Random visitor gets way too comfortable at an airport gift shop causing quite a frenzy
A good day to visit the extended family.
A wild brushtail possum recently gave travelers quite the pre-flight surprise, making itself right at home among the stuffed animals in a Gifts & Souvenirs shop at Hobart Airport. This adorable marsupial was spotted on Wednesday, March 18, casually hanging out with its plush counterparts, causing customers to do a serious double-take while they were just trying to get some shopping done in Tasmania, Australia.
According to People, the furry visitor was filmed crouching comfortably on one of the shelves, blending in so perfectly that you might not have even noticed it at first glance. Liam Bloomfield, who is the multi-site manager at the Lagardere AWPL duty-free store, mentioned that staff first came across the possum around 11:45 AM local time. He told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that the possum looked “pretty comfortable with his friends there.”
Bloomfield also shared that the possum seemed totally calm throughout the whole ordeal, almost as if it was a seasoned traveler itself. Tourists, as you can imagine, got super excited when the possum eventually decided to leave the shop and started wandering around the terminal. “We had passengers here, there and everywhere, taking videos,” he said, describing a bit of a “mad rush” to ensure everyone, including the possum, was safe and sound.
It sounds like it turned into an impromptu wildlife viewing party right there in departures
How this little adventurer managed to get into the airport in the first place remains a “true mystery,” according to Bloomfield. However, a spokesperson for Hobart Airport offered a pretty good theory, explaining that with all the terminal upgrade work happening, the possum probably just made its way through from one of the construction sites. The possum possibly navigated a bustling construction zone, and dodged machinery and workers, to end up chilling in a gift shop.
Thankfully, this unexpected celebrity appearance didn’t cause any delays or disruptions for travelers. Airport management eventually escorted the possum out safely, ensuring it could return to the wild without further incident or souvenir shopping.
Interestingly, this isn’t Hobart Airport’s first wildlife encounter. Staff there have apparently had to rescue snakes and even a baby echidna from the runway in the past, showing that the airport seems to be a bit of a magnet for local fauna or at least a popular spot for all kinds of creatures looking for an adventure!
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