Alaska doesn’t have opossums. However as of final month, Homer had a minimum of one — and its look ignited a flurry of pleasure in the neighborhood on the southern Kenai Peninsula.
The critter arrived about two weeks in the past, stowed away in a transport container from Washington state that was certain for Spenard Builders Provide in Homer, in line with Jillian Rogers, director of town’s animal shelter. Spenard Builders Provide employees known as the shelter after they found the opossum at the back of the container on March 30, she mentioned Friday.
A shelter employees member known as the state Division of Fish and Sport for recommendation. Jason Herreman, assistant space biologist for the Kenai Peninsula, suggested the shelter to set out traps to seize the opossum. Not solely are the marsupials invasive to Alaska, they’re not authorized to personal as pets, Herreman mentioned.
“The problem is that we don’t need invasive species within the state due to illness potentialities, due to the impact on native wildlife,” he mentioned.
In response to Rogers, the opossum was caught in one of many traps, however escaped. At that time, she mentioned the shelter ended its involvement and left it as much as Fish and Sport to take care of the invasive mammal.
Nevertheless it didn’t finish there. After posts on social media by the animal shelter and the Homer Police Division this week, phrase unfold shortly in regards to the opossum, and Homerites grew to become invested in — and closely divided over — its destiny.
Greater than 30 posts in regards to the critter have been circulating on a neighborhood Fb web page, Homer Communications, by Friday night. They ranged from lighthearted jokes, images and memes to public service bulletins in regards to the risks of invasive species, and the hashtag #FreeGrubby appeared greater than as soon as. The opossum has been christened “Grubby” by locals since one of many final locations it was noticed was close to the police division, on Grubstake Avenue, Rogers mentioned.
One social media person posted a flyer bearing a number of images of opossums, emblazoned with the phrases “Grubby for Mayor!” throughout the highest. One other submit itemizing a number of particulars about opossums started, “About Grubby … enjoyable info!”
Even a number of companies acquired in on the enjoyable. An area ax-throwing enterprise, Homer Axe Home, posted on its Fb web page providing a 20% low cost this weekend for purchasers who talked about the “Homer Opossum.”
Catherine Laky with AC/DC Electrical Provide mentioned she awakened Friday morning and was ingesting her espresso when she got here throughout the barrage of opossum-related posts on Fb. Then a thought struck her.
“Oh my gosh, we’ve got recreation cameras,” she mentioned. “Individuals are attempting to run round to search out this animal.”
So AC/DC Electrical Provide posted to its social media providing a flash sale on its recreation digicam when prospects point out “SaveGrubby.”
Laky mentioned she doesn’t know if all the thrill is as a result of the city continues to be within the throes of winter, or as a result of an opossum displaying up is such a novelty.
“General it’s simply been form of a enjoyable factor for everyone on the town to participate of,” she mentioned.
[How do you get a moose out of an Anchorage medical facility? Very carefully.]
Jennie Sellers moved to Homer only a 12 months in the past from Florida. When she noticed the posts circulating on-line, she mentioned acquired the thought to spice up her enterprise, the place she makes customized T-shirts, coasters and different objects, by providing “Free Grubby” shirt designs. Sellers mentioned she first posted on Thursday night, and fewer than 24 hours later she had 20 orders for the shirts.
“I’ll be busy subsequent week,” she mentioned.
The foremost issues with the opossum’s presence on the town, Herreman mentioned, are that it may go ailments to native wildlife and that it may prey on native birds. He mentioned the best-case state of affairs is that the animal is discovered and trapped so Fish and Sport can get rid of it, or that it dies by itself.
However loads of folks don’t agree with that evaluation.
“The neighborhood has change into fully divided,” mentioned Rogers, the shelter director.
For her half, Sellers mentioned she needs no matter’s greatest for the creature, however that she doesn’t need it to be put down. Rogers mentioned she’s been fielding nonstop calls in regards to the animal, together with from folks asking if it may be transferred to a zoo or rescue group. On the finish of the day, it’s below Fish and Sport’s purview, she mentioned.
Herreman mentioned Fish and Sport is just not actively in search of the animal, however will put it down if it’s discovered and turned in to the company. One other concern, he mentioned, is that it could possibly be a feminine opossum carrying younger.
“The very last thing we would like is to determine a inhabitants,” he mentioned.
The hubbub over Grubby hearkens again to a different animal scenario a number of years in the past that drew robust response from Homer residents. In 2019, the state Division of Environmental Conservation evicted a tubby cat named Stormy from the final retailer in Fritz Creek the place it had been residing, because the feline’s presence violated meals sanitation guidelines. The neighborhood instantly rallied across the cat and known as for it to remain, although it was ultimately re-homed.
The opossum’s arrival has impressed related enthusiasm in Homer. On Friday, one Fb person shared a picture that superimposed an opossum onto a well known Kachemak Bay mountain peak, and one other posted a poem about Grubby.
“Homer is a splendidly bizarre, quirky, infuriating, stunning neighborhood,” Rogers mentioned.