Opossum Rescued from Michigan’s Mighty Mackinac Bridge

Why did the opossum cross the Mackinac Bridge? I’m not entirely sure, but Michigan’s longest, scariest stretch of bridge just got a surprise visit from one brave (and slightly confused) furry friend.

On Thursday, May 29th, a motorist crossing the Mighty Mac spotted the furry daredevil trotting along the bridge and quickly alerted authorities. And thank goodness they did—because the Mackinac Bridge isn’t exactly the safest place for a slow-moving rodent to hang out.

Cue the rescue mission.

In a heartwarming team effort, staff from the Mackinac Bridge Authority (MBA) and deputies from the Mackinac County Sheriff’s Department came together to safely wrangle the critter.

According to the MBA, the opossum was hiding out in a nook along the bridge (maybe trying to enjoy the view?) Then, eventually, it was seen sprinting down the bridge’s sidewalk before being gently secured in a crate by a smiling deputy.

It was “relocated” to the south end of the bridge, where hopefully it’ll stick to wooded paths and avoid engineering marvels going forward.

Let this be a reminder: even the toughest among us can get stuck sometimes. And when we do, a little teamwork (and maybe a deputy with a crate) can go a long way.

Up Next: 5 Michigan pests and natural ways to get rid of them ⬇️

Drive safe, and keep an eye out. You never know who you’ll meet on the Mackinac Bridge.