Campus opossums poisoned

Farmers Branch and Brookhaven Campus are both known for their parks and scenic trails, which share habitat with wild animals. As such, wildlife has always been a felt presence on Brookhaven.

During the week of Aug. 25, North Texas Wildlife Center (NTXWC) admitted “two critically ill young opossums from the Brookhaven Dallas College campus in Farmers Branch,” as reported in a locally-viral Facebook post. According to NTXWC, the opossums presented symptoms of poisoning at a time when rat bait boxes are being seen openly on campus.

“I thought it was really cute and I felt bad leaving it to fend for itself.”

— Jarod Villalon

Jarod Villalon, art gallery and collection coordinator for both Brookhaven and North Lake campuses, recalled it being a hot day when the young opossum ran between Brookhaven’s J and F Buildings. “I thought it was really cute and I felt bad leaving it to fend for itself,” Villalon said. His initial online search told him only to call animal services if the opossum was under 6 inches and although it was not, North Texas Wildlife Center had a visitor from Brookhaven campus for the second time in a week.

NTXWC’s initial post was shared in local Facebook groups, such as Farmers Branch, Texas Chatter and Farmers Branch Moms, both large communities with high engagement. The post garnered hundreds of likes, dozens of shares and backlash against the college for using rat poison as pest control.

Juniper Lumbley, Multimedia Director

September 21, 2026