“He’s the cutest opossum I’ve ever seen.”
This week, a hospital administrator named Monica arrived at work in Florida to witness a strange sight unfolding on the sidewalk just outside. A wild opossum was wandering in tight circles, repeatedly turning without stopping.
Concerned for the animal, Monica called Elizabeth Azzarello from Little Bit Wildlife Rescue, who drove over an hour to help.
“He had probably been there for a couple of hours,” Azzarello told The Dodo. “Monica got him into a box, and the hospital’s security officer set up cones so no one would disturb him.”
Upon arrival, Azzarello feared the opossum’s circular behavior could be the result of a brain injury, but luckily, there was no trauma to suggest this.
“He definitely wasn’t hit by anything,” Azzarello explained. “There was no sign of injury.”
The previous night’s heavy rain led Azzarello to consider a different cause: water might have gotten into the opossum’s ears, possibly leading to an ear infection that caused vertigo-like symptoms.
After receiving care from Azzarello, the opossum’s condition improved significantly within just a few days.
“He’s doing great,” Azzarello shared. “He’s up and eating, which is always a good sign.”
Azzarello remains hopeful that within a few weeks, the opossum’s infection will clear up and he can be released back into the wild. But the experience has left a lasting impression on the wildlife rehabber.
“I’ve been doing this for years,” Azzarello said. “And he’s the cutest opossum I’ve ever seen.”