One day recently, Long Island animal rescuer John Debacker opened Facebook and saw a message that immediately made his heart race.
Someone had spotted a helpless animal sitting in the middle of a busy highway — and it wasn’t moving.
Without wasting a second, Debacker grabbed his keys and headed out.
The report came from a concerned community member in Long Island who had noticed a small animal stuck on the narrow median between lanes of fast-moving traffic. Cars were flying past on both sides, and the little creature had nowhere to go.
Debacker drove carefully through the traffic, scanning the road until he finally saw it.
There, right on the concrete median, sat a tiny gray fuzzball — an adult Virginia opossum.
The animal hadn’t moved.
Wildlife experts from West Shore Wildlife say that when an opossum stays out in the open like that for a long period of time, it’s often a sign the animal is confused, stressed or in danger. In situations like this, calling a wildlife rehabilitator is often the safest option.
Luckily, the right person was already on the way.
Debacker pulled over as safely as he could and stepped out, carefully making his way toward the median while cars rushed past on either side.
To his relief, the drivers around him understood what he was doing.
“Everyone was understanding,” Debacker said. “No one honked.”
With traffic slowing just enough, he approached the frightened animal and gently scooped him up using a towel.
You can watch the rescue unfold in a video here:
Within moments, the little opossum was safely off the highway.
Debacker checked him over for injuries right there on the roadside. Amazingly, the tiny traveler appeared completely unharmed — just shaken from his terrifying experience.
Instead of leaving him near the road, Debacker drove the opossum to a nearby park where trees, grass and quiet replaced the roar of traffic.
When he opened the towel, the animal hesitated for a moment.
Then he scurried off into the greenery, disappearing safely into the wild where he belonged.
Watching him go, Debacker felt the familiar mix of relief and satisfaction that comes with wildlife rescues.
“Highway rescues are always nerve-wracking at first,” he said. “But it’s a great feeling after it’s done.”
Thanks to one observant neighbor — and a rescuer willing to brave traffic — a tiny life that could have been lost on the highway is now back where it belongs.
To keep up with Debacker's rescues, you can follow him on Facebook.
