A tiny stowaway turned an ordinary day at a Tennessee fire station into an unexpected animal rescue mission after a stray baby opossum was found tucked inside a fire truck engine.
The little animal made it out safely — and gave firefighters and neighbors a story to smile about, according to WKRN.
Here's what to know
In Columbia, Tennessee, a baby opossum was pulled from the engine compartment of a fire truck.
Columbia Fire & Rescue shared the episode on Facebook in an Aug. 13 post, including a photo of the animal with its rescuer, Fire Lt. Matthew Langford.
"This little baby possum found itself in quite the predicament," the agency wrote. "Columbia Fire & Rescue is always here to answer the call for help, even when it comes in as a hiss!"
Langford admitted that the encounter caught him off guard, too.
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"We have the same expression," said Langford. "I think we were equally surprised to see each other."
People in the community praised the rescue, while Langford's crewmates gave him some lighthearted ribbing.
"Lt. Langford really is a helpful little critter," crewmate and firefighter Owen Summers joked.
More background
As small and scrappy as they are, baby opossums can easily end up in dangerous spots while searching for shelter or warmth.
An engine compartment may seem protected, but it can quickly become deadly if a vehicle is started before the animal is found.
Wildlife often ends up sharing human spaces in unexpected ways, especially in towns and neighborhoods where animals move between wooded areas, roads, and buildings.
Opossums play a useful role in local ecosystems.
As scavengers, they help clean up organic waste and eat insects and other pests, making them an important part of the natural balance in many communities.
In this case, the rescue spared the opossum from harm and prevented a potentially upsetting situation for the crew.
What's being done?
Columbia Fire & Rescue's post showed that public service sometimes includes helping animals in distress, not just responding to emergencies involving people or property.
Small creatures can hide in wheel wells, under hoods, or in other tight spaces that feel safe to them.
For anyone who finds wildlife trapped in a dangerous place, the safest course of action is usually to call local animal control, a wildlife rehabilitator, or emergency responders if the situation is urgent.
That can reduce the risk of injury for both the animal and the person trying to help.
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