BLAIRSTOWN – Rescued from a rusty and banned steel-jaw leghold trap in Paterson, though the past for “Luna” – a female opossum – was painful, her present and future are looking bright, thanks to help from the Wild Baby Rescue Center.

Luna was one of two animals freed from traps by an anonymous rescuer – the other a cat – with one of Luna’s front paws caught and mangled in the trap. Graphic photos supplied to the New Jersey Herald of both animals show Luna and the cat – with a rear leg caught – trapped in the leghold devices, their mouths open in the images. A third trap near the cat contained the skeletal remains of an unknown animal.

The rescuer, who risked their own safety, spent about an hour to extricate the young opossum and took it to the Franklin Lakes Animal Hospital for care. It is estimated the animal was caught in the trap for approximately 24 hours before the rescuer spotted her.

According to Caryn Shinske, a spokesperson for the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, the use and possession of steel-jaw leghold traps has been prohibited in the state since 1984. Shinske also said those who are engaged in trapping must be licensed through the DEP’s Division of Fish & Wildlife.

Shinske said Wednesday Igor Bulic, 61, of New York City, was charged in Luna’s case with three counts of unauthorized use of the traps and three counts of not having the traps properly labeled. The charges will be heard in Paterson Municipal Court. Shinske said the matter involving the trapped cat has been turned over to Paterson’s municipal humane police officer.

The opossum, who is approximately one year of age, was taken to the Franklin Lakes Animal Hospital, a facility that provides care to injured and orphaned wildlife, where she was treated before being transported to the Wild Baby Rescue Center – a facility that provides wildlife rehabilitation.

The rescue center is a not-for-profit facility, run by a licensed wildlife rehabilitator, Hope Kosch-Davison, according to the center’s website. More than 6,900 wild animals have been cared for at the center since 2004.

Davison said Luna, a name which means “moon” in Italian – a name she chose because the opossum is “magical,” has made progress in her rehabilitation. She is no longer in pain and was weaned from her pain medications. Her stitches were slowly removed, her amputation wound is healing well and she walks with a hobble. Luna is also gaining weight and enjoys eating both chicken and yogurt.

As Luna heals, an injured male opossum “Neville,” has joined the rescue center. His jaw was fractured and one of his eyes lost after he was hit by a car at the end of October. Davison said Neville’s recovery will be lengthy as his jaw heals, but he cannot be released until the spring.

“He (Neville) would not survive the winter with his food sources outside frozen,” said Davison.

Until then, Neville will enjoy life from the comfort and warmth of the rescue, with scrambled eggs, yogurt, applesauce, warm formula and other soft nourishment to allow his jaw to heal, Davison said.

Because of the damage to Luna’s leg, Davison is not certain if she can be released back into the wild, but said it is possible she could become an education animal.

“Enrichment is a big part of what we do here,” said Davison.

Teaching adults and children about the opossum species, which many do not know has a prehensile tail and is a marsupial or pouched animal, is part of the animal’s appeal. Davison said opossums are also beneficial in that they are known to eat ticks.

“She can be an ambassador for her species,” said Davison.

For more information about the Wild Baby Rescue Center visit: www.wildbabyrescue.org/