Transcripts
Welcome to Animal Posse, the podcast dedicated to the
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people and rescues making a
difference in the lives of animals.
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Today I am thrilled to be joined
by Jenni Johnson of Opie Earth.
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Jenni is a licensed wildlife
rehabilitator, and she does
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the tireless work of rescuing,
rehabbing, and releasing possums.
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Jenni, thank you so much for being
here to talk about Opie Earth today.
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Jenni: Thank you for having me.
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Dixie: I'm interested in learning
how you got started with Opie
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Earth and in wildlife rehab.
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Jenni: This is my third year as a licensed
rehabber, but I signed on as a sub
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permitee way back in 2019, I think it was.
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And I just found a couple of baby
squirrels in my yard and I called and
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called and called, and I could not find.
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One single person in my
area to help me with them.
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I had no idea what to do.
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So I was like, okay, I'm
gonna try to fix that.
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So I made some more phone calls
and I think I pestered the
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director of permits at that time,.
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But she got me in touch or gave me
a list of people to call to try to
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get signed on as a sub-permitee.
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And then I just went from there.
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I got signed on.
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With a licensed rehabber and
did some training with her
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and just went from there.
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Dixie: How was the training?
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What did you learn as a sub permittee?
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Jenni: Oh man, as a sub permittee for
me, everything, because I started,
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I didn't know what anything was.
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Nothing.
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Zero an alack.
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I'm like, what's an alack,
what's a miracle nipple?
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What's, any of this.
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So it was all learning
for me, everything from.
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Like triage to how to feed 'em,
how to hold an animal, how to do
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anything from start to finish.
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It was all new for me.
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So pretty much everything was a learning
experience when, I guess the most
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that I learned right in the beginning
was like proper caging and feeding.
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And then, just little things from there
how to prepare 'em for release their diet
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based on different species and everything.
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. Pretty much everything.
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At the time it was just squirrel.
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It wasn't possums back then.
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I didn't start doing the possums until
maybe two years after I first started,
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and that was a whole nother thing.
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'cause possums are nothing like squirrel.
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So it was like I had to start
learning all over again.
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Their diet and their care and
how, to get them set up for.
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Release into the wild.
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Lots of different things.
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But being a sub permittee, I
learned, just the basics I guess
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until I got set up here at my house.
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And then as I got more comfortable.
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She let me do things, more on my own.
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Dixie: You started with squirrels and
then you got involved in possums, and now
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your organization is called Opie Earth.
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Is that because you
primarily do possums now?
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Jenni: Yeah, that's it.
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I broke it down to just the possums
because they're a lot harder to find
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placement for, especially the Joey's,
the ones that are under 30 grams
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because they have to be tube fed.
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A lot of rehabbers, they work full-time
jobs too, so they don't really have the
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time schedule for the little tiny babies.
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And I'm a stay at home mom, so I.
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Decided, I have the time,
I can, take 'em here.
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And everybody wants to do squirrel.
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Every single person wants to rehab
squirrels or raccoons or those species.
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So it's a lot harder to
find placement for possums.
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So I just decided I would, I'd stick
with that species 'cause they're
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the hardest to find placement for.
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That's how Opie Earth came about.
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I just decided to stick with that.
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Dixie: Did you like possums before
this or did you just come to learn to
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like possums through the rehab work?
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Jenni: I really didn't know
anything about 'em at all.
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Same thing with squirrels.
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I hadn't really thought about any
of it until I found them in my yard.
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And then the Joeys, I just.
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I had a soft spot for 'em because for
one, they were telling us in our class,
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they said that they're not viable at
a certain stage because, they have to
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be tube fed and not to mess with them.
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And I was like wait a second.
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It's not that they're not
viable, it's just difficult.
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So I was like I'm just gonna
focus on that then, to make sure
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that they can have a place to go.
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'Cause they're not as lucky to find
a rehab as some of the other species.
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Dixie: Do you find that people have
misconceptions when it comes to possums?
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Jenni: I do.
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Yeah, I hear that a lot.
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A lot of the time people think they're
nasty or they're mean, or, they dig
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holes, which is a big misconception.
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They don't, they're not
gonna dig up your yard.
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They have rabies, which
is another misconception.
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Dixie: I notice a lot of people
don't like 'em specifically
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'cause they do that smile at you.
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And I've always thought possums were cute.
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I've never had a problem with a possum.
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I know there's a lot of people that
think they're a really ugly animal,
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but I know they can look a little bit
scary when they do that smile thing,
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but it's mainly to just scare you off.
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It's not even anything like they're
gonna come, lunge at you and
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attack at you like a dog would.
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Jenni: Yeah.
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And they have that, when they say play
dead, they don't do that on purpose.
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It's like a form of narcolepsy
where they're in so much fear that
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it literally makes 'em pass out.
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So I feel it bad for 'em, imagine
being so terrified in that moment
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that you literally pass out, it's
called thananosis, so it's not that
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they're playing possum, it's like
they're seriously that terrified
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that it knocks 'em out cold.
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I feel bad for 'em.
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Dixie: I didn't know that.
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I thought that they could
intentionally do that, or that was like
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Jenni: a, a defense mechanism.
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Dixie: No, I didn't realize it
was like a fear induced thing.
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That is sad.
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Jenni: Yeah.
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Yeah.
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It's completely involuntary, so
I do have a soft spot for 'em.
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And then the tiny Joey's too, if you
were to call me and say you had an adult
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that was injured, I'd be like, oh no.
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I have no idea.
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Don't you know I can't help you with that.
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'cause I really can't.
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I don't know anything about
an adult possum or an injured
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one, or a medical case.
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I don't deal with those things
at all on a regular basis.
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In that area.
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I would refer you to somebody else
that would specialize in that.
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I'm more focused on the little tiny
ones, but if it's an adult like
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that, I raise, I know what to do,
but I wouldn't really know what
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to do with, an adult medical case.
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Dixie: Do the Joeys ever play dead?
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Jenni: I haven't really seen 'em before.
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Not the tiny ones.
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I don't think, 'cause I think of when
they're here, they're used to their
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routine before that, that kicks in.
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I haven't when they get older and they're
in the back, and if I come in and spook
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'em, they'll do that open mouth thing
like, oh geez, you gave me a spook.
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And they'll open their mouth
at me when they're little.
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But I've never really had any do the
pass out thing from being scared.
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But they can, I'm sure the little
ones like in the wild, if they're
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running around in the wild and
they're small, I'm sure that they can.
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Dixie: Explain.
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What a Joey is.
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And then when you say that you don't
do any that are past a certain size,
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when they reach that size, at that
point, what do you do with them?
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Jenni: When they can eat on their own.
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So the mom.
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I don't know where exactly to start
with that because she's only pregnant
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for about 12 days and then they
come out the birth canal and they're
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about the size of a jelly bean.
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They're like super tiny, and they
wiggle up the birth canal and they get
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into the mom's pouch and they latch
onto a nipple and they swallow it.
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And then their mouth will start to
fuse around the mom's teet and that's
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where they'll stay essentially.
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And finish developing in her pouch
instead of in the womb, , let's say
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the mom got hit by a car and the little
babies are in the pouch still, they're
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still essentially being tube fed.
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That membrane that fused around
the nipple is still there.
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Their mouth is sealed, it is not a
squirrel where you can just put in
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a nipple in there and nurse 'em.
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They have to be tube fed because
they have that membrane right there.
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It's about two or three months
it takes for them to be able
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to come out on their own.
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Their eyes don't open
until about 70 days or so.
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All their development is essentially
done in the mom's pouch, the Joey is
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just the baby and I specifically just
take them smaller ones, because a lot
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of people just don't want to tube feed.
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It's very time consuming.
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And people just don't
have the time for it.
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Around a certain gram weight,
when they can start eating on
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their own, it's a lot better.
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'cause they just start
lapping out of a little dish,.
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So they're a lot easier to
take and care for other people.
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You can get 'em cleaned up and set
up and they're eating on their own.
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You don't have to make sure that
they're on that feeding schedule
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at a certain time every day.
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Dixie: Once they reach that certain gram
weight where they are actually lapping
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up the food on their own, do you give
them to a different rehabber at that
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point until it'd be time to release
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Jenni: no, I finish it out here.
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Each one, I cycle 'em out.
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They start out on a heating pad and a
little tote and like a little neo center.
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And then once they do start
eating on their own, I move them
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to the back in the rehab room.
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I have a whole separate room where
they go in and then once they age
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out of a tote they go in cages
and then they cycle through, the
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cages to the pre-release outside.
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And then they get released
after a couple weeks.
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So I finish out, from start
to finish here, I don't do any
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kind of transfers or anything.
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Dixie: People sometimes they will
find a possum, and I have heard that
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if the possum is say eight inches,
that's long enough to be on their own.
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At what size do you release them back?
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Jenni: I release at in between one
and a half pounds and two pounds.
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And they have to meet a certain criteria,
if I have a one and a half pound
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possum or a two pound possum, that is.
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Not eating solid food yet, or refuses to
wrap up nesting material with his tail
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or, it's just not checking them boxes off
or being a good candidate in the wild.
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I'll hold it for a little longer, if
I got a possum that's a pound and a
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half and, eating on his own and it's
climbing and showing all the signs where.
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It does have its defense where it is
showing its teeth at me when I come
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in, I'll go ahead and put 'em out in
pre-release or if they're already out
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there, I'll go ahead and release 'em.
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So it just depends , my rule of thumb is
if you call me and you found a baby and.
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It's as big as a Coke can.
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The body with, without the tail.
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You have to have the tail on there too.
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The just the body has to
be bigger than a Coke can.
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And then to put a tail on it, then it
probably fell off mom and was ready to
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try to start on its own in the wild.
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I know it looks small and it is, tiny, but
they fall off when they're pretty little.
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I would say that it would be on its own
adventure or just starting out on its own.
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Dixie: When you take 'em, do they have
fur or do they not have their fur yet?
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Jenni: No, they don't.
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Sometimes like painted, we call it painted
fur, like it's just barely coming in.
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Dixie: Can you walk us through like
a typical day of taking care of 'em?
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Jenni: All it is feeding.
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That's mostly the babies.
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I make the formula and then it's
just feeding babies one after
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another over and over again.
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I wait for the little milk line.
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I go by their belly band.
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You can see the milk in their tummy
when you put it in there, and I
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wait and see when that is dissolved.
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Or gone and feed 'em again.
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And it just depends.
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00:12:57,993 --> 00:12:59,943
It's usually in between
two or three hours.
230
00:12:59,943 --> 00:13:01,683
Sometimes it's every 90 minutes.
231
00:13:02,173 --> 00:13:06,563
Especially if you get one in that's
critical or that, let's say, been
232
00:13:06,593 --> 00:13:09,923
without for a while, a day or two.
233
00:13:10,603 --> 00:13:15,733
I do a every 90 minute rehydrating
before introducing formula.
234
00:13:16,393 --> 00:13:19,183
And that's pretty much it for
the first part of it until they
235
00:13:19,183 --> 00:13:22,543
get to where they're eating on
their own or lapping on their own.
236
00:13:22,543 --> 00:13:26,953
And then it's just cleaning up and making
sure that they have their food or formula.
237
00:13:28,193 --> 00:13:31,463
Dixie: What kind of tube is it
that you have to use to feed
238
00:13:31,463 --> 00:13:32,163
them when they're that little?
239
00:13:33,903 --> 00:13:35,433
Jenni: I use a couple of different kinds.
240
00:13:35,433 --> 00:13:38,883
I use a Utah Medical
for really tiny babies.
241
00:13:38,883 --> 00:13:46,003
And then I'll use purple possum
brand tube for maybe 15 grams and up.
242
00:13:46,663 --> 00:13:48,193
So it just depends on the baby.
243
00:13:48,193 --> 00:13:51,343
If they still have that mouth,
membrane that I was talking about,
244
00:13:51,343 --> 00:13:56,263
I'll use the tiny little lumen
tube 'cause it's smaller diameter.
245
00:13:56,713 --> 00:13:59,773
And it has more of a tapered end on it.
246
00:14:00,103 --> 00:14:03,183
So it seems to work better
for the super small babies.
247
00:14:04,453 --> 00:14:06,133
Dixie: Does the tube
actually go into their
248
00:14:06,133 --> 00:14:06,643
stomach?
249
00:14:07,468 --> 00:14:13,748
Jenni: It goes all the way down into
the stomach and then I'll push the
250
00:14:13,748 --> 00:14:17,798
plunger on the syringe and then pinch
the tube off before you pull it out.
251
00:14:19,298 --> 00:14:21,518
And then that's it.
252
00:14:21,998 --> 00:14:23,288
It's a easy process.
253
00:14:23,288 --> 00:14:24,398
, possum moms.
254
00:14:24,448 --> 00:14:26,308
They never have just one or two babies.
255
00:14:26,308 --> 00:14:28,798
It's always gotta be like nine.
256
00:14:29,228 --> 00:14:31,138
When you get a call for 'em.
257
00:14:31,568 --> 00:14:33,488
It's usually between seven or nine.
258
00:14:33,488 --> 00:14:38,908
So it's a lot I get, i'll take
probably in between 25 to.
259
00:14:39,358 --> 00:14:41,728
Maybe 40 at a time.
260
00:14:41,878 --> 00:14:42,418
I think.
261
00:14:42,508 --> 00:14:46,418
I try not to take 40 babies at one
time, that's a lot of feeding, it
262
00:14:46,423 --> 00:14:51,363
goes quick sometimes, but usually
by the time I get done feeding one
263
00:14:51,368 --> 00:14:56,523
group, I'm starting right back at the
beginning of feeding another group.
264
00:14:57,273 --> 00:15:01,898
So it's a lot, . When you have several
babies it's very time consuming sometimes.
265
00:15:03,038 --> 00:15:04,178
Dixie: Yeah, I can imagine.
266
00:15:04,208 --> 00:15:06,428
I do bottle feeding for kittens
267
00:15:07,068 --> 00:15:12,518
I know the routine on 'em, when we do the
kittens, it's really, maybe critical for
268
00:15:12,518 --> 00:15:16,058
the first week and after that first week.
269
00:15:16,833 --> 00:15:20,833
When the kittens, eyes start opening,
you can start extending those
270
00:15:20,833 --> 00:15:24,013
feedings out and you can actually
start getting a little bit of sleep.
271
00:15:24,613 --> 00:15:28,153
But when it comes to, sleep
deprivation with bottle feeding
272
00:15:28,153 --> 00:15:31,103
kittens, really it's maybe two weeks.
273
00:15:31,103 --> 00:15:33,683
And then once you reach two and a
half weeks of bottle feeding, then you
274
00:15:33,683 --> 00:15:35,333
can get some kind of sleep at night.
275
00:15:36,113 --> 00:15:38,773
So how does that work with possums?
276
00:15:38,773 --> 00:15:42,583
Like how would that be similar
with you feeding that many of 'em?
277
00:15:42,583 --> 00:15:46,423
Like how long is it that critical
that they have to get that food
278
00:15:46,423 --> 00:15:49,003
every 90 minutes, every two hours?
279
00:15:49,103 --> 00:15:51,683
Jenni: I'll do at least one
overnight feeding up until
280
00:15:51,683 --> 00:15:52,613
they're eating on their own.
281
00:15:53,343 --> 00:15:58,028
And that can vary between groups
of babies but for me , during
282
00:15:58,028 --> 00:15:59,888
baby season, it never really ends.
283
00:15:59,938 --> 00:16:04,868
Once there's always joey's it seems
that come in that need overnight
284
00:16:04,868 --> 00:16:07,258
feedings so it's hard to say.
285
00:16:07,438 --> 00:16:10,668
'Cause usually usually if I get
a group of, we call 'em Lappers
286
00:16:10,728 --> 00:16:13,948
at that stage, when they finally
start, eating on their own, I'll
287
00:16:13,948 --> 00:16:16,378
get, let's say two or three groups.
288
00:16:17,398 --> 00:16:18,568
Lap it on their own.
289
00:16:18,598 --> 00:16:24,928
I'll get a call and then I'll get nine or
seven more babies that are right back on a
290
00:16:24,928 --> 00:16:29,438
tube feeding schedule again, where you're
right back at the, every couple hours.
291
00:16:29,438 --> 00:16:33,808
So it's pretty much the next several
months here, starting any day now.,
292
00:16:33,858 --> 00:16:36,318
I probably won't sleep a full night.
293
00:16:37,173 --> 00:16:38,763
Until next February maybe.
294
00:16:38,853 --> 00:16:41,253
So it's a kinda never ending for us.
295
00:16:42,513 --> 00:16:45,243
But that's why I do it though,
that's a huge commitment.
296
00:16:45,243 --> 00:16:49,483
Some people have, their jobs that
they do and it just, it never ends.
297
00:16:49,513 --> 00:16:52,973
It really doesn't, like the
nighttimes and I'm nuts, cuckoo.
298
00:16:52,973 --> 00:16:55,223
Come June, I am like, who am I?
299
00:16:55,223 --> 00:16:55,823
Where am I?
300
00:16:55,823 --> 00:16:56,723
Is this my house?
301
00:16:56,723 --> 00:16:57,503
Do I live here?
302
00:16:57,813 --> 00:16:59,133
'Cause it's just babies.
303
00:16:59,253 --> 00:17:00,183
Feeding feeding.
304
00:17:00,573 --> 00:17:04,752
There really isn't an end it seems
and then finally you get a little
305
00:17:04,752 --> 00:17:06,343
break, and then the second heat.
306
00:17:06,627 --> 00:17:07,348
Starts again.
307
00:17:07,798 --> 00:17:11,988
It's like they have two different
heats, so you know, you catch you
308
00:17:11,988 --> 00:17:17,228
maybe a little bit of a break, but
it's pretty much, all night, at
309
00:17:17,228 --> 00:17:22,044
least one overnight feeding, usually
two right in the beginning probably
310
00:17:22,049 --> 00:17:23,844
for the next several months for me.
311
00:17:24,424 --> 00:17:27,814
Dixie: With kittens, we also have to
stimulate them to go to the bathroom.
312
00:17:27,814 --> 00:17:29,944
Do you have to stimulate
the possums as well?
313
00:17:29,954 --> 00:17:30,704
. Jenni: Sure do.
314
00:17:30,974 --> 00:17:33,194
Dixie: And is that after
every single feeding?
315
00:17:34,121 --> 00:17:34,751
Jenni: Yeah.
316
00:17:35,091 --> 00:17:37,581
I do it before too sometimes.
317
00:17:37,701 --> 00:17:42,171
Just 'cause it's easier, I feel like it's
uncomfortable for them to fill 'em up
318
00:17:42,221 --> 00:17:45,566
when they have to go to the
bathroom, like I wouldn't wanna eat
319
00:17:45,566 --> 00:17:47,516
food if I had to pee really bad.
320
00:17:47,636 --> 00:17:50,416
So I'll try to stimulate
'em before I feed 'em.
321
00:17:51,226 --> 00:17:53,446
Dixie: Yeah, I tend to do the
same thing with the kittens.
322
00:17:53,536 --> 00:17:54,856
I like to do it before I feed 'em.
323
00:17:54,856 --> 00:17:56,626
I find they eat better for me.
324
00:17:57,691 --> 00:18:00,871
I know you know it's a little bit
different what you're saying with the tube
325
00:18:00,871 --> 00:18:05,041
feeding because with the tube feeding,
you put the tube in, you basically are
326
00:18:05,041 --> 00:18:08,011
squirting the food through the syringe.
327
00:18:08,371 --> 00:18:10,681
Whereas with the kittens, we
actually have to get 'em to
328
00:18:10,681 --> 00:18:12,421
suckle, which is a pain sometimes.
329
00:18:12,421 --> 00:18:13,111
'cause sometimes
330
00:18:13,231 --> 00:18:13,741
Jenni: they just
331
00:18:13,741 --> 00:18:14,881
Dixie: do not wanna do it.
332
00:18:15,291 --> 00:18:16,491
Jenni: They don't wanna latch on.
333
00:18:16,491 --> 00:18:20,231
I know I was just telling somebody
that yesterday, I am like, it's
334
00:18:20,231 --> 00:18:21,851
so much easier to tube feed.
335
00:18:21,851 --> 00:18:26,951
'cause I can tube feed 10 possums
in 60 seconds or, it's just bam.
336
00:18:26,951 --> 00:18:27,641
It's done.
337
00:18:27,801 --> 00:18:30,621
, If you're feeding, let's say
kittens or puppies, you have to.
338
00:18:31,356 --> 00:18:34,446
Wait for him to latch on
and then take a break.
339
00:18:34,446 --> 00:18:37,356
Or if he falls asleep,
you gotta wake him up.
340
00:18:37,366 --> 00:18:39,376
There's a lot of hands on there.
341
00:18:39,676 --> 00:18:43,486
It's not just, real quick and done and
then you potty 'em and then they're
342
00:18:43,486 --> 00:18:45,366
finished for, the next hour or two.
343
00:18:45,966 --> 00:18:50,226
So my hat goes off to all the
hand feeders that do that.
344
00:18:50,586 --> 00:18:52,356
It's definitely a different world.
345
00:18:52,356 --> 00:18:55,716
I wish I could tube feed
everything because it's easier.
346
00:18:55,776 --> 00:18:56,196
I think
347
00:18:57,761 --> 00:19:00,581
Dixie: How do you know
when they're weaning?
348
00:19:00,581 --> 00:19:05,241
Because for kittens and puppies, they
usually will start chewing the nipple.
349
00:19:06,351 --> 00:19:09,141
And so that's when we know that
it's time to go to a gruel.
350
00:19:09,141 --> 00:19:13,281
Then you try to start letting them lap
it off of your finger or a shallow dish.
351
00:19:13,311 --> 00:19:14,591
So with a possum.
352
00:19:14,591 --> 00:19:15,851
With a joey, how do you know?
353
00:19:16,639 --> 00:19:17,909
Jenni: It's the same thing.
354
00:19:17,909 --> 00:19:19,474
They open their eyes and they start.
355
00:19:20,429 --> 00:19:22,289
I call it the wobble stage.
356
00:19:22,419 --> 00:19:25,599
Where they find in their feet and
finding their legs and they'll start
357
00:19:25,629 --> 00:19:30,349
taking little steps and wobbling
around when they hit that wobble stage.
358
00:19:30,349 --> 00:19:31,669
I know I'm really close.
359
00:19:31,819 --> 00:19:34,369
I'm like maybe a week you'll be eaten.
360
00:19:34,489 --> 00:19:38,929
But I don't even try to get
'em to start until they're not.
361
00:19:39,229 --> 00:19:40,459
Wobbling anymore.
362
00:19:40,519 --> 00:19:45,149
'cause the aspiration, I don't want
their head to fall in the little lap pad.
363
00:19:45,299 --> 00:19:47,939
Do y'all use the little
lap lick mat things?
364
00:19:48,179 --> 00:19:49,439
The like little lapi pad?
365
00:19:49,439 --> 00:19:51,059
It's got the grooves and stuff in it.
366
00:19:51,454 --> 00:19:52,204
Dixie: I do not.
367
00:19:52,204 --> 00:19:53,764
In fact, I've never heard of those.
368
00:19:53,764 --> 00:19:54,934
I'll have to look it up.
369
00:19:54,964 --> 00:19:57,754
'cause I always look for
something that's easier.
370
00:19:57,754 --> 00:20:00,424
For me personally, like what I like to do.
371
00:20:01,074 --> 00:20:05,604
Is I will always let them start,
like by licking it off of my finger.
372
00:20:05,604 --> 00:20:06,084
Jenni: Yeah.
373
00:20:06,354 --> 00:20:06,714
Yep.
374
00:20:06,789 --> 00:20:07,649
Dixie: And then that's
375
00:20:07,649 --> 00:20:08,169
Jenni: a good sign.
376
00:20:08,424 --> 00:20:08,754
Dixie: Yeah.
377
00:20:08,754 --> 00:20:12,264
Sometimes I have a very
shallow dish that I use.
378
00:20:12,264 --> 00:20:16,264
Or even I'm gonna say the height
of the top of a baby food jar.
379
00:20:16,264 --> 00:20:17,744
It's a very shallow dish.
380
00:20:18,604 --> 00:20:22,724
Yeah, sometimes they'll take to that
right away, but the kittens, , they swim
381
00:20:22,724 --> 00:20:24,644
in cat food is what we call it basically.
382
00:20:25,724 --> 00:20:28,814
And sometimes they'll take to
it real easy, but then you get
383
00:20:28,814 --> 00:20:30,134
these other ones that won't.
384
00:20:30,134 --> 00:20:33,284
So at that point, what I'll
do is to teach them to like
385
00:20:33,284 --> 00:20:35,714
actually like lap outta something.
386
00:20:35,714 --> 00:20:36,914
I'll get a baby spoon.
387
00:20:37,629 --> 00:20:39,429
And I'll hold up a baby spoon.
388
00:20:39,429 --> 00:20:39,519
Oh yeah.
389
00:20:39,519 --> 00:20:42,129
And then they'll be able to, that's
a good idea to lap it out of that.
390
00:20:42,129 --> 00:20:45,189
'cause I know like with the kittens,
a lot of the times it's the head
391
00:20:45,189 --> 00:20:49,569
orientation for them because when you're
bottle feeding them, you're bottle
392
00:20:49,569 --> 00:20:51,189
feeding them when their head is upright.
393
00:20:51,189 --> 00:20:53,199
So then , when they start eating
food, they have to go from
394
00:20:53,469 --> 00:20:55,929
upright to down in the dish.
395
00:20:55,959 --> 00:20:56,379
Yeah.
396
00:20:56,379 --> 00:21:00,129
And a lot of 'em have difficulty
with that orientation.
397
00:21:00,659 --> 00:21:03,179
So you'll get some that
take to it right away.
398
00:21:03,179 --> 00:21:04,109
It's not a problem.
399
00:21:04,109 --> 00:21:07,739
And then you'll get other ones where
you really have to struggle to show 'em,
400
00:21:07,869 --> 00:21:08,529
Jenni: Right where they
401
00:21:08,529 --> 00:21:09,369
Dixie: have to go.
402
00:21:09,819 --> 00:21:10,209
So
403
00:21:10,259 --> 00:21:11,389
Jenni: Yeah, it's the same.
404
00:21:11,524 --> 00:21:13,354
Like I'll use my finger and show 'em.
405
00:21:13,384 --> 00:21:17,974
'cause lapping isn't a natural
instinct type thing for possums.
406
00:21:18,254 --> 00:21:22,524
Like mom doesn't, show 'em,
like how to lap either.
407
00:21:22,524 --> 00:21:27,064
So I'll take the little lapping pad
and I might put like the tiniest
408
00:21:27,064 --> 00:21:32,164
little smear of yogurt on it because
the yogurt's a little bit more stable.
409
00:21:32,554 --> 00:21:36,364
It's not, fluid, like the formula
and going all over the place.
410
00:21:36,364 --> 00:21:39,194
It's, they can touch it and
lick it off of their hand.
411
00:21:39,704 --> 00:21:43,344
So I'll use, just a little touch
of yogurt on the mat and show 'em
412
00:21:43,344 --> 00:21:46,044
where it is or on my finger too.
413
00:21:46,534 --> 00:21:47,974
I never thought about using a spoon.
414
00:21:47,974 --> 00:21:49,864
Now that's actually a pretty good idea.
415
00:21:50,344 --> 00:21:54,124
It's mostly just the lapping
pad and when they start being
416
00:21:54,124 --> 00:21:56,584
curious and walking around.
417
00:21:56,584 --> 00:21:57,004
Good.
418
00:21:57,694 --> 00:22:03,044
I'll show 'em, where their little lick
mat is and it doesn't take, it doesn't
419
00:22:03,044 --> 00:22:04,874
take 'em too long to figure it out.
420
00:22:04,874 --> 00:22:08,074
They got some pretty good sniffers,
and they're very food motivated.
421
00:22:08,744 --> 00:22:11,544
And once they get going,
it's good to go from there.
422
00:22:11,604 --> 00:22:15,064
They don't, they don't
really object to it,
423
00:22:15,604 --> 00:22:20,414
Dixie: yeah, I know the kittens can be
stubborn sometimes you'll get one of 'em
424
00:22:20,414 --> 00:22:25,104
that will wean right away or actually
wanna get off the bottle right away.
425
00:22:25,104 --> 00:22:28,164
And then you get these other ones
and it'll be like five weeks.
426
00:22:28,164 --> 00:22:30,324
And it's y'all should not
be on a bottle anymore.
427
00:22:30,844 --> 00:22:33,394
Jenni: I try not to
still be tubing babies.
428
00:22:33,394 --> 00:22:34,954
If they have teeth in there.
429
00:22:35,014 --> 00:22:38,194
If they have teeth and they're chewing
on the tube and they're fighting me,
430
00:22:38,194 --> 00:22:41,914
they're turning their head back, left
and right trying to fight the tube.
431
00:22:41,914 --> 00:22:45,334
I'm like, Nope you're gonna have
to start finding the lap and pad.
432
00:22:45,334 --> 00:22:46,684
You can call it tough love.
433
00:22:46,684 --> 00:22:49,684
I'll have to spend,
extra time making sure.
434
00:22:50,614 --> 00:22:52,774
Trying to get 'em to self feed.
435
00:22:53,274 --> 00:22:57,284
'Cause I find I make more mistakes if I'm
trying to tube babies and they're fighting
436
00:22:57,284 --> 00:23:01,034
the tube and they're moving their head and
they're struggling and they're biting it.
437
00:23:01,424 --> 00:23:05,064
A lot of mistakes can be made,
you putting a tube in the wrong.
438
00:23:05,694 --> 00:23:08,314
On the wrong hole, 'cause
they're moving around so much.
439
00:23:08,314 --> 00:23:10,984
I feel like it's better to
get 'em started earlier.
440
00:23:11,534 --> 00:23:15,374
So if they got teeth starting and
they're starting to walk around
441
00:23:15,374 --> 00:23:19,929
real good, they should be lapping
by then and here for me anyway.
442
00:23:20,304 --> 00:23:23,064
As to not make any mistakes
with them with the tube.
443
00:23:23,808 --> 00:23:26,448
Dixie: Let's say somebody
finds a small baby possum.
444
00:23:26,628 --> 00:23:27,798
It's got fur on it.
445
00:23:28,833 --> 00:23:32,343
It's not the size of a Coke
can, like you had mentioned and
446
00:23:32,343 --> 00:23:35,223
it's got teeth at that point.
447
00:23:35,253 --> 00:23:39,093
If you took that one in, would
you be offering it food in a
448
00:23:39,093 --> 00:23:43,713
dish or would you have to do some
kind of bottle or tube feeding?
449
00:23:44,673 --> 00:23:47,043
Jenni: They probably would
be eating on their own.
450
00:23:47,163 --> 00:23:51,663
I'd probably would still be doing formula,
but they're probably ready for solid
451
00:23:51,663 --> 00:23:55,073
food too, or at least a semi solid diet.
452
00:23:55,373 --> 00:23:59,783
Some rehabers make like a smoothie mix
where they blend everything up for 'em.
453
00:24:00,323 --> 00:24:04,493
I do that sometimes, but not so much
anymore 'cause it's very time consuming.
454
00:24:05,123 --> 00:24:10,608
Now I'll just chop everything up really
fine, or I'll use a cheese grater and
455
00:24:10,788 --> 00:24:16,068
shred everything for 'em and offer
'em that mixed in their formula.
456
00:24:17,238 --> 00:24:18,288
So it looks really nasty.
457
00:24:18,348 --> 00:24:22,838
It's like a bunch of wet vegetables,
and milk to give them that.
458
00:24:23,438 --> 00:24:26,558
I try to get 'em started
on solids too pretty early.
459
00:24:27,958 --> 00:24:32,358
I found that using the either
chopped really fine or shredded the
460
00:24:32,358 --> 00:24:34,488
earlier they start that, the better.
461
00:24:34,878 --> 00:24:38,688
And then you can just keep increasing
the size of the vegetables as they grow.
462
00:24:38,778 --> 00:24:46,048
And eventually they should just be
eating, big salad, normal chunks at home.
463
00:24:46,648 --> 00:24:50,968
But if I that would probably be too
big for me if I saw the picture.
464
00:24:51,518 --> 00:24:56,123
It's probably gonna be over 30 grams,
so I don't get very many babies that
465
00:24:56,123 --> 00:25:01,533
already have teeth and stuff that come
in here or, they gotta be pretty tiny
466
00:25:02,043 --> 00:25:07,833
but if they're that big, they should
probably be eating solid food for sure.
467
00:25:07,923 --> 00:25:08,853
At that stage.
468
00:25:09,273 --> 00:25:11,218
Dixie: What kind of solid
food do you feed them?
469
00:25:12,658 --> 00:25:18,038
Jenni: It's a balance of fresh
vegetables and a little tiny bit of
470
00:25:18,038 --> 00:25:20,228
fruit and a little tiny bit of protein.
471
00:25:20,838 --> 00:25:23,478
They get metabolic bone
disease like squirrels do.
472
00:25:24,138 --> 00:25:26,328
So it's a very balanced diet.
473
00:25:26,448 --> 00:25:27,888
It's critical.
474
00:25:27,948 --> 00:25:33,528
The ratios are critical to make
sure that it doesn't pull out all
475
00:25:33,528 --> 00:25:35,928
the calcium out of their bones.
476
00:25:36,258 --> 00:25:39,858
So it's mostly vegetables that I do.
477
00:25:41,268 --> 00:25:44,208
It may be like a couple
little pieces of fruit.
478
00:25:44,658 --> 00:25:45,948
Not very much fruit at all.
479
00:25:46,348 --> 00:25:48,268
Dixie: What is this
metabolic bone disease?
480
00:25:49,248 --> 00:25:53,478
Jenni: It's when the calcium is
just completely depleted and it,
481
00:25:53,538 --> 00:25:58,728
their bones turn brittle and they
get all bent and bowed and broken
482
00:25:59,118 --> 00:26:03,878
and even moving, just a small, tiny
little bit can break their bones.
483
00:26:03,878 --> 00:26:04,808
It's horrible.
484
00:26:05,388 --> 00:26:06,348
, It's life-threatening.
485
00:26:06,378 --> 00:26:10,998
It's a slow, miserable, painful
death that a lot of people don't know
486
00:26:10,998 --> 00:26:12,958
about, especially with squirrels.
487
00:26:13,168 --> 00:26:17,298
Everybody thinks squirrels eat
nuts and they do, their diet's
488
00:26:17,298 --> 00:26:19,128
primarily vegetable based.
489
00:26:19,188 --> 00:26:21,708
So same thing with possums.
490
00:26:21,808 --> 00:26:24,528
A lot of people think they
eat this and they eat that, or
491
00:26:24,578 --> 00:26:26,798
they eat trash and all this.
492
00:26:26,798 --> 00:26:27,818
Which they do.
493
00:26:27,848 --> 00:26:33,148
But in rehab, we have to make sure
to follow a very specific calcium to
494
00:26:33,148 --> 00:26:37,498
phosphorus ratio to make sure they
don't get metabolic bone disease.
495
00:26:38,128 --> 00:26:40,488
'Cause once you get it, it's debilitating.
496
00:26:42,298 --> 00:26:49,588
I stick to a MVD diet protocol sheet where
it's pretty much the same thing, the same
497
00:26:50,128 --> 00:26:53,038
vegetables and fruit, little bit of fruit.
498
00:26:53,283 --> 00:26:56,768
And then they get they get
protein, added with that.
499
00:26:56,768 --> 00:27:00,263
They get their daily protein and then they
get extra protein a couple days a week.
500
00:27:01,403 --> 00:27:03,263
When they're adult or when they're older.
501
00:27:03,533 --> 00:27:05,583
So not tiny babies.
502
00:27:07,303 --> 00:27:08,173
Dixie: What would you say is
503
00:27:08,173 --> 00:27:08,293
Jenni: the
504
00:27:08,293 --> 00:27:11,743
Dixie: biggest mistake that people
make when they find a baby possum?
505
00:27:12,728 --> 00:27:14,648
Jenni: It would probably be the diet.
506
00:27:15,038 --> 00:27:21,018
A lot of Google information is wrong,
the formula is wrong and Google's not
507
00:27:21,018 --> 00:27:24,738
ever been my friend in this rehab thing.
508
00:27:24,738 --> 00:27:31,768
A lot of Google information diets
have been more harmful, than helpful.
509
00:27:32,428 --> 00:27:36,958
A lot of the time people wanna
feed kitten formula to possums.
510
00:27:37,498 --> 00:27:40,668
And it's not what I would feed them.
511
00:27:41,068 --> 00:27:46,188
As far as a little tiny Joey I've
had people, try to rip their mouth
512
00:27:46,188 --> 00:27:50,478
open 'cause they weren't aware of
that little membrane and try to shove
513
00:27:50,478 --> 00:27:54,898
a syringe in their mouth because,
they're trying to help hydrate it.
514
00:27:54,898 --> 00:27:59,128
It's, they feel bad and know
that it's probably dehydrated.
515
00:27:59,128 --> 00:28:04,058
So they'll try to offer water with a
syringe and they don't realize the mouth
516
00:28:04,058 --> 00:28:06,038
membrane is there and it'll be torn.
517
00:28:06,678 --> 00:28:08,928
That's the most common
mistake for a little one.
518
00:28:09,498 --> 00:28:10,578
If they did that,
519
00:28:10,578 --> 00:28:12,738
Dixie: would that cause
them to aspirate as well?
520
00:28:13,998 --> 00:28:15,108
Jenni: For the baby, yeah.
521
00:28:15,648 --> 00:28:16,308
It does.
522
00:28:16,408 --> 00:28:20,233
'Cause a little tiny Joeys don't
nurse like other mammals do.
523
00:28:20,393 --> 00:28:20,723
Dixie: Right.
524
00:28:20,843 --> 00:28:22,883
Jenni: It would probably
just get all over their face.
525
00:28:25,313 --> 00:28:25,883
Dixie: Wow.
526
00:28:26,223 --> 00:28:28,893
I didn't know that people would
actually try to open their mouths if
527
00:28:28,893 --> 00:28:30,723
they had a membrane there closing it.
528
00:28:30,963 --> 00:28:31,743
That's crazy.
529
00:28:32,193 --> 00:28:33,663
Jenni: Oh, you don't even, oh girl.
530
00:28:33,663 --> 00:28:39,603
I've had so many, I've had people
use weird objects to try to tube feed
531
00:28:39,603 --> 00:28:47,643
possums before, and then I've seen like
the back of their throats torn out and
532
00:28:47,913 --> 00:28:48,453
Dixie: Oh my god.
533
00:28:48,873 --> 00:28:52,143
Jenni: Like a, yeah, like
milk abscesses pushed.
534
00:28:52,983 --> 00:28:57,823
The skin from people poking through the
back of their throat and it's, please
535
00:28:57,823 --> 00:28:59,833
don't feed babies if you find them
536
00:29:00,083 --> 00:29:01,163
it's heartbreaking.
537
00:29:01,163 --> 00:29:07,313
I had two litters last season that were
they had the ripped mouth where, you know,
538
00:29:07,313 --> 00:29:10,123
and they're like we were trying to help.
539
00:29:10,123 --> 00:29:11,593
And it's I know, but you can't.
540
00:29:12,243 --> 00:29:13,743
You can't rip the mouth open.
541
00:29:13,743 --> 00:29:16,563
They have to be tube fed
and , it's not anybody's fault.
542
00:29:16,563 --> 00:29:18,573
If they don't know, they
just, they don't know.
543
00:29:19,053 --> 00:29:23,523
A lot of the time people have such great
intentions and they really do wanna help.
544
00:29:23,733 --> 00:29:26,563
But, the best thing to do is
just keep the baby's warm.
545
00:29:27,143 --> 00:29:31,748
Get 'em in a box in a quiet place
or the heat source and call somebody
546
00:29:32,408 --> 00:29:36,128
Dixie: yeah, definitely contact a
wildlife rehabber 'cause there is a
547
00:29:36,128 --> 00:29:38,048
proper way that it has to be done.
548
00:29:38,768 --> 00:29:41,218
Because if you don't do it that
proper way, then , you are really
549
00:29:41,218 --> 00:29:42,928
not helping the baby that much.
550
00:29:43,858 --> 00:29:43,978
No.
551
00:29:45,014 --> 00:29:47,474
, When it comes to getting your possums.
552
00:29:47,894 --> 00:29:53,144
Do you find most of them come from people
who find like the mother's hit on the side
553
00:29:53,144 --> 00:29:55,004
of the road and they dig in the pouch?
554
00:29:56,054 --> 00:29:56,354
Jenni: Yep.
555
00:29:56,774 --> 00:29:57,044
Yep.
556
00:29:57,404 --> 00:30:00,104
98% of my intakes are hit by a car.
557
00:30:00,624 --> 00:30:04,764
The other small percent is
cat attack or a dog attack.
558
00:30:04,924 --> 00:30:08,374
Either the dog shook the mom and the
babies come out 'cause possum moms
559
00:30:08,374 --> 00:30:10,204
don't come back for their babies either.
560
00:30:10,264 --> 00:30:12,449
Like a squirrel, you can reunite.
561
00:30:13,244 --> 00:30:17,174
Squirrels and raccoons and most
other mammals with their moms, if
562
00:30:17,174 --> 00:30:21,704
they get separated, possum moms
are like, Nope, I'm outta here.
563
00:30:21,764 --> 00:30:22,604
And she'll take off.
564
00:30:22,604 --> 00:30:24,164
She won't come back for her baby.
565
00:30:24,344 --> 00:30:27,344
So if you find a baby
possum, it needs help.
566
00:30:27,854 --> 00:30:30,044
It's the mom's not gonna come back for it.
567
00:30:30,464 --> 00:30:33,614
But yeah, most of the
time it's from the Joey's.
568
00:30:33,724 --> 00:30:36,484
Being on the mom after
she got hit by her car.
569
00:30:37,179 --> 00:30:41,849
Dixie: Would you recommend to people when
they see a a possum hit on the side of
570
00:30:41,849 --> 00:30:43,619
the road to check the pouch for babies?
571
00:30:44,609 --> 00:30:45,149
Jenni: I do.
572
00:30:45,149 --> 00:30:45,629
Yeah.
573
00:30:45,739 --> 00:30:50,789
If it's safe to do if you're on an
interstate or something, or in a busy.
574
00:30:51,389 --> 00:30:55,764
Part of town, don't, 'cause I would hate
for somebody to get into a serious car
575
00:30:55,764 --> 00:31:01,294
accident or get hit by a car themself
trying to, help babies in the pouch.
576
00:31:01,714 --> 00:31:05,434
And there's a certain way too that
you have to take 'em off because the
577
00:31:05,434 --> 00:31:10,904
nipple is probably close to three inches
long when they swallow it, it goes
578
00:31:10,904 --> 00:31:12,434
all the way down into their stomach.
579
00:31:12,434 --> 00:31:13,784
So if they're bigger babies.
580
00:31:14,684 --> 00:31:16,264
You know that nipple's gonna be long.
581
00:31:16,264 --> 00:31:21,214
So if you just try to pull the baby
off, it could tear the nipple right off
582
00:31:21,214 --> 00:31:23,134
the mom and the baby could swallow it.
583
00:31:23,624 --> 00:31:28,434
It takes a long time to break the
suction around the little mouth
584
00:31:28,434 --> 00:31:30,404
and pull gently back and forth.
585
00:31:30,834 --> 00:31:32,304
Try to gently slide 'em off.
586
00:31:32,304 --> 00:31:33,804
, You can bring me the whole possum.
587
00:31:33,894 --> 00:31:34,614
I'll pull 'em off.
588
00:31:35,434 --> 00:31:39,074
You can put the whole mom in the box and
everything and just bring all that to me.
589
00:31:39,654 --> 00:31:43,374
For safety, if it's not safe to be on
the side of the road, pulling 'em off.
590
00:31:43,564 --> 00:31:48,994
If anybody needed instructions, to better
understand how to get 'em off the mom
591
00:31:48,994 --> 00:31:51,509
at the time, I can always call too.
592
00:31:52,019 --> 00:31:53,339
I can walk people through it.
593
00:31:54,069 --> 00:31:55,209
Dixie: Wow, I didn't know that.
594
00:31:55,209 --> 00:31:59,679
I knew you would check the pouch, but
I thought it was like as easy as just
595
00:31:59,679 --> 00:32:01,359
grabbing the babies outta the pouch.
596
00:32:01,599 --> 00:32:05,049
And that's even with me knowing
that they swallowed that nipple.
597
00:32:05,049 --> 00:32:08,079
But I didn't realize that the suction
would be so much that you had actually
598
00:32:08,199 --> 00:32:09,909
pull the nipple off of the mom.
599
00:32:10,179 --> 00:32:10,539
Wow.
600
00:32:10,539 --> 00:32:12,479
Jenni: Yeah, it can tear right off.
601
00:32:12,609 --> 00:32:16,729
And then of course it becomes a
choking hazard yeah it could be a long
602
00:32:16,729 --> 00:32:19,619
process, so I always, safety first.
603
00:32:19,619 --> 00:32:23,209
If you can sit there on the side
of the road and do that,, that's
604
00:32:23,209 --> 00:32:27,149
great, but if not, you can bring
me the whole mom I'll help here.
605
00:32:27,249 --> 00:32:30,339
I'll pull 'em off here
just so nobody gets hurt.
606
00:32:31,854 --> 00:32:35,874
Dixie: So for anybody listening,
if they were interested in getting
607
00:32:35,874 --> 00:32:41,184
involved with this and doing the
possum rehab like you do, what steps
608
00:32:41,184 --> 00:32:42,994
would they need to take , to do this?
609
00:32:44,554 --> 00:32:44,974
Jenni: Oh man.
610
00:32:46,449 --> 00:32:48,069
There's several different ways now.
611
00:32:48,069 --> 00:32:52,359
There's a lot of different things
going on with wildlife and fisheries.
612
00:32:52,839 --> 00:32:55,899
I'm not a hundred percent
clear on a lot of them.
613
00:32:56,349 --> 00:33:00,639
I would say if you're interested
you can check out some of the new
614
00:33:00,669 --> 00:33:04,659
programs that are listed on the
Wildlife and Fisheries website.
615
00:33:05,239 --> 00:33:09,169
Like I said, I don't really know the
specifics of these things, but they have
616
00:33:09,169 --> 00:33:14,869
a rescuers program and they have a new
way now where you can obtain a license.
617
00:33:15,409 --> 00:33:22,079
But if you're interested in, what I do
specifically is I would, reach out to
618
00:33:22,079 --> 00:33:26,289
me or to another neo rehabber and just.
619
00:33:27,344 --> 00:33:31,844
Learn come shadow, come watch, come see.
620
00:33:32,064 --> 00:33:36,174
Just hands on I think is the
best way to learn anything.
621
00:33:36,684 --> 00:33:41,634
And if you are coming into this with
zero, like I did, that's how I did it.
622
00:33:41,694 --> 00:33:44,874
I just had to kind go and.
623
00:33:45,609 --> 00:33:49,489
Just visualize and see and, be hands on.
624
00:33:49,879 --> 00:33:53,449
I'm okay with doing that if
someone's really serious about it.
625
00:33:54,059 --> 00:33:58,739
So if anybody would like to
learn the tube or to take to care
626
00:33:58,739 --> 00:34:00,599
for Joey's, they can reach out.
627
00:34:00,709 --> 00:34:04,099
It varies with each rehabber.
628
00:34:04,149 --> 00:34:06,759
Each rehabber is different
with what they allow and what.
629
00:34:07,689 --> 00:34:09,339
They want or whatever.
630
00:34:09,389 --> 00:34:14,289
It depends on what you're doing or what
species you wanna do, that rehabber or,
631
00:34:14,339 --> 00:34:19,199
you would have to contact a different
rehabber for that specific thing.
632
00:34:19,299 --> 00:34:22,748
I'm open to helping people
if they wanted to reach out.
633
00:34:23,449 --> 00:34:28,009
To cover a few things, like I have a
supply list that people would need to
634
00:34:28,009 --> 00:34:33,576
have , before starting, which is something
I wish I had when I first started.
635
00:34:33,626 --> 00:34:37,826
' You wanna make sure you have the
supplies for whatever you're getting
636
00:34:37,826 --> 00:34:40,136
in to be able to care for 'em.
637
00:34:40,585 --> 00:34:44,876
So if people are interested, I can
help 'em with a supply list or.
638
00:34:45,231 --> 00:34:48,650
Maybe some different numbers
to call for different species
639
00:34:48,650 --> 00:34:51,141
or just things like that.
640
00:34:51,141 --> 00:34:55,460
You can visit the website to see if
there's a program that would fit better.
641
00:34:55,880 --> 00:34:59,791
I understand that everybody's
able to do tiny babies.
642
00:34:59,791 --> 00:35:02,281
So there's different things,
that would fit different
643
00:35:02,281 --> 00:35:04,291
people if they wanted to help.
644
00:35:04,291 --> 00:35:06,931
There's always something that they can do.
645
00:35:07,799 --> 00:35:11,549
Dixie: What is the biggest hurdle
that's currently facing opie Earth?
646
00:35:13,319 --> 00:35:17,134
Jenni: I don't really have, time
is, that's my biggest thing.
647
00:35:17,134 --> 00:35:19,264
I don't, I wish I had more time.
648
00:35:19,804 --> 00:35:26,854
But as far as in funding too,
but I know, like when I first got
649
00:35:26,854 --> 00:35:31,594
licensed, I had to sign a waiver that
I was responsible for everything.
650
00:35:31,594 --> 00:35:35,694
So I knew, right when I started
that I had to pay for everything.
651
00:35:35,744 --> 00:35:39,644
I just simply can't take anything if
I can't afford it, or if I don't have
652
00:35:39,644 --> 00:35:44,384
any funding or donations, then I know
I can't take anything, which is sad.
653
00:35:44,414 --> 00:35:45,784
But that's how it is.
654
00:35:45,844 --> 00:35:48,664
. I do get a lot of help
though, which is amazing.
655
00:35:48,724 --> 00:35:49,864
I'm so grateful for it.
656
00:35:49,864 --> 00:35:54,434
I have a wonderful community right here
in Ascension . They look out for me in the
657
00:35:54,434 --> 00:35:59,094
little possums, which is great because,
the possums are the underdogs, I think.
658
00:35:59,094 --> 00:36:03,054
So it's really amazing to see
how many people do support me
659
00:36:03,054 --> 00:36:05,434
here and do help me and all over.
660
00:36:05,944 --> 00:36:08,554
But I have to say no at some point.
661
00:36:08,674 --> 00:36:14,294
There's just not enough time in the day,
if I have 40 tiny babies here already.
662
00:36:15,404 --> 00:36:17,174
Saying no is so hard.
663
00:36:17,334 --> 00:36:18,594
There's just not enough time.
664
00:36:18,594 --> 00:36:19,854
I'm only one person,
665
00:36:19,904 --> 00:36:20,654
Dixie: definitely.
666
00:36:21,531 --> 00:36:24,771
How can people learn
more about opie earth?
667
00:36:26,811 --> 00:36:28,311
Jenni: I have the Facebook page.
668
00:36:28,746 --> 00:36:30,396
And that's actually my only platform.
669
00:36:30,446 --> 00:36:33,196
. But I try to be as transparent as possible
670
00:36:33,476 --> 00:36:38,016
I have a camera set up in my room and
I'll share, like the room pictures.
671
00:36:38,556 --> 00:36:41,106
So you can see how the process works.
672
00:36:41,226 --> 00:36:45,216
When I start getting intakes, I'll
do updates on each group or each
673
00:36:45,456 --> 00:36:47,986
intake and see where they're housed.
674
00:36:48,046 --> 00:36:52,556
And people can see where the
babies go and how they grow
675
00:36:52,556 --> 00:36:54,686
and what stage they reach next.
676
00:36:54,686 --> 00:36:58,646
Dixie: I'll include a link to that
in the show notes too, so that way
677
00:36:58,646 --> 00:37:00,326
people will be able to find you there.
678
00:37:00,326 --> 00:37:03,116
Jenni: I do try to keep on
top of it during baby season.
679
00:37:03,116 --> 00:37:06,956
'cause people wanna know, if they
find babies, they wanna know like how
680
00:37:06,956 --> 00:37:12,566
they're doing and see their care and,
see how things progress and everything.
681
00:37:12,566 --> 00:37:13,296
So I try to be.
682
00:37:14,361 --> 00:37:18,651
As transparent as that as possible with
that so people can see everything from
683
00:37:18,651 --> 00:37:20,931
start to finish and it's a long process.
684
00:37:20,931 --> 00:37:24,651
It's a long process for a
little tiny Joey's in rehab,
685
00:37:24,771 --> 00:37:26,370
Dixie: Thank you for
speaking with me today.
686
00:37:26,415 --> 00:37:28,725
I learned a lot about
possums that I didn't know
687
00:37:28,775 --> 00:37:31,075
Jenni: I appreciate you,
talking with me too.
688
00:37:31,810 --> 00:37:32,260
I love them.
689
00:37:32,650 --> 00:37:33,760
I love the little babies.
690
00:37:33,790 --> 00:37:38,590
I can't wait to get some and everybody
can see 'em and learn about 'em
691
00:37:39,750 --> 00:37:41,760
Thank you so much for having me.
692
00:37:41,760 --> 00:37:42,660
It was a pleasure.
693
00:37:43,007 --> 00:37:44,477
Dixie: That's it for today's episode.
694
00:37:44,477 --> 00:37:48,377
I wanna thank everybody for
listening and supporting us.
695
00:37:48,467 --> 00:37:52,577
If you wanna take that an extra
step, consider becoming a member.
696
00:37:52,817 --> 00:37:57,017
We just added this to our
website, animalposse.com,
697
00:37:57,257 --> 00:37:59,327
scroll down, look for the support tab.
698
00:37:59,377 --> 00:38:05,707
Our membership program is going to
help us directly support animals
699
00:38:05,737 --> 00:38:12,937
in need, whether that be through
vaccinations, food or spay neuter efforts.
