As a full-time wildlife rescuer, Kim Titterington usually spends her days helping Florida’s reptiles. But last month, the founder and director of Swamp Girl Adventures Reptile Rehabilitation (SGARR) received a call about a trapped animal that wasn’t scaly at all.
It was a possum — and he was in serious trouble.
A concerned woman had contacted Titterington after discovering the helpless animal wedged upside down between two trees during a walk. She had tried to figure out how to help him but couldn’t safely reach him.
When she returned the next day, the situation had only gotten worse.
The possum was still stuck — hanging head-down in the narrow gap — and he looked exhausted.
“There was a pile of fur where he had been struggling for quite some time,” Titterington said.
Realizing how urgent the situation had become, Titterington rushed to the location. When she arrived, she quickly spotted the poor animal trapped exactly where the caller had described.
But now he was barely moving.
“It was a warm day, and the sun was directly on him,” Titterington said. “I was worried we might be too late.”
The stranded animal was a Virginia opossum, and it appeared he had somehow slipped while climbing one of the trees and become wedged between the trunks. Exactly how it happened was impossible to know.
What was clear was that he had been trapped for far too long.
Weak, dehydrated and exhausted, the possum had little strength left.
Even with time running out, Titterington knew she had to move carefully.
“The challenge was making sure I didn’t cause him more pain or injury while trying to free him,” she said.
Working slowly, she gently secured the possum’s head with one hand and supported his back end with the other. Bit by bit, she eased him upward through the narrow space between the trees.
The frightened animal snarled and squirmed as she worked, but finally the gap widened just enough.
With one final careful pull, he slipped free.
Both rescuer and rescued were completely breathless after the ordeal.
Titterington named the exhausted survivor Gilbert. Though he was finally safe, the little possum was still in rough shape.
“He was lethargic and disoriented from being upside down for well over 24 hours,” she said.
Titterington transported Gilbert back to her rehabilitation center, where she immediately began treating him for severe dehydration. She also gave him medication to ease his pain after the long and stressful ordeal.
For the first few days, Gilbert barely moved.
“He was very still and quiet for the first three days,” Titterington said. “Then he slowly began eating and moving more each day.”
Gradually, his strength started returning. Although he initially had a noticeable limp — likely caused by restricted circulation in his shoulder while he was stuck — he continued improving with rest and care.
Week by week, Gilbert grew stronger.
By the third week, Titterington saw something that made her smile: the determined possum had begun climbing again.
“The moment he was climbing on top of his den and moving around without a limp, I knew he was ready,” she said.
It was time to go home.
On release day, Titterington brought Gilbert back to a lush, wooded area near where he had originally been found. She gently opened the cage door and waited to see what he would do.
The answer came instantly.
“Gilbert was ready,” Titterington said. “Once his feet hit the ground, he was gone.”
You can see footage from Gilbert’s release here:
Without even glancing back, the resilient little survivor darted into the trees — disappearing into the forest where he belonged.
Titterington watched proudly as he vanished into the greenery.
She spends most of her time rescuing reptiles, but moments like this remind her why every rescue matters.
“It was a great feeling,” she said.
To help animals like Gilbert get the care they need, you can donate to Swamp Girl Adventures Reptile Rehabilitation here.
