Tattoo Shop Saves Baby Opossums in Sioux Falls

A mother opossum stuck in a window well behind Vishnu Bunny Tattoo and Piercing in Sioux Falls needed help, but her rescue came with an unexpected complication. When animal control freed her, several babies tumbled from her pouch without her noticing.

The staff at the tattoo parlor quickly learned that mother opossums don't realize when they've lost babies and won't return for them. Left alone, the tiny marsupials wouldn't survive.

That's when they called Deanna Leach at Keepin It Wild Wildlife Rescue in Jefferson, South Dakota. She immediately changed her route for the day and drove over an hour to collect the babies.

Leach runs the rescue with a clear mission: to protect and rehabilitate injured, orphaned, and displaced animals before returning them to their natural habitats. She posted updates showing the three Sioux Falls babies doing well, nestled in blankets and taking feedings.

The timing couldn't be more challenging. Leach's rescue is currently caring for an overwhelming number of baby opossums, all requiring around-the-clock feedings. The demand for formula has stretched her supplies thin, prompting her to ask the community for donations to keep the babies fed.

Sunny's Take

These tiny survivors remind us that help shows up in the most unexpected places. A tattoo parlor became a lifeline, and a wildlife rescuer dropped everything to answer the call.

The Opossum Society US notes that these North American marsupials face tough odds in the wild, with an average lifespan of just one to two years. Predators, including domestic pets and people, make survival challenging for adults and babies alike.

But stories like this one give these little ones a fighting chance. Christine Manika from KXRB radio in Sioux Falls shared the heartwarming rescue with her audience, noting that while mother opossums often can't retrieve fallen babies, these lucky ones landed in caring hands.

Leach shared an adorable video of one of the Sioux Falls trio yawning and choosing between burrowing deeper into his blanket fort or having a snack. Spoiler: the snack won.

The three rescued babies are now joined by seven other tiny opossums at the rescue, all getting the care they need to grow strong enough for release back into the wild.