Mardi Gras 2024 looks like a very long time ago. But the saga of an opossum named Saffron, confiscated by state authorities within the French Quarter during Carnival, continues for ever and ever.
At least the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has finally released more information in regards to the animal’s seizure and condition. The report is critical of the creature’s previous care.
During the Mardi Gras season, wildlife and fisheries agents were stationed in New Orleans to help the NOPD and other law enforcement organizations in keeping the peace. But on February 10, two LDWF agents returned to their more regular task of enforcing wildlife laws in Louisiana.
Near Bourbon Street within the French Quarter, agents spotted a man holding an opossum. Agents quickly confiscated the creature called Saffron. They claim William Voiles didn’t have the right permits to own a wild animal.
A Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries agent on patrol within the French Quarter during Carnival 2024.
As news of the confiscation spread, some in the general public felt that LDWF could have turned a blind eye to the violation, on condition that Voiles claimed to have rescued and raised the creature from infancy when its mother was killed in road traffic.
But to date, the agency has taken a tough stance, each towards Voiles and the press.
In the weeks after the incident, LDWF assured Voiles that his opossum was protected, but didn’t allow him to go to the animal or reveal its whereabouts.
The agency also withheld details of the situation from the media, insisting that reporters submit official public requests for more information.
NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune did so and recently obtained an LDWF incident report and a biological report on the animal that shed more light on the situation.
In this 2023 photo, William Voiles’ little menagerie of animals rode remarkably calmly through the French Quarter within the front and rear baskets of his adult tricycle. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries officers confiscated Voiles’ opossum named Saffron
The document shows that the possum didn’t bite anyone or pose another threat, even though it caused a minor sensation amongst passers-by.
“At approximately 10:56 p.m.,” the incident report says, agents observed “a small crowd standing around” Voiles. As agents approached, they observed a basket attached to Voiles’ bicycle “with a live opossum in the basket.”
The agents asked Voiles to “walk down the street to get away from the crowd” and “investigate the matter at hand.”
Officers asked Voiles if he had a permit to own an opossum, and Voiles responded that he “didn’t know anything” in regards to the requirement.
According to the report, Voiles told agents that he “found the opossum at a very young age and nursed it back to health until it became his pet.”
Unwavering agents cited Voiles for violating a state statute that prohibits the possession of a wild quadruped (four-legged animal) without a permit, as well as a New Orleans city ordinance that prohibits anyone from keeping “any wild or exotic animal as a pet.”
Agents also noted that “attached to the bicycle handlebars was a tip jar with an unknown amount of cash and a flyer advertising Voiles’ Instagram and Venmo accounts. The agents assured that “Mr. Voiles was accepting donations for any photos taken by the public.”
A tip jar photographed by Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries agents within the French Quarter on the night the Saffron opossum was confiscated.
It was unclear from the incident report whether accepting suggestions contributed to Voiles’ charges.
In a phone interview, Voiles said he does accept suggestions but doesn’t charge for photos. Voiles is an artist who creates woven fleur-de-lis ribbons and crosses. He explained that he accepted suggestions for his craft before he owned Saffron. He said his tip jar says “tips 4 treats” in case fans of his possum and other animals need to contribute to the animals receiving special rewards later.
In addition to describing the LDWF agent’s actions, the agency’s biologist added an examination report on the captured animal that criticized its previous care.
The report said that on the time of her arrest, Saffron was wearing “dirty clothing” – a miniature sweater – that was inappropriate resulting from the evening temperature, which ranged from the mid-60s to mid-70s.
Moreover, the biologist found that the animal was “unclean, underweight and missing hair in many places.” According to the assessment, fleas were present on the animal and “tapeworm fragments” were present in its faeces.
Saffron, a domestic opossum, was confiscated by authorities
The opossum was said to prefer canned cat food to the “standard opossum diet.” Not surprisingly, the biologist noted that the opossum “does not exhibit flight or fight responses, which would indicate long-term exposure to multiple humans.”
Voiles admits his former pet could have had fleas on it. He said he commonly gives Saffron within the flea bath, but didn’t give his pet the flea tablets he gives his dogs because he wasn’t sure the medication was protected for possums.
Voiles said he was surprised to listen to Saffron was underweight because “he was fat.”
Saffron, a domestic opossum, was confiscated by authorities
According to a biologist’s report, while under the care of LDWF, Saffron received a flea bath, flea medication and a dewormer for intestinal parasites. By February 21, the opossum was clean, freed from fleas and internal parasites, and was starting to just accept appropriate food.
The only clue to LDWF’s plans for Saffron is a note from a biologist shortly after Saffron was confiscated, stating that “with appropriate rehabilitation, the animal will likely be able to be released into the wild.”
For William Voiles, the hits keep coming.
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