“It was one of the most fun, funniest rescues I’ve ever done.”
Staff members at Kayo Boxing arrived at work recently to find their office completely turned upside down.
Papers were scattered across the floor, desks had been disturbed and the room looked like it had been ransacked overnight.
At first, no one knew what had caused the mess. But after searching the room, they quickly discovered the unexpected culprit — a sleepy Virginia opossum curled up comfortably on a folder in the corner.
Calling in a Wildlife Expert
Unsure how to safely handle the surprise guest, the gym staff contacted local animal rescuer Karenlynn Stracher for help.
Stracher was already assisting with another rescue at the time, so she advised the staff to keep a safe distance and make sure the animal remained calm until she could arrive.
When she finally reached the gym, she found the opossum surprisingly relaxed — even with boxing classes continuing nearby.
According to Stracher, the animal seemed completely unbothered by the activity around him and had simply fallen asleep.
Meet “Champ”
Stracher decided to give the unexpected visitor a fitting name: Champ.
She gently wrapped the opossum in a blanket and carried him through the gym toward the exit. As she walked across the training floor, the boxers paused their workout to watch the unusual scene.
Stracher later joked that the class split in two so she and the opossum could pass through — “like the Red Sea.”
Back to the Wild
After a few quick photos and plenty of laughs, Stracher transported Champ to a nearby park.
There, she carefully placed him on the grass and watched as he happily scampered away into the wild.
The unusual rescue turned what started as a confusing morning into a memorable and funny experience for everyone involved.
For Stracher, it was one of the most entertaining wildlife calls she’s ever handled — and for Champ, it was just another strange adventure before heading safely back home.