New England Opossum

We are so incredibly grateful to Smithland Pet & Garden Center for hosting New England Opossum this past weekend!

From the moment we arrived, their team went above and beyond, welcoming us with kindness, enthusiasm, and genuine support for wildlife education. It’s clear that their love for animals and community runs deep.

Opportunities like this make such a difference in helping us share the important role opossums play in our ecosystems, and we couldn’t do it without partners like Smithland who open their doors and hearts to us.

Thank you for not just hosting us, but truly championing what we do. We, and the opossums of New England are so lucky to have you in our corner!!

Thank you, Blue Seal Farm and Home!

We want to extend a huge thank-you to Blue Seal Farm & Home in Brattleboro for hosting us twice now (and counting!). We’re so grateful for the opportunities to meet the community, answer questions, and share just how incredible opossums truly are.
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Blue Seal, your support helps us continue our mission to educate the public about these gentle, misunderstood backyard heroes, nature’s tick-eaters, cleanup crew, and all-around ecological helpers.
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Thank you for welcoming us and for giving New England Opossum a space to spread awareness and appreciation for these remarkable animals.
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We’re lucky to partner with a local business that cares so much about wildlife and community education.

Have you ever wondered where opossums like me came from? Who are my ancestors? How long ago did I become, well, me?

Click here to read our latest blog entry:

How did I become me? Have you ever wondered where opossums like me, came from? Who are my ancestors? How long ago did I become, me?

Happy National Opossum Day! As you know, opossums are our favorite animals, here at the New England Opossum, and we’re thrilled to have a day celebrating them! Opossums are fantastic creatures, naturally resistant to rabies, immune to many snake venoms, and an important part of our ecosystem! What’s your favorite opossum fact?

We want to introduce you to Lucky. She is a senior opossum, around 2.5 to 3 years old, who came into my care late this summer, severely underweight and with an already healing broken leg. After the leg was fully healed, she was still underweight so I planned to overwinter her and release her in the spring.

On November 2nd, I noticed her eye was bloodshot. Within days, it was clear she was in serious discomfort and scratching at her face trying to find relief. My wildlife rehab veterinarian, Dr. Kelly examined her and scheduled surgery at the Windham County Humane Society to remove the eye, but once Dr Kelly and Dr. Cote began to prepare for surgery, we discovered the real issue—a large abscess above her teeth, just below the eye. Without intervention she would have died from the severity of the infection.

Dr. Cote successfully removed the infected teeth, cleaned the abscess, and treated her self-inflicted facial wounds. Vet Tech, and wildlife enthusiast, Jessalyn Pennington ensured Lucky was prepped for surgery and taken care of post-op. Lucky is now resting comfortably with both eyes, along with antibiotics and pain relief medicine.

Saving Lucky's life was made possible by a collaboration between the Windham County Humane Society, our Windham County Wildlife (Mammal) Veterinarian, Dr Kelly, and by Bonnyvale Environmental Education Center - BEEC wildlife rehabilitators.

A tremendous thank you to all involved!

It's awfully late in the season to see such little babies. Help us keep watch for other late season babies who may be in need of expert wildlife rehabilitation assistance.

Help us name three possum joeys currently being rehabilitated and in Patti’s care! Any famous trios out there? Snap, Crackle, Pop?

Some of our patients this summer.

Because we are local we understand the people, the wildlife, and the problems. It is our hope you will join us in our journey to make New England more opossum-friendly. Our marsupial friends, in turn, will help control disease, keep unwanted pests at bay, and help clean up our yards. This is nature's recycling at its finest.

New England Opossum is committed to promoting scientific and ecological awareness, we support organizations and charitable causes. We also grant scholarships to local students who are actively pursuing an understanding of nature and wildlife through science, art, writing, and research.

We believe that investing in the education of future generations can help establish a more sustainable and harmonious relationship between humans and the natural world.