“Cake Bandit” Opossum Hospitalized After Inhaling an Entire Costco Cake
Imagine coming home to find a surprise guest – not a person, but a hungry opossum who has raided your dessert stash. That’s exactly what happened to real estate agent Kim Doggett in Omaha, Nebraska, when an unexpected “cake bandit” made its way into her home and devoured her entire Costco tuxedo chocolate mousse cake.
The Sweet Crime: A Tasty Surprise
Last Sunday, Kim Doggett stepped outside, expecting to find a quiet afternoon on her back porch. Instead, she was greeted by a surprising sight: her beloved cake, now on the floor, and a panting opossum sprawled out on top of it. Along with the wreckage of her cake, there were brown paw prints on her new beige couch, a clear sign of the mischief that had taken place.
Kim’s first reaction was disbelief. “I really thought he was messing with me,” she recalled her son, Hayden, telling her about the opossum. But when Kim saw the scene for herself, there was no doubt—her cake had been completely devoured by the sneaky critter.
A Viral Sensation: The Cake Bandit Takes Over
After the discovery, the story quickly went viral. People online couldn’t help but sympathize with the opossum’s sweet-tooth antics. Fans of Nebraska Wildlife Rehab, where the opossum was admitted for care, flooded their Facebook page with messages of support.
“We’ve all been there, girl,” one person commented, echoing the feelings of many who could relate to overindulging in cake. Another shared, “I’ve also begun to breathe heavily after eating an entire cake by myself. Maybe not Costco, but definitely more than once.”
The opossum, who became a social media sensation, was quickly dubbed the “Cake Bandit,” and the community rallied behind this mischievous animal.
A Close Call: The Cake That Saved the Opossum
While the opossum’s cake binge might seem like just a funny tale, it actually had a serious twist. Kim was concerned that the chocolate in the cake might be harmful to the animal, so she called the American Humane Society. The organization acted quickly, retrieving the opossum and transporting it for evaluation.
Luckily for the Cake Bandit, eating the cake likely saved its life. According to Laura Stastny, the executive director of Nebraska Wildlife Rehab, the opossum had an underlying issue—lead toxicity—which could have become fatal. It was only by being caught and brought in for care that the animal was diagnosed and treated in time.
“The Cake Bandit was lucky to have been caught red-handed,” said Stastny, “because it allowed her to come to our hospital and get diagnosed with what can be a fatal condition in wildlife.”
A Tasty Way to Give Back
In honor of the Cake Bandit’s viral fame, Nebraska Wildlife Rehab decided to make the most of the situation. The organization designed custom “Cake Bandit” T-shirts, which feature the mischievous opossum on the front and her rehab admission note on the back. Proceeds from the shirts help support the nonprofit’s mission to save native wildlife and fund future success stories like the Cake Bandit’s.
“We thought we’d celebrate the sweetest scandal of the week with a custom-designed Opossum Cake Bandit t-shirt,” the organization wrote on Facebook. “Not only does it support wildlife rehab efforts, but it also celebrates this adorable little cake lover.”
A Happy Ending: The Opossum’s Road to Recovery
Despite the drama of her chocolate cake feast, the opossum is expected to make a full recovery. After receiving treatment for both her cake-related binge and lead toxicity, she is being monitored closely and is expected to be released back into the wild by late March or early April.
Nebraska Wildlife Rehab remains optimistic about her future, with plans to return the Cake Bandit to her natural habitat once she’s fully recovered.
Conclusion: The Sweet Tale of the Cake Bandit
What started as a simple story of a cake-loving opossum turned into a heartwarming tale of recovery and community support. While the Cake Bandit might have stolen Kim Doggett’s dessert, she’s given something back—by bringing a smile to thousands of people’s faces and reminding us all of the unexpected joys that wildlife can bring into our lives.
So, next time you’re enjoying a sweet treat, remember: you never know when a hungry opossum might come knocking!
