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Suspicious LA Zoo package turns out to be an opossum
A rescued baby opossum is weighed at the Pelican Harbor Seabird Station in Miami, Florida, May 20 2016.
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RHONA WISE/AFP/Getty Images
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Fear turned to confusion turned to "awww..." at the Los Angeles Zoo on Saturday.
At around 9:30 a.m., security officers noticed a suspicious package left at the zoo’s front gate. They notified the Los Angeles Police Department. After assessing the package, police officers called in the bomb squad.
The public and zoo staffers were asked to move back a safe distance and relocate their cars to the far North parking lot.
The bomb squad identified the contents of the package to be a live, adult opossum.
The L.A. Zoo was opened to the public at 11:30 a.m. and offered free admission and free parking for the rest of the day.
In a Facebook post, zoo officials said: "The opossum, which appeared to be healthy, was relocated to the zoo’s health center, and will be released."
And now, a PSA: If you have an animal that needs a home, don't just dump it at the zoo —or anywhere else. Contact L.A. Animal Services, the county's Department of Animal Care and Control or your local animal shelter.
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