Its not uncommon for rehabbers to have their own 'rehab animals' (like pigeons) at home, and then they go volunteer or work at the facility with native species.  And most organizations can coordinate funding to these specialists. 

If you call your local humane society, they SHOULD know who the local rehabbers are (because they get everything brought to them first!) You can also google and check the local phone directory. If you bring them an animal, they always appreciate a small donation of clean items or cash, and it helps!

So don't blame Audubon! Its not something the organization does, what is sad is that they weren't able to refer you to someone local. I'm sure you're not the first person to call them regarding wildlife in need of care.

[HappyDaze]

---

@cerinthe wrote:

Audubon (the national society and local groups,) aren't certified wildlife rehabilitators nor facilities.  They focus more on habitat and politics and local native bird species.

You need to find a local wildlife rehabber who is professional and certified. In California, Possums are not considered a native species (as discussed.)  That can sometimes be a problem with regards to funding (much like pigeons.) Wildlife rehabbers have the biggest hearts and its very common that there are possum and pigeon specialists who coordinate with local rehabbers, and take them in (possums do need specialists since they can carry rabies and plague. Its not uncommon for rehabbers to have their own 'rehab animals' (like pigeons) at home, and then they go volunteer or work at the facility with native species.  And most organizations can coordinate funding to these specialists. 

If you call your local humane society, they SHOULD know who the local rehabbers are (because they get everything brought to them first!) You can also google and check the local phone directory. If you bring them an animal, they always appreciate a small donation of clean items or cash, and it helps!

So don't blame Audubon! Its not something the organization does, what is sad is that they weren't able to refer you to someone local. I'm sure you're not the first person to call them regarding wildlife in need of care.

---

@cerinthe I respectfully disagree. Audubon has one of the oldest and largest wildlife rehab facilities in my state so they do care for wildlife. All animal and vet hospitals directed me there and I've volunteered there in the past and I was a member and donated often to them. That is why I was so disappointed that they would not take the young injured hawk I came across because they were "too busy" and then wouldn't take the opossum because it wasn't native.
 

[rittek13]

Yay! I am so glad to hear Trooper is doing good!! That is amazing - wow can you imagine, I am just teary-eyed thinking about how far he has come - so sweet. I am so glad there are so many caring, animal loving people like you.

[HappyDaze]

@ANewHue oh you would have! He was just a naked little wiggle worm- not scary at all. He looked just like this (this is NOT him):

Today he probably looks more like this (no this is not him):

Not scary at all!

[HappyDaze]

 @rittek13 awww, you are sweet! Thank you for caring about Trooper's journey.