Transcripts
Welcome to Animal Posse, the podcast dedicated to the
2
:people and rescues making a
difference in the lives of animals.
3
:Today I am thrilled to be joined
by Jenni Johnson of Opie Earth.
4
:Jenni is a licensed wildlife
rehabilitator, and she does
5
:the tireless work of rescuing,
rehabbing, and releasing possums.
6
:Jenni, thank you so much for being
here to talk about Opie Earth today.
7
:Jenni: Thank you for having me.
8
:Dixie: I'm interested in learning
how you got started with Opie
9
:Earth and in wildlife rehab.
10
:Jenni: This is my third year as a licensed
rehabber, but I signed on as a sub
11
:permitee way back in 2019, I think it was.
12
:And I just found a couple of baby
squirrels in my yard and I called and
13
:called and called, and I could not find.
14
:One single person in my
area to help me with them.
15
:I had no idea what to do.
16
:So I was like, okay, I'm
gonna try to fix that.
17
:So I made some more phone calls
and I think I pestered the
18
:director of permits at that time,.
19
:But she got me in touch or gave me
a list of people to call to try to
20
:get signed on as a sub-permitee.
21
:And then I just went from there.
22
:I got signed on.
23
:With a licensed rehabber and
did some training with her
24
:and just went from there.
25
:Dixie: How was the training?
26
:What did you learn as a sub permittee?
27
:Jenni: Oh man, as a sub permittee for
me, everything, because I started,
28
:I didn't know what anything was.
29
:Nothing.
30
:Zero an alack.
31
:I'm like, what's an alack,
what's a miracle nipple?
32
:What's, any of this.
33
:So it was all learning
for me, everything from.
34
:Like triage to how to feed 'em,
how to hold an animal, how to do
35
:anything from start to finish.
36
:It was all new for me.
37
:So pretty much everything was a learning
experience when, I guess the most
38
:that I learned right in the beginning
was like proper caging and feeding.
39
:And then, just little things from there
how to prepare 'em for release their diet
40
:based on different species and everything.
41
:. Pretty much everything.
42
:At the time it was just squirrel.
43
:It wasn't possums back then.
44
:I didn't start doing the possums until
maybe two years after I first started,
45
:and that was a whole nother thing.
46
:'cause possums are nothing like squirrel.
47
:So it was like I had to start
learning all over again.
48
:Their diet and their care and
how, to get them set up for.
49
:Release into the wild.
50
:Lots of different things.
51
:But being a sub permittee, I
learned, just the basics I guess
52
:until I got set up here at my house.
53
:And then as I got more comfortable.
54
:She let me do things, more on my own.
55
:Dixie: You started with squirrels and
then you got involved in possums, and now
56
:your organization is called Opie Earth.
57
:Is that because you
primarily do possums now?
58
:Jenni: Yeah, that's it.
59
:I broke it down to just the possums
because they're a lot harder to find
60
:placement for, especially the Joey's,
the ones that are under 30 grams
61
:because they have to be tube fed.
62
:A lot of rehabbers, they work full-time
jobs too, so they don't really have the
63
:time schedule for the little tiny babies.
64
:And I'm a stay at home mom, so I.
65
:Decided, I have the time,
I can, take 'em here.
66
:And everybody wants to do squirrel.
67
:Every single person wants to rehab
squirrels or raccoons or those species.
68
:So it's a lot harder to
find placement for possums.
69
:So I just decided I would, I'd stick
with that species 'cause they're
70
:the hardest to find placement for.
71
:That's how Opie Earth came about.
72
:I just decided to stick with that.
73
:Dixie: Did you like possums before
this or did you just come to learn to
74
:like possums through the rehab work?
75
:Jenni: I really didn't know
anything about 'em at all.
76
:Same thing with squirrels.
77
:I hadn't really thought about any
of it until I found them in my yard.
78
:And then the Joeys, I just.
79
:I had a soft spot for 'em because for
one, they were telling us in our class,
80
:they said that they're not viable at
a certain stage because, they have to
81
:be tube fed and not to mess with them.
82
:And I was like wait a second.
83
:It's not that they're not
viable, it's just difficult.
84
:So I was like I'm just gonna
focus on that then, to make sure
85
:that they can have a place to go.
86
:'Cause they're not as lucky to find
a rehab as some of the other species.
87
:Dixie: Do you find that people have
misconceptions when it comes to possums?
88
:Jenni: I do.
89
:Yeah, I hear that a lot.
90
:A lot of the time people think they're
nasty or they're mean, or, they dig
91
:holes, which is a big misconception.
92
:They don't, they're not
gonna dig up your yard.
93
:They have rabies, which
is another misconception.
94
:Dixie: I notice a lot of people
don't like 'em specifically
95
:'cause they do that smile at you.
96
:And I've always thought possums were cute.
97
:I've never had a problem with a possum.
98
:I know there's a lot of people that
think they're a really ugly animal,
99
:but I know they can look a little bit
scary when they do that smile thing,
100
:but it's mainly to just scare you off.
101
:It's not even anything like they're
gonna come, lunge at you and
102
:attack at you like a dog would.
103
:Jenni: Yeah.
104
:And they have that, when they say play
dead, they don't do that on purpose.
105
:It's like a form of narcolepsy
where they're in so much fear that
106
:it literally makes 'em pass out.
107
:So I feel it bad for 'em, imagine
being so terrified in that moment
108
:that you literally pass out, it's
called thananosis, so it's not that
109
:they're playing possum, it's like
they're seriously that terrified
110
:that it knocks 'em out cold.
111
:I feel bad for 'em.
112
:Dixie: I didn't know that.
113
:I thought that they could
intentionally do that, or that was like
114
:Jenni: a, a defense mechanism.
115
:Dixie: No, I didn't realize it
was like a fear induced thing.
116
:That is sad.
117
:Jenni: Yeah.
118
:Yeah.
119
:It's completely involuntary, so
I do have a soft spot for 'em.
120
:And then the tiny Joey's too, if you
were to call me and say you had an adult
121
:that was injured, I'd be like, oh no.
122
:I have no idea.
123
:Don't you know I can't help you with that.
124
:'cause I really can't.
125
:I don't know anything about
an adult possum or an injured
126
:one, or a medical case.
127
:I don't deal with those things
at all on a regular basis.
128
:In that area.
129
:I would refer you to somebody else
that would specialize in that.
130
:I'm more focused on the little tiny
ones, but if it's an adult like
131
:that, I raise, I know what to do,
but I wouldn't really know what
132
:to do with, an adult medical case.
133
:Dixie: Do the Joeys ever play dead?
134
:Jenni: I haven't really seen 'em before.
135
:Not the tiny ones.
136
:I don't think, 'cause I think of when
they're here, they're used to their
137
:routine before that, that kicks in.
138
:I haven't when they get older and they're
in the back, and if I come in and spook
139
:'em, they'll do that open mouth thing
like, oh geez, you gave me a spook.
140
:And they'll open their mouth
at me when they're little.
141
:But I've never really had any do the
pass out thing from being scared.
142
:But they can, I'm sure the little
ones like in the wild, if they're
143
:running around in the wild and
they're small, I'm sure that they can.
144
:Dixie: Explain.
145
:What a Joey is.
146
:And then when you say that you don't
do any that are past a certain size,
147
:when they reach that size, at that
point, what do you do with them?
148
:Jenni: When they can eat on their own.
149
:So the mom.
150
:I don't know where exactly to start
with that because she's only pregnant
151
:for about 12 days and then they
come out the birth canal and they're
152
:about the size of a jelly bean.
153
:They're like super tiny, and they
wiggle up the birth canal and they get
154
:into the mom's pouch and they latch
onto a nipple and they swallow it.
155
:And then their mouth will start to
fuse around the mom's teet and that's
156
:where they'll stay essentially.
157
:And finish developing in her pouch
instead of in the womb, , let's say
158
:the mom got hit by a car and the little
babies are in the pouch still, they're
159
:still essentially being tube fed.
160
:That membrane that fused around
the nipple is still there.
161
:Their mouth is sealed, it is not a
squirrel where you can just put in
162
:a nipple in there and nurse 'em.
163
:They have to be tube fed because
they have that membrane right there.
164
:It's about two or three months
it takes for them to be able
165
:to come out on their own.
166
:Their eyes don't open
until about 70 days or so.
167
:All their development is essentially
done in the mom's pouch, the Joey is
168
:just the baby and I specifically just
take them smaller ones, because a lot
169
:of people just don't want to tube feed.
170
:It's very time consuming.
171
:And people just don't
have the time for it.
172
:Around a certain gram weight,
when they can start eating on
173
:their own, it's a lot better.
174
:'cause they just start
lapping out of a little dish,.
175
:So they're a lot easier to
take and care for other people.
176
:You can get 'em cleaned up and set
up and they're eating on their own.
177
:You don't have to make sure that
they're on that feeding schedule
178
:at a certain time every day.
179
:Dixie: Once they reach that certain gram
weight where they are actually lapping
180
:up the food on their own, do you give
them to a different rehabber at that
181
:point until it'd be time to release
182
:Jenni: no, I finish it out here.
183
:Each one, I cycle 'em out.
184
:They start out on a heating pad and a
little tote and like a little neo center.
185
:And then once they do start
eating on their own, I move them
186
:to the back in the rehab room.
187
:I have a whole separate room where
they go in and then once they age
188
:out of a tote they go in cages
and then they cycle through, the
189
:cages to the pre-release outside.
190
:And then they get released
after a couple weeks.
191
:So I finish out, from start
to finish here, I don't do any
192
:kind of transfers or anything.
193
:Dixie: People sometimes they will
find a possum, and I have heard that
194
:if the possum is say eight inches,
that's long enough to be on their own.
195
:At what size do you release them back?
196
:Jenni: I release at in between one
and a half pounds and two pounds.
197
:And they have to meet a certain criteria,
if I have a one and a half pound
198
:possum or a two pound possum, that is.
199
:Not eating solid food yet, or refuses to
wrap up nesting material with his tail
200
:or, it's just not checking them boxes off
or being a good candidate in the wild.
201
:I'll hold it for a little longer, if
I got a possum that's a pound and a
202
:half and, eating on his own and it's
climbing and showing all the signs where.
203
:It does have its defense where it is
showing its teeth at me when I come
204
:in, I'll go ahead and put 'em out in
pre-release or if they're already out
205
:there, I'll go ahead and release 'em.
206
:So it just depends , my rule of thumb is
if you call me and you found a baby and.
207
:It's as big as a Coke can.
208
:The body with, without the tail.
209
:You have to have the tail on there too.
210
:The just the body has to
be bigger than a Coke can.
211
:And then to put a tail on it, then it
probably fell off mom and was ready to
212
:try to start on its own in the wild.
213
:I know it looks small and it is, tiny, but
they fall off when they're pretty little.
214
:I would say that it would be on its own
adventure or just starting out on its own.
215
:Dixie: When you take 'em, do they have
fur or do they not have their fur yet?
216
:Jenni: No, they don't.
217
:Sometimes like painted, we call it painted
fur, like it's just barely coming in.
218
:Dixie: Can you walk us through like
a typical day of taking care of 'em?
219
:Jenni: All it is feeding.
220
:That's mostly the babies.
221
:I make the formula and then it's
just feeding babies one after
222
:another over and over again.
223
:I wait for the little milk line.
224
:I go by their belly band.
225
:You can see the milk in their tummy
when you put it in there, and I
226
:wait and see when that is dissolved.
227
:Or gone and feed 'em again.
228
:And it just depends.
229
:It's usually in between
two or three hours.
230
:Sometimes it's every 90 minutes.
231
:Especially if you get one in that's
critical or that, let's say, been
232
:without for a while, a day or two.
233
:I do a every 90 minute rehydrating
before introducing formula.
234
:And that's pretty much it for
the first part of it until they
235
:get to where they're eating on
their own or lapping on their own.
236
:And then it's just cleaning up and making
sure that they have their food or formula.
237
:Dixie: What kind of tube is it
that you have to use to feed
238
:them when they're that little?
239
:Jenni: I use a couple of different kinds.
240
:I use a Utah Medical
for really tiny babies.
241
:And then I'll use purple possum
brand tube for maybe 15 grams and up.
242
:So it just depends on the baby.
243
:If they still have that mouth,
membrane that I was talking about,
244
:I'll use the tiny little lumen
tube 'cause it's smaller diameter.
245
:And it has more of a tapered end on it.
246
:So it seems to work better
for the super small babies.
247
:Dixie: Does the tube
actually go into their
248
:stomach?
249
:Jenni: It goes all the way down into
the stomach and then I'll push the
250
:plunger on the syringe and then pinch
the tube off before you pull it out.
251
:And then that's it.
252
:It's a easy process.
253
:, possum moms.
254
:They never have just one or two babies.
255
:It's always gotta be like nine.
256
:When you get a call for 'em.
257
:It's usually between seven or nine.
258
:So it's a lot I get, i'll take
probably in between 25 to.
259
:Maybe 40 at a time.
260
:I think.
261
:I try not to take 40 babies at one
time, that's a lot of feeding, it
262
:goes quick sometimes, but usually
by the time I get done feeding one
263
:group, I'm starting right back at the
beginning of feeding another group.
264
:So it's a lot, . When you have several
babies it's very time consuming sometimes.
265
:Dixie: Yeah, I can imagine.
266
:I do bottle feeding for kittens
267
:I know the routine on 'em, when we do the
kittens, it's really, maybe critical for
268
:the first week and after that first week.
269
:When the kittens, eyes start opening,
you can start extending those
270
:feedings out and you can actually
start getting a little bit of sleep.
271
:But when it comes to, sleep
deprivation with bottle feeding
272
:kittens, really it's maybe two weeks.
273
:And then once you reach two and a
half weeks of bottle feeding, then you
274
:can get some kind of sleep at night.
275
:So how does that work with possums?
276
:Like how would that be similar
with you feeding that many of 'em?
277
:Like how long is it that critical
that they have to get that food
278
:every 90 minutes, every two hours?
279
:Jenni: I'll do at least one
overnight feeding up until
280
:they're eating on their own.
281
:And that can vary between groups
of babies but for me , during
282
:baby season, it never really ends.
283
:Once there's always joey's it seems
that come in that need overnight
284
:feedings so it's hard to say.
285
:'Cause usually usually if I get
a group of, we call 'em Lappers
286
:at that stage, when they finally
start, eating on their own, I'll
287
:get, let's say two or three groups.
288
:Lap it on their own.
289
:I'll get a call and then I'll get nine or
seven more babies that are right back on a
290
:tube feeding schedule again, where you're
right back at the, every couple hours.
291
:So it's pretty much the next several
months here, starting any day now.,
292
:I probably won't sleep a full night.
293
:Until next February maybe.
294
:So it's a kinda never ending for us.
295
:But that's why I do it though,
that's a huge commitment.
296
:Some people have, their jobs that
they do and it just, it never ends.
297
:It really doesn't, like the
nighttimes and I'm nuts, cuckoo.
298
:Come June, I am like, who am I?
299
:Where am I?
300
:Is this my house?
301
:Do I live here?
302
:'Cause it's just babies.
303
:Feeding feeding.
304
:There really isn't an end it seems
and then finally you get a little
305
:break, and then the second heat.
306
:Starts again.
307
:It's like they have two different
heats, so you know, you catch you
308
:maybe a little bit of a break, but
it's pretty much, all night, at
309
:least one overnight feeding, usually
two right in the beginning probably
310
:for the next several months for me.
311
:Dixie: With kittens, we also have to
stimulate them to go to the bathroom.
312
:Do you have to stimulate
the possums as well?
313
:. Jenni: Sure do.
314
:Dixie: And is that after
every single feeding?
315
:Jenni: Yeah.
316
:I do it before too sometimes.
317
:Just 'cause it's easier, I feel like it's
uncomfortable for them to fill 'em up
318
:when they have to go to the
bathroom, like I wouldn't wanna eat
319
:food if I had to pee really bad.
320
:So I'll try to stimulate
'em before I feed 'em.
321
:Dixie: Yeah, I tend to do the
same thing with the kittens.
322
:I like to do it before I feed 'em.
323
:I find they eat better for me.
324
:I know you know it's a little bit
different what you're saying with the tube
325
:feeding because with the tube feeding,
you put the tube in, you basically are
326
:squirting the food through the syringe.
327
:Whereas with the kittens, we
actually have to get 'em to
328
:suckle, which is a pain sometimes.
329
:'cause sometimes
330
:Jenni: they just
331
:Dixie: do not wanna do it.
332
:Jenni: They don't wanna latch on.
333
:I know I was just telling somebody
that yesterday, I am like, it's
334
:so much easier to tube feed.
335
:'cause I can tube feed 10 possums
in 60 seconds or, it's just bam.
336
:It's done.
337
:, If you're feeding, let's say
kittens or puppies, you have to.
338
:Wait for him to latch on
and then take a break.
339
:Or if he falls asleep,
you gotta wake him up.
340
:There's a lot of hands on there.
341
:It's not just, real quick and done and
then you potty 'em and then they're
342
:finished for, the next hour or two.
343
:So my hat goes off to all the
hand feeders that do that.
344
:It's definitely a different world.
345
:I wish I could tube feed
everything because it's easier.
346
:I think
347
:Dixie: How do you know
when they're weaning?
348
:Because for kittens and puppies, they
usually will start chewing the nipple.
349
:And so that's when we know that
it's time to go to a gruel.
350
:Then you try to start letting them lap
it off of your finger or a shallow dish.
351
:So with a possum.
352
:With a joey, how do you know?
353
:Jenni: It's the same thing.
354
:They open their eyes and they start.
355
:I call it the wobble stage.
356
:Where they find in their feet and
finding their legs and they'll start
357
:taking little steps and wobbling
around when they hit that wobble stage.
358
:I know I'm really close.
359
:I'm like maybe a week you'll be eaten.
360
:But I don't even try to get
'em to start until they're not.
361
:Wobbling anymore.
362
:'cause the aspiration, I don't want
their head to fall in the little lap pad.
363
:Do y'all use the little
lap lick mat things?
364
:The like little lapi pad?
365
:It's got the grooves and stuff in it.
366
:Dixie: I do not.
367
:In fact, I've never heard of those.
368
:I'll have to look it up.
369
:'cause I always look for
something that's easier.
370
:For me personally, like what I like to do.
371
:Is I will always let them start,
like by licking it off of my finger.
372
:Jenni: Yeah.
373
:Yep.
374
:Dixie: And then that's
375
:Jenni: a good sign.
376
:Dixie: Yeah.
377
:Sometimes I have a very
shallow dish that I use.
378
:Or even I'm gonna say the height
of the top of a baby food jar.
379
:It's a very shallow dish.
380
:Yeah, sometimes they'll take to that
right away, but the kittens, , they swim
381
:in cat food is what we call it basically.
382
:And sometimes they'll take to
it real easy, but then you get
383
:these other ones that won't.
384
:So at that point, what I'll
do is to teach them to like
385
:actually like lap outta something.
386
:I'll get a baby spoon.
387
:And I'll hold up a baby spoon.
388
:Oh yeah.
389
:And then they'll be able to, that's
a good idea to lap it out of that.
390
:'cause I know like with the kittens,
a lot of the times it's the head
391
:orientation for them because when you're
bottle feeding them, you're bottle
392
:feeding them when their head is upright.
393
:So then , when they start eating
food, they have to go from
394
:upright to down in the dish.
395
:Yeah.
396
:And a lot of 'em have difficulty
with that orientation.
397
:So you'll get some that
take to it right away.
398
:It's not a problem.
399
:And then you'll get other ones where
you really have to struggle to show 'em,
400
:Jenni: Right where they
401
:Dixie: have to go.
402
:So
403
:Jenni: Yeah, it's the same.
404
:Like I'll use my finger and show 'em.
405
:'cause lapping isn't a natural
instinct type thing for possums.
406
:Like mom doesn't, show 'em,
like how to lap either.
407
:So I'll take the little lapping pad
and I might put like the tiniest
408
:little smear of yogurt on it because
the yogurt's a little bit more stable.
409
:It's not, fluid, like the formula
and going all over the place.
410
:It's, they can touch it and
lick it off of their hand.
411
:So I'll use, just a little touch
of yogurt on the mat and show 'em
412
:where it is or on my finger too.
413
:I never thought about using a spoon.
414
:Now that's actually a pretty good idea.
415
:It's mostly just the lapping
pad and when they start being
416
:curious and walking around.
417
:Good.
418
:I'll show 'em, where their little lick
mat is and it doesn't take, it doesn't
419
:take 'em too long to figure it out.
420
:They got some pretty good sniffers,
and they're very food motivated.
421
:And once they get going,
it's good to go from there.
422
:They don't, they don't
really object to it,
423
:Dixie: yeah, I know the kittens can be
stubborn sometimes you'll get one of 'em
424
:that will wean right away or actually
wanna get off the bottle right away.
425
:And then you get these other ones
and it'll be like five weeks.
426
:And it's y'all should not
be on a bottle anymore.
427
:Jenni: I try not to
still be tubing babies.
428
:If they have teeth in there.
429
:If they have teeth and they're chewing
on the tube and they're fighting me,
430
:they're turning their head back, left
and right trying to fight the tube.
431
:I'm like, Nope you're gonna have
to start finding the lap and pad.
432
:You can call it tough love.
433
:I'll have to spend,
extra time making sure.
434
:Trying to get 'em to self feed.
435
:'Cause I find I make more mistakes if I'm
trying to tube babies and they're fighting
436
:the tube and they're moving their head and
they're struggling and they're biting it.
437
:A lot of mistakes can be made,
you putting a tube in the wrong.
438
:On the wrong hole, 'cause
they're moving around so much.
439
:I feel like it's better to
get 'em started earlier.
440
:So if they got teeth starting and
they're starting to walk around
441
:real good, they should be lapping
by then and here for me anyway.
442
:As to not make any mistakes
with them with the tube.
443
:Dixie: Let's say somebody
finds a small baby possum.
444
:It's got fur on it.
445
:It's not the size of a Coke
can, like you had mentioned and
446
:it's got teeth at that point.
447
:If you took that one in, would
you be offering it food in a
448
:dish or would you have to do some
kind of bottle or tube feeding?
449
:Jenni: They probably would
be eating on their own.
450
:I'd probably would still be doing formula,
but they're probably ready for solid
451
:food too, or at least a semi solid diet.
452
:Some rehabers make like a smoothie mix
where they blend everything up for 'em.
453
:I do that sometimes, but not so much
anymore 'cause it's very time consuming.
454
:Now I'll just chop everything up really
fine, or I'll use a cheese grater and
455
:shred everything for 'em and offer
'em that mixed in their formula.
456
:So it looks really nasty.
457
:It's like a bunch of wet vegetables,
and milk to give them that.
458
:I try to get 'em started
on solids too pretty early.
459
:I found that using the either
chopped really fine or shredded the
460
:earlier they start that, the better.
461
:And then you can just keep increasing
the size of the vegetables as they grow.
462
:And eventually they should just be
eating, big salad, normal chunks at home.
463
:But if I that would probably be too
big for me if I saw the picture.
464
:It's probably gonna be over 30 grams,
so I don't get very many babies that
465
:already have teeth and stuff that come
in here or, they gotta be pretty tiny
466
:but if they're that big, they should
probably be eating solid food for sure.
467
:At that stage.
468
:Dixie: What kind of solid
food do you feed them?
469
:Jenni: It's a balance of fresh
vegetables and a little tiny bit of
470
:fruit and a little tiny bit of protein.
471
:They get metabolic bone
disease like squirrels do.
472
:So it's a very balanced diet.
473
:It's critical.
474
:The ratios are critical to make
sure that it doesn't pull out all
475
:the calcium out of their bones.
476
:So it's mostly vegetables that I do.
477
:It may be like a couple
little pieces of fruit.
478
:Not very much fruit at all.
479
:Dixie: What is this
metabolic bone disease?
480
:Jenni: It's when the calcium is
just completely depleted and it,
481
:their bones turn brittle and they
get all bent and bowed and broken
482
:and even moving, just a small, tiny
little bit can break their bones.
483
:It's horrible.
484
:, It's life-threatening.
485
:It's a slow, miserable, painful
death that a lot of people don't know
486
:about, especially with squirrels.
487
:Everybody thinks squirrels eat
nuts and they do, their diet's
488
:primarily vegetable based.
489
:So same thing with possums.
490
:A lot of people think they
eat this and they eat that, or
491
:they eat trash and all this.
492
:Which they do.
493
:But in rehab, we have to make sure
to follow a very specific calcium to
494
:phosphorus ratio to make sure they
don't get metabolic bone disease.
495
:'Cause once you get it, it's debilitating.
496
:I stick to a MVD diet protocol sheet where
it's pretty much the same thing, the same
497
:vegetables and fruit, little bit of fruit.
498
:And then they get they get
protein, added with that.
499
:They get their daily protein and then they
get extra protein a couple days a week.
500
:When they're adult or when they're older.
501
:So not tiny babies.
502
:Dixie: What would you say is
503
:Jenni: the
504
:Dixie: biggest mistake that people
make when they find a baby possum?
505
:Jenni: It would probably be the diet.
506
:A lot of Google information is wrong,
the formula is wrong and Google's not
507
:ever been my friend in this rehab thing.
508
:A lot of Google information diets
have been more harmful, than helpful.
509
:A lot of the time people wanna
feed kitten formula to possums.
510
:And it's not what I would feed them.
511
:As far as a little tiny Joey I've
had people, try to rip their mouth
512
:open 'cause they weren't aware of
that little membrane and try to shove
513
:a syringe in their mouth because,
they're trying to help hydrate it.
514
:It's, they feel bad and know
that it's probably dehydrated.
515
:So they'll try to offer water with a
syringe and they don't realize the mouth
516
:membrane is there and it'll be torn.
517
:That's the most common
mistake for a little one.
518
:If they did that,
519
:Dixie: would that cause
them to aspirate as well?
520
:Jenni: For the baby, yeah.
521
:It does.
522
:'Cause a little tiny Joeys don't
nurse like other mammals do.
523
:Dixie: Right.
524
:Jenni: It would probably
just get all over their face.
525
:Dixie: Wow.
526
:I didn't know that people would
actually try to open their mouths if
527
:they had a membrane there closing it.
528
:That's crazy.
529
:Jenni: Oh, you don't even, oh girl.
530
:I've had so many, I've had people
use weird objects to try to tube feed
531
:possums before, and then I've seen like
the back of their throats torn out and
532
:Dixie: Oh my god.
533
:Jenni: Like a, yeah, like
milk abscesses pushed.
534
:The skin from people poking through the
back of their throat and it's, please
535
:don't feed babies if you find them
536
:it's heartbreaking.
537
:I had two litters last season that were
they had the ripped mouth where, you know,
538
:and they're like we were trying to help.
539
:And it's I know, but you can't.
540
:You can't rip the mouth open.
541
:They have to be tube fed
and , it's not anybody's fault.
542
:If they don't know, they
just, they don't know.
543
:A lot of the time people have such great
intentions and they really do wanna help.
544
:But, the best thing to do is
just keep the baby's warm.
545
:Get 'em in a box in a quiet place
or the heat source and call somebody
546
:Dixie: yeah, definitely contact a
wildlife rehabber 'cause there is a
547
:proper way that it has to be done.
548
:Because if you don't do it that
proper way, then , you are really
549
:not helping the baby that much.
550
:No.
551
:, When it comes to getting your possums.
552
:Do you find most of them come from people
who find like the mother's hit on the side
553
:of the road and they dig in the pouch?
554
:Jenni: Yep.
555
:Yep.
556
:98% of my intakes are hit by a car.
557
:The other small percent is
cat attack or a dog attack.
558
:Either the dog shook the mom and the
babies come out 'cause possum moms
559
:don't come back for their babies either.
560
:Like a squirrel, you can reunite.
561
:Squirrels and raccoons and most
other mammals with their moms, if
562
:they get separated, possum moms
are like, Nope, I'm outta here.
563
:And she'll take off.
564
:She won't come back for her baby.
565
:So if you find a baby
possum, it needs help.
566
:It's the mom's not gonna come back for it.
567
:But yeah, most of the
time it's from the Joey's.
568
:Being on the mom after
she got hit by her car.
569
:Dixie: Would you recommend to people when
they see a a possum hit on the side of
570
:the road to check the pouch for babies?
571
:Jenni: I do.
572
:Yeah.
573
:If it's safe to do if you're on an
interstate or something, or in a busy.
574
:Part of town, don't, 'cause I would hate
for somebody to get into a serious car
575
:accident or get hit by a car themself
trying to, help babies in the pouch.
576
:And there's a certain way too that
you have to take 'em off because the
577
:nipple is probably close to three inches
long when they swallow it, it goes
578
:all the way down into their stomach.
579
:So if they're bigger babies.
580
:You know that nipple's gonna be long.
581
:So if you just try to pull the baby
off, it could tear the nipple right off
582
:the mom and the baby could swallow it.
583
:It takes a long time to break the
suction around the little mouth
584
:and pull gently back and forth.
585
:Try to gently slide 'em off.
586
:, You can bring me the whole possum.
587
:I'll pull 'em off.
588
:You can put the whole mom in the box and
everything and just bring all that to me.
589
:For safety, if it's not safe to be on
the side of the road, pulling 'em off.
590
:If anybody needed instructions, to better
understand how to get 'em off the mom
591
:at the time, I can always call too.
592
:I can walk people through it.
593
:Dixie: Wow, I didn't know that.
594
:I knew you would check the pouch, but
I thought it was like as easy as just
595
:grabbing the babies outta the pouch.
596
:And that's even with me knowing
that they swallowed that nipple.
597
:But I didn't realize that the suction
would be so much that you had actually
598
:pull the nipple off of the mom.
599
:Wow.
600
:Jenni: Yeah, it can tear right off.
601
:And then of course it becomes a
choking hazard yeah it could be a long
602
:process, so I always, safety first.
603
:If you can sit there on the side
of the road and do that,, that's
604
:great, but if not, you can bring
me the whole mom I'll help here.
605
:I'll pull 'em off here
just so nobody gets hurt.
606
:Dixie: So for anybody listening,
if they were interested in getting
607
:involved with this and doing the
possum rehab like you do, what steps
608
:would they need to take , to do this?
609
:Jenni: Oh man.
610
:There's several different ways now.
611
:There's a lot of different things
going on with wildlife and fisheries.
612
:I'm not a hundred percent
clear on a lot of them.
613
:I would say if you're interested
you can check out some of the new
614
:programs that are listed on the
Wildlife and Fisheries website.
615
:Like I said, I don't really know the
specifics of these things, but they have
616
:a rescuers program and they have a new
way now where you can obtain a license.
617
:But if you're interested in, what I do
specifically is I would, reach out to
618
:me or to another neo rehabber and just.
619
:Learn come shadow, come watch, come see.
620
:Just hands on I think is the
best way to learn anything.
621
:And if you are coming into this with
zero, like I did, that's how I did it.
622
:I just had to kind go and.
623
:Just visualize and see and, be hands on.
624
:I'm okay with doing that if
someone's really serious about it.
625
:So if anybody would like to
learn the tube or to take to care
626
:for Joey's, they can reach out.
627
:It varies with each rehabber.
628
:Each rehabber is different
with what they allow and what.
629
:They want or whatever.
630
:It depends on what you're doing or what
species you wanna do, that rehabber or,
631
:you would have to contact a different
rehabber for that specific thing.
632
:I'm open to helping people
if they wanted to reach out.
633
:To cover a few things, like I have a
supply list that people would need to
634
:have , before starting, which is something
I wish I had when I first started.
635
:' You wanna make sure you have the
supplies for whatever you're getting
636
:in to be able to care for 'em.
637
:So if people are interested, I can
help 'em with a supply list or.
638
:Maybe some different numbers
to call for different species
639
:or just things like that.
640
:You can visit the website to see if
there's a program that would fit better.
641
:I understand that everybody's
able to do tiny babies.
642
:So there's different things,
that would fit different
643
:people if they wanted to help.
644
:There's always something that they can do.
645
:Dixie: What is the biggest hurdle
that's currently facing opie Earth?
646
:Jenni: I don't really have, time
is, that's my biggest thing.
647
:I don't, I wish I had more time.
648
:But as far as in funding too,
but I know, like when I first got
649
:licensed, I had to sign a waiver that
I was responsible for everything.
650
:So I knew, right when I started
that I had to pay for everything.
651
:I just simply can't take anything if
I can't afford it, or if I don't have
652
:any funding or donations, then I know
I can't take anything, which is sad.
653
:But that's how it is.
654
:. I do get a lot of help
though, which is amazing.
655
:I'm so grateful for it.
656
:I have a wonderful community right here
in Ascension . They look out for me in the
657
:little possums, which is great because,
the possums are the underdogs, I think.
658
:So it's really amazing to see
how many people do support me
659
:here and do help me and all over.
660
:But I have to say no at some point.
661
:There's just not enough time in the day,
if I have 40 tiny babies here already.
662
:Saying no is so hard.
663
:There's just not enough time.
664
:I'm only one person,
665
:Dixie: definitely.
666
:How can people learn
more about opie earth?
667
:Jenni: I have the Facebook page.
668
:And that's actually my only platform.
669
:. But I try to be as transparent as possible
670
:I have a camera set up in my room and
I'll share, like the room pictures.
671
:So you can see how the process works.
672
:When I start getting intakes, I'll
do updates on each group or each
673
:intake and see where they're housed.
674
:And people can see where the
babies go and how they grow
675
:and what stage they reach next.
676
:Dixie: I'll include a link to that
in the show notes too, so that way
677
:people will be able to find you there.
678
:Jenni: I do try to keep on
top of it during baby season.
679
:'cause people wanna know, if they
find babies, they wanna know like how
680
:they're doing and see their care and,
see how things progress and everything.
681
:So I try to be.
682
:As transparent as that as possible with
that so people can see everything from
683
:start to finish and it's a long process.
684
:It's a long process for a
little tiny Joey's in rehab,
685
:Dixie: Thank you for
speaking with me today.
686
:I learned a lot about
possums that I didn't know
687
:Jenni: I appreciate you,
talking with me too.
688
:I love them.
689
:I love the little babies.
690
:I can't wait to get some and everybody
can see 'em and learn about 'em
691
:Thank you so much for having me.
692
:It was a pleasure.
693
:Dixie: That's it for today's episode.
694
:I wanna thank everybody for
listening and supporting us.
695
:If you wanna take that an extra
step, consider becoming a member.
696
:We just added this to our
website, animalposse.com,
697
:scroll down, look for the support tab.
698
:Our membership program is going to
help us directly support animals
699
:in need, whether that be through
vaccinations, food or spay neuter efforts.
