Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Terrified Possum Terrorizes Bryant Park Subway Station
By
Ben Yakas
Published Aug 22, 2013
Modified Aug 22, 2013
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
Kurbis Esser
By
Ben Yakas
Published Aug 22, 2013
Modified Aug 22, 2013
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Possums riding the subway are nothing new—it's not like marsupials can afford a Citi Bike membership. One such possum snuck his way into the Bryant Park subway station this morning, and people freaked out: "People were screaming, 'ah! it's a possum,'" a police officer at the scene told the Post. "People got scared. It was pretty big."
Cops first spotted the little guy near Sixth Avenue and 42nd Street walking down the subway stairs around 8:30 a.m. Once straphangers started climbing on seats and running for the stairs, the possum was understandably frozen in its tracks. Officers from the NYPD’s Emergency Services Unit were able to corner and lasso the possum into a cardboard box.
“They couldn’t exactly stop and frisk the possum,” a police source yukked to the Post. “We don’t get these calls everyday.” The possum was eventually released into Central Park, unless it was released somewhere on Wall Street, which might explain the Nasdaq trading halt today. Hey, if a squirrel could do it, then a possum could definitely do it too.
Tagged
bryant park
manhattan
midtown
MTA
opossum
possum
scare
subway
train
Ben Yakas
Ben Yakas is a former Gothamist reporter.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Staten Island fire injures two, but spares historic 'Godfather' church
Dozens of firefighters responded to the blaze, which started in a vacant warehouse. It was contained within three hours.
By
Giulia Heyward
Published Oct 18, 2026 at 10:34 a.m. ET
Bail reform remains major issue in NY governor's race, 7 years after it became law
Repeat offenders are a big talking point in the governor's race.
By
Gino Fanelli
News
Bail reform remains major issue in NY governor's race, 7 years after it became law
Repeat offenders are a big talking point in the governor's race.
By
Gino Fanelli
NYPD searching for 'person of interest' in fatal Midtown subway platform shooting
By
Ryan Kost
and
Elizabeth Kim
Have you seen this Yorkie? NYPD looking for adorable pup dognapped from her Queens home
By
Ryan Kost
Being reigning champions is weird for Knicks fans, but we could get used to this.
By
Catalina Gonella
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .