However, rescuers arriving at the scene discovered a surprising and heart-wrenching sight: a litter of baby opossums clinging tightly to their late mother.“They were still holding onto her,” NWR shared in a heartfelt Facebook post. “She had been hit by a car, leaving them helpless without her.”The rescue team gently removed the joeys from their mother’s side, carefully placing them into a blanket-lined pet carrier. Though separating them from their mom was difficult, NWR staff knew these tiny survivors had a real chance with proper care.A Clever Plan for Comfort
The joeys were transported to NWR’s facility, where staff were thrilled to find the babies in relatively good health. Along with providing a specialized, nutrient-rich feeding plan, the team came up with a creative solution to replicate the nurturing environment the babies would have had with their mother.
“They’ve been kept warm and cozy in an incubator, complete with a life-size opossum plushie to cling to,” NWR explained. “It’s not the same as their mom, but it helps them feel secure.”The babies instantly bonded with their plush surrogate, snuggling into its soft fur and draping themselves over its back—just as they would have done with their real mother.“These little opossums are finding comfort in the plushie, mimicking the behavior they would naturally exhibit with their mom,” NWR shared.Thriving Under Care
A few weeks have passed since their rescue, and the joeys are thriving under NWR’s attentive care. Although they are not yet ready for release, the babies are growing stronger and healthier every day.“[They’re] cuddling with their pretend mommy,” NWR said in a video update on Facebook. “They’re doing wonderfully well.”The team at NWR eagerly awaits the day when the six joeys will be strong enough to return to the wild. Until then, they continue to cherish the heartwarming sight of the tiny opossums snuggled up to their plush stand-in.While the loss of their mother remains a sad reality, the NWR team is confident she would take comfort in knowing her babies are safe and well cared for.“We believe their mom would be happy to see her babies thriving,” NWR wrote.
The joeys were transported to NWR’s facility, where staff were thrilled to find the babies in relatively good health. Along with providing a specialized, nutrient-rich feeding plan, the team came up with a creative solution to replicate the nurturing environment the babies would have had with their mother.
“They’ve been kept warm and cozy in an incubator, complete with a life-size opossum plushie to cling to,” NWR explained. “It’s not the same as their mom, but it helps them feel secure.”The babies instantly bonded with their plush surrogate, snuggling into its soft fur and draping themselves over its back—just as they would have done with their real mother.“These little opossums are finding comfort in the plushie, mimicking the behavior they would naturally exhibit with their mom,” NWR shared.Thriving Under CareA few weeks have passed since their rescue, and the joeys are thriving under NWR’s attentive care. Although they are not yet ready for release, the babies are growing stronger and healthier every day.“[They’re] cuddling with their pretend mommy,” NWR said in a video update on Facebook. “They’re doing wonderfully well.”The team at NWR eagerly awaits the day when the six joeys will be strong enough to return to the wild. Until then, they continue to cherish the heartwarming sight of the tiny opossums snuggled up to their plush stand-in.While the loss of their mother remains a sad reality, the NWR team is confident she would take comfort in knowing her babies are safe and well cared for.“We believe their mom would be happy to see her babies thriving,” NWR wrote.
