‘Saffron’ the opossum taken from owner by Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries

Kenny Lopez
·2 min read

NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — A local opossum owner is devastated after his pet was confiscated by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries in the French Quarter over the Mardi Gras weekend.

WGNO’s Kenny Lopez spoke with the opossum’s owner about the petition to “Save Saffron.”

To save Saffron the opossum, that’s all that William Voiles wants.

“I want to get Saffron back so bad. We are hoping we can get enough signatures on the petition,” Voiles said.

He’s putting all his hope into a petition in hopes the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries will give 1-year-old Saffron back.

“I miss him bad. I got him before his eyes opened, it is like having a newborn kid,” he said.

William’s pet opossum was confiscated by Wildlife and Fisheries agents over the weekend in the French Quarter because having exotic animals without a license is illegal.

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“When I got him, I wasn’t trying to break the law. I was trying to save a life because his mother was just hit by a car and he was no bigger than my thumb,” Voiles said.

Voiles went on to say, “I have been taking care of him. He’s healthy. I don’t see why it’s against the law to do a humane thing for an animal.”

Exotic animal veterinarian Dr. Gregory Rich owner of Avian & Exotic Animal Hospital said there’s a law for a reason.

“Having a wild animal out in the general public, you never know what’s going to happen. You never know if someone will be afraid of an opossum and hurt it,” Rich said. “The problem is here is the possum’s been raised by somebody, it’s not fit to go back into the wild. I’m not sure what’s going to happen to it from this point on.”

Still for Voiles, Saffron’s more than a pet, he’s family.

“I just miss his companionship. I miss him rubbing his head on my neck. It feels like he got kidnapped from me,” Voiles said.

Voiles said that he was issued a citation to appear in court. He’s also been told that Saffron was taken to Louisiana State University’s Biology Department.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries also confiscated a few snakes from the French Quarter over the weekend.

Back in March of 2023, a 22-pound Nutria named “Neuty” was confiscated by LDWF officials, but after public outcry, they later allowed the family who owned “Neuty” to keep him as long as they applied for a legal permit.

This Mardi Gras, “Neuty” was the Grand Marshal in the Krewe of Argus parade.

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