Alaska Zoo Welcomes New Opossum Resident 'Meatball'

The zoo's second opossum follows in the footsteps of the beloved 'Grubby'.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 12:49am

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An abstract, out-of-focus photograph depicting the fuzzy silhouette of a juvenile opossum peeking through a wire mesh fence, surrounded by soft, warm pools of golden light, conceptually representing the zoo's new resident and the public's fascination with quirky animal stories.The Alaska Zoo's newest resident, a curious juvenile opossum named Meatball, follows in the footsteps of the beloved Grubby.Anchorage Today

The Alaska Zoo has a new resident - a juvenile male opossum named 'Meatball' who was caught in a trap near the Juneau airport and brought to the zoo in Anchorage. Meatball is the second opossum to live at the zoo, following the popular 'Grubby' who died in 2025 after gaining national attention for stowing away and evading capture in Homer for weeks.

Why it matters

Opossums are not native to Alaska and are considered an invasive species, so the zoo's decision to take in and care for these animals highlights their commitment to wildlife rehabilitation and education. The story of Grubby also captured the public's imagination, demonstrating the appeal of quirky animal stories.

The details

Meatball was caught in a trap on Thursday near the Juneau airport and delivered to the Alaska Zoo on Friday by Alaska Fish and Game biologists. He is currently settling in and getting used to his new keepers, enjoying treats like apples and chicken-flavored cat food. The zoo's previous opossum resident, Grubby, gained national attention in 2023 when she stowed away in a shipping container and evaded capture for weeks while running around Homer.

  • Meatball was caught in a trap on Thursday near the Juneau airport.
  • Meatball was delivered to the Alaska Zoo on Friday.
  • Grubby, the previous opossum resident, died at the zoo in October 2025.
  • A documentary film crew from Seattle started shooting a feature film about Grubby in 2024.

The players

Meatball

A juvenile male opossum who is the newest resident at the Alaska Zoo.

Grubby

The previous female opossum resident at the Alaska Zoo who gained national attention in 2023 for stowing away and evading capture in Homer for weeks.

Sam Lavin

The curator at the Alaska Zoo who says they greatly miss their previous opossum resident, Grubby.

Georgia Krause

An independent filmmaker from Seattle who started shooting a documentary feature film about Grubby in 2024.

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What they’re saying

“Grubby was something special.”

— Sam Lavin, Alaska Zoo Curator

“Grubby really held kind of an Alaskan spirit. And just her running around Homer and evading people for so long just had people cheering for her.”

— Sam Lavin, Alaska Zoo Curator

“Our original ending was 'she lived happily-ever-after at the zoo,' but now we have an epilogue of the torch being passed.”

— Georgia Krause, Independent Filmmaker

What’s next

The documentary film crew from Seattle will continue filming at the Alaska Zoo to capture Meatball's arrival and integration into the zoo.

The takeaway

The Alaska Zoo's decision to welcome and care for non-native opossum residents highlights their commitment to wildlife rehabilitation and education, while the story of Grubby's national fame demonstrates the public's enduring fascination with quirky animal tales.