He had to act fast.
Not long ago, Long Island animal rescuer John Debacker opened Facebook to find an urgent message from a concerned local. Someone had spotted a vulnerable animal stranded in the middle of a heavily traveled highway.
Debacker didn’t waste a second. He jumped into his car and headed straight for the location.
Battling dense traffic, he carefully scanned the roadway until he spotted the animal — an adult opossum sitting on the narrow median. He immediately pulled over and prepared to help.
The tip from the community member was crucial. According to wildlife experts at West Shore Wildlife, when an opossum remains exposed in one spot for too long, it’s often a sign that something is wrong, and contacting a licensed wildlife rescuer is the safest course of action.
Despite the steady flow of cars, Debacker was able to reach the opossum without incident.
“People were incredibly patient,” he told The Dodo. “No one honked or caused a scene.”
Using a towel, Debacker gently but confidently secured the opossum and moved him out of harm’s way. After checking the animal over and finding no visible injuries, he transported him to a quiet park well away from traffic.
Once released, the opossum quickly disappeared into the greenery.
As Debacker watched the animal safely return to the wild, the tension of the rescue melted away.
“Rescues on highways always get your adrenaline going,” he said. “But once it’s over, the relief is incredible.”