Their Mom Was Hit by a Car With Her Babies Still on Her Back. All Six Survivors Just Went Home to the Wild

Months ago, a mother opossum was hit and killed by a car on a road near Montesano, Washington. Her babies were still clinging to her.

Six of them survived.

On October 3, after months of care, all six were released back into the wild, and a police officer who started their rescue was there to watch them go.

Six Tiny Survivors

Opossum mothers carry their young with them, first in a pouch and later on their backs. When this mother was struck, her babies were still attached to her, the Montesano Police Department said.

Six of the little ones made it through the collision. Without their mother, though, they would not have survived long on their own.

One Officer Made the Call

Montesano Police Officer O’Connor contacted Twin Harbors Wildlife Center, a nonprofit in Montesano, which took the orphans in and began caring for them.

That one call gave six fragile babies a real chance.

Months of Rehabilitation

Raising orphaned opossums takes patience. Twin Harbors says caring for orphaned and injured opossums is a frequent task for the center, which also rehabilitates squirrels, birds and other wildlife.

Over several months, the babies grew from tiny dependents into healthy young opossums ready to take care of themselves, KIRO 7 News reported.

Back Where They Belong

On October 3, Officer O’Connor joined representatives from Twin Harbors Wildlife Center for the release. The same officer who helped them on their worst day got to see them walk off into their new lives.

It’s the kind of full-circle moment that wildlife rescuers live for.

Why Opossums Deserve Some Love

Opossums sometimes get a bad reputation, but they’re helpful neighbors. Twin Harbors notes that they play an important role in local ecosystems by helping control insects and other pests, including rats and mice.

If you ever find a hurt or orphaned wild animal, don’t try to raise it yourself. Call a local wildlife rehabilitation center or animal control, just like Officer O’Connor did.

Six little lives were saved because one person stopped and made a call.

Source: KIRO 7 News, October 16, 2026; Montesano Police Department.