She had short legs, long claws and a longer-than usual short life.
But in her short life, Blossum the opossum served as a wonderful ambassador for the Florida Wildlife Hospital in Palm Shores.
Opossum’s are known for faking their deaths when threatened and terrified. But this time it was real, weighing heavy on hearts at the hospital
“She touched the lives of countless staff, volunteers, supporters, and visitors throughout her extraordinary life, and will be dearly missed,” the hospital said in a press release.
Blossum was the first-ever Virginia opossum ambassador in the facility’s 53-year history, with a short life but a wide reach in Brevard County, meeting more than 5,000 people at public events.
“I loved seeing people’s reactions at events when she would walk around on leash with a harness,” Tracy Frampton, the hospital’s director, said Tuesday via email.
At almost three years of age, Blossum surpassed the average lifespan of a wild Virginia opossum of about one or two years.
“In recent months, she had experienced several age-related health complications including weight loss, arthritis, and a weakened immune system,” hospital staff said. “Despite ongoing treatments, medications, supportive therapies, and close monitoring, her care team observed a continued decline in her ability to comfortably and safely engage in natural behaviors and maintain an ideal quality of life.”
Staff veterinarian and animal care professionals made the tough decision to euthanize Blossum.
“She spent her final days enjoying favorite foods, plenty of affection and enrichment, and the comfort of familiar faces,” the hospital said. “Her final moments were peaceful, as she was surrounded by her FWH family, including the first and last staff to ever care for her.”
From patient to ambassador
Blossum’s life as an ambassador began as a patient. She arrived at the hospital at a young age after a suspected predator attack in which she sustained bite wounds and injuries that resulted in the partial loss of her tail.
Virginia opossums have prehensile tails that like monkeys can grasp objects. That helps them in natural behaviors such as collecting nesting materials and climbing to safety. Without a tail, Blossom was deemed non-releasable, and became a permanent resident at the rehab facility.
“During her time as an ambassador, Blossum met more than 5,000 residents of Brevard County, influenced countless people online, and won the hearts of our FWH family of staff and volunteers,” hospital staff said.
“Her soft and gentle spirit offered a new perspective to this commonly stigmatized species, educating people on their ecological benefits and opened the conversation to how we can live in harmony with our native wildlife.”
About Florida Wildlife Hospital
FWH has been serving the Space Coast area for more than 50 years and is both state and federally licensed. Last year FWH experienced another record-breaking year with 7,644 patients being treated. FWH accepts native wildlife patients 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, and receive no public funding.
Want to donate to the Florida Wildlife Hospital?
To donate, visit the wildlife hospital’s website at floridawildlifehospital.org.Phone: (321) 254-8843Address: 4560 N. U.S. Highway 1, Palm Shores.Hours of Operation: 9:00 am – 4:30 pmAfter Hours Dropoff Available from 4:30 pm – 9:00 am
Contact Waymer at (321) 261-5903 or jwaymer@floridatoday.com. Follow him on X at @JWayEnviro.
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Blossum the opossum, wildlife ambassador, dies at age three
Reporting by Jim Waymer, Florida Today / Florida Today
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Jim Waymer, Florida Today | USA TODAY Network
