A Litter of Opossum Babies Thrive With Help from a Plush Surrogate
Last month, Newhouse Wildlife Rescue (NWR) responded to what initially seemed like a routine call: an opossum had been fatally struck by a car. However, when rescuers arrived on the scene, they discovered something unexpected—a litter of tiny baby opossums clinging to their deceased mother, refusing to let go.
“The babies were still holding on to her,” NWR wrote in a heartwarming Facebook post. “She had been hit by a car, and they were helpless without her.”
With great care, the rescue team gently detached the tiny joeys from their mother’s body, wrapping them in a blanket-lined pet carrier. Though the situation was heartbreaking, the team knew that these babies still had a chance at survival. Their next steps would be crucial in ensuring that the little ones could thrive.

Once back at the NWR facility, the staff were pleased to find that, despite their ordeal, all the joeys were in relatively good health. The team quickly devised a comprehensive care plan that included a nutritious feeding schedule. However, they also recognized the need to provide the emotional comfort that the babies had lost with their mother.

To address this, the staff placed a life-sized plush opossum in the incubator with the joeys. While it wasn't their real mother, it would give the babies something familiar to cling to—an important part of their natural development.
“They’ve been snuggling up to the plush opossum as if it were their real mom,” NWR shared. “It’s not quite the same, but it helps them feel secure.”
The opossum joeys took to their new, soft "mom" immediately, draping themselves across the plush’s back and nuzzling into its fur, simulating the closeness they would have had with their real mother.
“These baby opossums love being able to simulate what they would have been doing with their mother if they weren’t orphans,” NWR wrote in a Facebook update.
Weeks later, the little opossums are thriving under NWR’s care. They’re growing stronger each day, although they’re not yet ready for release into the wild. Until then, the staff is content to watch their adorable interactions with their plush mom.
“They’re cuddling with their new pretend mommy and doing very, very well,” NWR shared in a recent video update.
The NWR team is looking forward to the day when these six resilient joeys are healthy and strong enough to return to their natural habitat. But in the meantime, they’ll continue providing the best care possible—and soaking up the heartwarming sight of the babies bonding with their stuffed opossum.
Though the late mother opossum can’t be there to see her babies grow, the NWR staff believes she would be proud of how her little ones are being cared for.
“We know their mom would be so happy to know her babies are safe and thriving,” NWR wrote.
If you’d like to support Newhouse Wildlife Rescue and their efforts to care for animals like these opossum joeys, you can donate here.