Carolina Wildlife Conservation Center’s (CWCC) phone lines were ringing nonstop on February 19, with calls pouring in about injured wildlife. From the hotline team to the transport volunteers, everyone was busy responding to emergencies — when one unusual call made a volunteer drop everything and rush to the door.
Facebook/Carolina Wildlife Conservation Center
A concerned caller reported an opossum’s head was protruding from a small hole in their roof, and she appeared completely stuck. CWCC transporter Sonia and her dad didn’t hesitate, instantly jumping in the car and racing over. When they arrived, they quickly realized the situation was even more complicated than they’d expected.
“An opossum had made her way into an attic where she then tried to get out of a tiny hole and got her head stuck!” CWCC wrote on Facebook.
Facebook/Carolina Wildlife Conservation Center
The opossum was fully trapped. She had managed to squeeze her head through the hole, but the rest of her body couldn’t follow. And each time she tried to pull free, the hole tightened around her neck.
Thankfully, she was still breathing, and the father-daughter rescue team got to work right away. After some careful maneuvering, they were finally able to free her. They quickly brought her back to CWCC’s headquarters, where they learned she’d been hiding an adorable secret.
“It wasn’t clear if she was injured, so the rehab team was asked to stay late for the emergency intake,” CWCC wrote. “Upon exam what do we find … [Sonia] and her dad had not only saved one opossum but rather an entire opossum family!”
Facebook/Carolina Wildlife Conservation Center
When the veterinary team checked the opossum’s pouch, they found a litter of joeys. It’s something they always do when examining an opossum, even if the aminal has sadly passed away.
In this case, discovering her babies was a reminder of why it’s so important for people to know that opossums in distress may not be alone. There could be more than one life that needs help.
“The last photo shows the location of an opossum’s pouch should you come across a deceased opossum — this is where to look for babies,” CWCC wrote. “Be the crazy person who stops to check opossum pouches!”
You can see more pictures from her rescue here:
Aside from some swelling around her neck, the opossum was doing well, and so were her babies. With a little rest and medicine, her prognosis looked good. And she luckily had a safe place at CWCC to recover.
After a long day of nonstop calls, the CWCC team was beyond relieved to add the opossum and her joeys to their list of successful rescues. The next day would likely bring just as many calls for help, but probably none quite like the one about an opossum stuck in a roof.
“[This] rescue case was something we don’t see very often (thankfully!),” CWCC wrote.
To help animals like this opossum get the care they need, you can donate to Carolina Wildlife Conservation Center here.
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