PETITION TARGET: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
In a disturbing video, an opossum is seen approaching a peculiar structure resembling a giant slingshot. Drawn to what appears to be food inside a hanging pouch, they stand upright and climb in — only to be abruptly catapulted skyward when the mechanism is triggered.
After several seconds, the helpless animal slams into the ground with a loud, violent thud, the impact so forceful that their small body briefly bounces back into the air before crashing down again.
The video then cuts to a shot of the opossum slowly limping away, likely suffering from serious injuries sustained in the fall, according to online news. It remains unknown whether they ultimately survived.
This heartbreaking footage was uploaded to Instagram by a well-known YouTube prank channel, which added a text overlay reading “Opossum Launcher” and pinned its triumphant “W” comment at the top — making it clear the channel’s creators found the animal’s suffering amusing.
This innocent opossum, simply trying to feed themselves, may have suffered fatal or life-altering injuries, all for likes, views, and cheap laughs.
Sign our petition urging Florida wildlife officials to investigate this case thoroughly and refer it for prosecution so the individual responsible is held responsible for cruelly harming this vulnerable opossum.
