Last month, an injured opossum was brought to Cape Wildlife Center after suffering multiple facial injuries, likely from a vehicle strike.
Her condition sounded grim — jaw fractures, ocular trauma — the kind of injuries that can easily be fatal for a wild animal.
But from the very beginning, this little marsupial made one thing clear: she wasn’t giving up.
“Despite all this, she was able to stand and walk and was alert and aware of her surroundings,” her caretakers shared. “This quick assessment let us know she had a chance.”
And she intended to take it.
Recovery would be slow. Surgery and careful monitoring followed. Staff kept a close eye on her, hopeful but cautious.
Then one day, she made a move no one expected.
When caretakers arrived at her recovery room, they were met with a surprising sight: her kennel door was wide open.
And she was gone.
For a brief moment, panic set in. An injured opossum on the loose inside the clinic wasn’t exactly part of the treatment plan.
But thankfully, this wasn’t a high-speed escape.
In fact, finding her turned out to be surprisingly simple.
They just had to listen.
From somewhere nearby came the soft, unmistakable sound of snoring.
Following the tiny rumbling snores, staff discovered their runaway patient tucked away in a cozy hiding spot — fast asleep, as if her daring breakout had completely exhausted her.
The escape may have been unauthorized, but to her caretakers, it meant something wonderful.
After everything she’d endured, this little fighter felt strong enough to explore. Strong enough to move. Strong enough to be curious again.
“We’re extremely pleased with this mighty marsupial’s recovery journey,” the team shared. “After the surgery and treatment she’s been through for jaw fractures and ocular trauma, we love seeing her resting so comfortably and continuing to get better day by day!”
For now, her adventures are limited to supervised recovery. But if all continues to heal as planned, she’ll eventually be released back into the wild — free to roam, forage and nap wherever she chooses.
And hopefully, next time, her snores will echo through the forest instead of a clinic hallway.
