Eight opossums in critical care as cold Arctic air grips Windsor-Essex region

As freezing temperatures continue, many in need, both people and animals, are seeking how to stay safe and warm. CTV Windsor’s Chris Campbell reports.

As extreme and dangerous cold air settles in across Windsor-Essex, local wildlife specialists are caring for multiple marsupials suffering with skin injuries.

Staff at Wings Rehab Centre in Amherstburg said on Tuesday they are treating eight opossums in their critical care unit with different stages of frostbite.

“Opossums aren’t meant to be here,” said wildlife coordinator Jennifer Dalley.

“They came from the states that are much, much warmer. They don’t have the hair on their toes. They don’t have hair on their tail or their ears, so they are easily exposed to frostbite.”

Dalley said the degree of frostbite varies for each, noting some have minor injuries while others are more severe.

“We’ll have to see what toll that has on them, whether or not they’ll be able to function back out in the wild,” Dalley said.

“Their tails are very important. So, if they lose more than half their tail, they won’t be able to go back.”

Dalley told CTV News it’s not uncommon to find opossums with frostbite at this time of year, noting it typically happens when the animal is forced out of an area it was finding warm.

“What you look for is the reddening of the skin, pale color, blue color, crusty looking ears. Crystals on their nose, their ears, darkening of their tail usually means that it’s starting to die off,” Dalley explained.

“When it’s cold, a lot of the animals are prone to suffering, right? So, create warm shelters for them. If you find them in your shed, don’t boot them out. If they’re under your shed, just leave them and let them move on their own. They’re just trying to stay warm.”

Dalley said if anyone comes across a wild animal that appears to be suffering from frostbite or hypothermia to:

• Safely contain the animal in a box
• Place warm towels in the box for the animal
• Place a heating pad under box
• Place a hot water bottle/rice sock, etc. in box
• Immediately call the wildlife hotline to get the animal admitted for treatment [phone]

DO NOT:

• Give food or water to the animal
• Submerge animal in warm/hot water

Signs:

• Pale / bluish-white skin
• Red or gray-tinged skin on the ears, tail, or nose
• Brittle / shrivelled appendages and stays cold to the touch.
• Pain in the ears, tail, paws, or nose when touched.
• Ice crystals in or around the nose.

Officials with the Windsor/Essex County Humane Society said calls for animal welfare increase with the cold weather, cautioning pet owners not to leave animals outdoors for too long in extreme cold.

“If it’s too cold for you, it’s probably too cold for your pet,” stated executive director, Lynette Bain.

“It can happen (frostbite) especially when we get that -15 C, -20 C degree weather,” Bain said.

“A dog left outside, their extremities, you think of your fingers and your toes. It’s their paws. It’s their ears. It’s their nose. If their belly is close to the ground, that is something you got to watch out for.”

She continued, noting the grayish tinged skin and if it gets puffy, red and swollen when your pet comes inside, it might be time to call the vet.

“Make sure if that does happen, slowly warm up your pet. Wrap it in warm blankets and take time warming up,” she said.

“Don’t feel bad if your dog can’t get outside for a longer walk. You can find ways to enrich them inside. Do some indoor play. You can Google some ideas on the internet. There’s puzzles and different games you can play with your dog, so they get some kind of enrichment while they’re inside.”