I would like to introduce you to a very special new member of our education team — Miss Scully, our juvenile Virginia Opossum ambassador.
On a late afternoon in June 2025, Miss Scully arrived at our centre in extremely poor condition. She had been found alone near a garage door, lethargic, dehydrated, and injured. She showed clear signs of a predator attack on one side of her face and appeared to have been picked up and dropped. She had a puncture wound under her chin, one eye swollen shut, and noticeable trauma to her forehead and nasal area. She was in very rough shape.
Much to our surprise and relief, she made it through the night and was affectionately named Miss Scully.
As she stabilized, she was placed with a small group of opossums of the same age from the same area. She grew alongside them until they returned from foster care for the next stage of rehabilitation. However, once separated from her siblings’ support, Miss Scully began showing clear neurological deficits. It also became evident that she has visual impairment and would not be able to survive in the wild.
Because she has been in care since she was very young and is comfortable around people, I applied to the Ministry of Natural Resources to have her designated as an Educational Ambassador. I am very pleased to share that this request has been approved. Miss Scully will now play an important role in helping us educate the public about wildlife, rehabilitation, and coexistence.
She is currently located in the educational trailer. In the warmer months, we will be building her an outdoor enclosure so she will have both indoor and outdoor spaces to reside comfortably.
Her feeding schedule and daily routine will be clearly posted above her playpen in the trailer and on the fridge in the main kitchen. Her designated social time is at 11:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. daily. Please ensure these times are respected to maintain consistency and reduce stress.
It is very important that her food, water, bedding, and pee pads remain in the exact same locations as shown in the photos below. Consistency in her environment is essential for her comfort and well-being, particularly given her visual and neurological challenges.
Please help us welcome Miss Scully to her new role. She is a wonderful reminder of resilience and the impact our work has every single day.
If you have any questions about her care, please reach out to myself or Crystal.
Debra Spilar
Executive Director and Custodian