When the phone rang at Raven Ridge Wildlife Center (RRWC) one morning last week, staff could immediately hear the panic in the caller’s voice.
The woman on the line had just returned home from vacation — and what she found waiting for her broke her heart.
“After calming her down, we learned that she had just returned from a week-long vacation to find a dying opossum trapped in her trash can,” RRWC later shared on Facebook. “She described a heartbreaking scene: the poor creature was swarmed by flies, and a terrible odor filled the air.”
The woman feared it was already too late. But she refused to walk away.
After calling several rescues with no luck, she finally reached RRWC — and the team knew they had to help.
Normally, they’d tell someone to tip the trash can on its side and let the animal crawl out on its own. But this time felt different. The woman was desperate to do the right thing, and the team could tell how much she cared.
So they asked her to bring the trash can — and its tiny, suffering resident — straight to them.
When she arrived with her husband, the sluggish opossum was still lying at the bottom of the bin, weak but alive.
“Opossums are among the most misunderstood animals on the continent,” RRWC wrote. “Contrary to popular belief, they are neither stupid nor dirty. They’re incredibly intelligent, remarkably clean, and serve as beneficial allies to humans and the environment.”
While they might not win beauty contests, opossums are nature’s quiet heroes.
They eat thousands of ticks each season, reducing the spread of Lyme disease, and meticulously groom themselves to stay clean.
They’re even immune to the venom of most snakes — and rarely carry rabies due to their low body temperature.
But they’re not invincible. Curious climbers by nature, opossums often tumble into tall trash cans and can’t escape — sometimes with tragic results.
Thankfully, this little guy was found just in time.
“Although he was dirty and had a strong smell, he was surprisingly in good condition overall,” RRWC shared. “After a few days of gentle grooming and nourishing meals, we were overjoyed to see him regain his strength.”
The opossum’s recovery was nothing short of miraculous. Soon, he was healthy enough to return to the wild — and the moment the team opened his carrier, he didn’t hesitate.
“It was a rewarding moment when we finally released him back into the wild, where he truly belonged,” RRWC wrote.
You can see more pictures of his release here:
He scurried away through the grass, free once more — a living reminder of the difference a single act of compassion can make.
“Embrace the opossum,” RRWC said. “Your yard will be better for it.”
To help animals like this opossum get the care they need, you can donate to Raven Ridge Wildlife Center here.
