A routine check of a farm animal pen turned into an unexpectedly adorable rescue when a content creator found three baby opossums hiding inside.
Rather than treating them like pests, she moved the tiny animals to a safer spot on her property.
What happened?
On TikTok, CatAleah (@cataleah) shared a video after discovering three young opossums tucked inside a pen.
As she carefully picked up each one, the rescuer said, "We're gonna put them in [this kennel] and take them somewhere safe." Earlier in the clip, she joked: "A bunch of angry opossums! Just kidding. They're not angry. They're just scared."
@cataleah RESCUING AND RELEASING THREE FEISTY BABY OPOSSUMS 🧍♀️ 👩🌾 #opossum #animals #wildlife #farm ♬ original sound - CatAleah
She later released the animals, and they scampered off. "I've chosen to keep this part of my property wild," CatAleah said.
Why does it matter?
Using the rescue as an educational moment, she explained: "Opossums open their mouths as a defense mechanism. They try to look real scary. When they're really scared, they play dead." That matters because opossums are often misunderstood and killed out of fear, even though they are typically defensive rather than aggressive.
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They are scavengers, and they also eat insects and other small pests, making them a valuable part of the natural balance around farms, neighborhoods, and green spaces.
Rather than escalating the situation, CatAleah kept the babies away from her animals and relocated them without harm.
What's being done?
After taking the baby opossums out of the pen, the creator released them in a safe area elsewhere on the same property. She had a place for them because she intentionally left the space alone.
Leaving brush, trees, and undisturbed ground creates shelter for animals that might otherwise end up too close to livestock, pets, or people.
If an animal is injured, orphaned, or sick, contacting a licensed wildlife rehabilitator is usually the safest move.
And if you want to support wildlife-friendly spaces in your area, take local action or donate money to climate causes.
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