Opossums
  One of the most fascinating creatures to share Long Island with us is the Opossum.  These nocturnal creatures occupy a special ecological niche as North America"s  only marsupial, and although we may only rarely catch a glimpse of a live possum, they are well adapted to rural and suburban life and are quite common.
  Being true marsupials (like kangaroos), they have a pouch on their abdomen to carry their young in.  The actual gestation period is only 13 days, and then up to 35 tiny babies are born and begin to slowly make their way to the pouch to fasten themselves to one of the thirteen life-giving teats.  Although 35 might be born, usually only 3-7 will survive.
  If a mother possum is killed while she has young in her pouch, the young may still survive for several hours.  The older and larger of the young may crawl out of the pouch and cling to her fur.
  If you find baby possums of any age and wish to help them, the following suggestions are important for your safety and theirs: 1) wear gloves! Baby possums have sharp teeth; 2) have a box ready!  Place the babies in a cardboard box with plenty of small ventilation holes  and an old towel or tee shirt for bedding; 3) keep the babies warm.  Remember, they've been in their mother's pouch.  Place an insulated hot water bottle in the box with them or set the box on a heating pad set on LOW; 4) call a licensed, trained wildlife rehabilitator or a veterinarian as soon as possible; 5) DO NOT attempt to feed or give water to the babies unless under specific instruction from a wildlife rehabilitator.  Baby possums eat an extremely specialized diet that is difficult to simulate  with household items.  A trained rehabilitator will have the special formula and feeding equipment on hand and will be more than happy to take them in for rearing and eventual release back to the wild.
  If you feed your companion animals outdoors and leave the food out all night, you may find that possums are coming around.  To alleviate the problem, simply do not leave food or food scraps around at night.  Possums are scavengers and will always come for a free hand out.  They can be beneficial in the garden however, eating slugs, snails and grubs.  They are fascinating, gentle and unassuming creatures.
  Possums are slow movers and are often hit by cars.  If you see a possum in the road up ahead, simply slow down until it gets across.  If you hit a possum please don't assume that it has been killed  - get out of the card and find out.  If it is dead, check to see if it is a female with babies in the pouch and if so, follow the steps listed above.  If injured but still alive, please be kind and take it to the nearest veterinarian for treatment or humane euthanasia.  Most vets will not charge for this, and it is more humane to have the animal put down than to let it die slowly on a stretch of road or to be run over and over again by other cars.
  Wild animals do not make good companion animals, and it is a violation of State and Federal law to hold wildlife for any reason without the proper permits.