Possum Hides Among Stuffed Animals at Australian Airport

A live brushtail possum was discovered Wednesday hiding amongst plush toys in the gift shop at Hobart Airport in Tasmania, Australia, prompting a brief but unusual security situation. Airport staff safely removed the animal from the terminal without harm, according to Liam Bloomfield, retail manager at Hobart Airport.

The discovery was first made by a passenger who alerted staff after spotting the possum nestled among stuffed kangaroos, dingoes, and Tasmanian devils. “A passenger reported it to one of the staff members on shift who couldn’t quite believe what she was hearing,” Bloomfield told the Associated Press. “She then called the (airport) management and said we’ve got a possum in the store.”

Hobart Airport took to Facebook to share the story, posting a photo and asking, “Can you spot the imposter?” The post described the possum as a “cheeky lost possum” who had found a “clever hiding place among the Aussie plushies.”

Bloomfield speculated the possum was attempting to blend in with its surroundings. “I’m imaging it saw some of the plush animals that were for sale on the shelf and it decided to make its home with those,” he joked. “It wanted to blend in.”

The incident drew amusement from social media users, with many commenting on the possum’s ingenuity. Some questioned how the animal gained access to the airport, while others joked about its potential purchase price. According to reporting from Oklahoma City Fox, commenters asked, “How much is it?” and “How did he get through security?”

Bloomfield indicated the airport intends to commemorate the event. “We’ll have a little shrine to the possum,” he told The Independent. “There will be a nice little photo; once it gets a name, we will put a nice little post in front of the store to make sure it’s remembered.” The area where the possum was found has been cleaned, the airport confirmed.