November 01, 2017
Bloomsbury University of Pennsylvania /Facebook
Bloomsbury University of Pennsylvania.
Officials at Bloomsburg University and the Pennsylvania Game Commission are investigating a weekend incident in which several young men, including at least one student of the college, shared photos of what appear to be abusive acts against a wild opossum.
Photos spread across social media networks early this week showing a few individuals dangling the opossum in the air, force-feeding it alcohol and kissing it. Another photo, withheld by media outlets in the Bloomsburg area, showed the opossum had been thrown in a trash can.
Abused opossum photos investigated by @PAGameComm, @BloomsburgU | screenshot via @PennLive @lehighvalley https://t.co/lu4hC5DRj4 pic.twitter.com/tF0OWs6DjW
— Kurt Bresswein (@kurtbresswein) November 1, 2017
Bloomsburg University released a pair of statements this week condemning the behavior seen in the photos.
The university told WNEP it had received multiple calls from people outraged by the images.
On Twitter, some expressed hope that the student and others seen in the photos face repercussions.
That Bloomsburg kid is gonna get in so much trouble all because he wanted to party with an opossum lol what a stupid idiot
— 🍁 Chris 🍁 (@SonofClem) October 31, 2017
@BloomsburgU hoping the students get expelled for abusing the opossum!
— Cindy Abood (@CaboodAbood) October 31, 2017
Investigators with the Game Commission said their case will focus on possible charges for possession and harassment of wildlife rather than animal cruelty.
