Quick Take
- An opossum found in Alaska had no business being there, and the question of how exactly he pulled it off remains to be answered. Meet the mysterious stowaway →
- Wildlife officials faced a genuine dilemma when they caught him, as his fate was far from straightforward. See how officials handled him →
Some animals, like birds or butterflies, make long migrations, often traveling hundreds of miles. While these are purposeful, sometimes there are accidental migrations. In these cases, animals may end up in extremely unfamiliar environments that they’re not suited for. One example is Meatball the opossum, whose origins are unknown, but ended up in Juneau, Alaska! Since they’re technically an invasive species in Alaska, the important decision of what to do with Meatball had to be made. Read here to learn more!
Meatball the opossum likely made a long journey up north before being discovered in Alaska.
©randimal/iStock via Getty Images
About Meatball
The story of Meatball is a strange one. The young opossum mysteriously found himself hiding inside a machinery shop close to the airport in Juneau, Alaska. Opossums’ normal range is typically throughout Central America and parts of the United States. Alaska is not typically a place where they are found. So when Meatball showed up, wildlife experts were a bit confused. It is thought that he was a stowaway on some sort of shipping container and, by chance, ended up way north. After being caught by animal control, Meatball was sent to the Alaska Zoo to receive care. This is where he still resides now as an educational animal for visitors to admire. Since opossums are not built to handle Alaska’s harsh climate and are considered invasive, Meatball will not be released into the wild. Thankfully, he is adjusting to his new home well and is even a local celebrity for his unique story.
About Opossums
Opossums, sometimes confused with possums, are native to the Americas. Possums, however, are found in Australia and New Zealand. Opossums live pretty much anywhere where food is available, including within cities, hence their affiliation with garbage cans. They are omnivores that eat fruits, insects, and even animal carcasses. While opossums have a somewhat negative reputation because of their association with trash, they are generally not dangerous. They tend to avoid conflict when possible, and even will play dead in dangerous situations. Thankfully, Meatball won’t find himself in dangerous situations like this anytime soon, thanks to his new home at the zoo.
