Photographer, social media star Matt Mathews: Opossum taken by the state was his ‘baby’

Matt Mathews

Birmingham-based photographer Matt Mathews and his opossum, Donovan. (Courtesy Matt Mathews)

Maybe he should have played possum.

Matt Mathews, one of the most sought-after boudoir photographers in the Southeast and a multiple time world-qualifying barrel racer, is also a fierce animal advocate and has spent years rehabilitating one of his favorite creatures: opossums.

Mathews has a huge fan base on social media, with over 56,000 followers on Instagram alone. Between showing his photography and making funny videos online, Mathews shows off his animals-- horses, dogs and cats-- and his “baby”, an opossum named Donovan.

Now, after Donovan was taken by the state on Friday, Mathews doesn’t even know if he’s alive.

“He’s my baby.”

It was Friday. Mathews was at work, getting ready for a shoot at his downtown Birmingham studio, when he got a call from his husband. His husband said there were four game wardens from the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division, three vehicles blocking the driveways, and they had a search warrant. They were coming for the four-year-old opossum.

“Why did you need four wardens? Why did you need three vehicles to surround my house, when I have one possum who is not doing anything wrong?” Mathews said.

A representative for the Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division did not respond to AL.com’s request for comment by the time of publication.

“What about the people who are poaching and killing endangered animals? What about people who are fighting dogs and chickens? What about the people who are starving horses?” he said.

Mathews said he is aware he broke the law, and he isn’t asking for Donovan back. “Yes. I know that its illegal… but, I have a heart. And I love these animals. I can’t just let them die if there’s something I can do to help.”

Mathews is asking for is proof that Donovan is alive and that he be taken to a reputable rehabilitation center in South Carolina called The Opossum’s Pouch Sanctuary. Mathews is willing to pay for the transport, and representatives for the sanctuary have agreed to take Donovan. Mathews said they have called the wildlife department, and have not been contacted in return.

Read more on Mathews here.

“But what was I supposed to do? Let him die?”

Mathews has been rehabilitating opossums for years and releasing them. He is not a licensed wildlife rehabilitation official, a license which he said the state makes nearly impossible to receive. He also said he doesn’t want to be a full-time rehabber—between his photography business and barrel racing, he doesn’t have time. But, he also will never turn down an animal who needs help.

“I don’t consider myself a wildlife rehabber. I rehabbed Donovan,” Mathews said. “He was my baby. He was a part of my family. I wasn’t taking in babies everyday… I took in Donovan.”

Mathews took in Donovan just after he was born, after someone who had taken him off the side of the road noticed that Donovan was having health issues and couldn’t walk. She called Mathews for advice, but then said she would probably just shoot the baby opossum.

Mathews immediately said he would take the creature.

“I know that I was in the wrong for doing it,” he said. “But what was I supposed to do? Let him die? I knew I was his only hope. I knew if I didn’t take him, he would die.”

Donovan was physically deformed when Mathews took him in, couldn’t walk and was missing an ear after his siblings had eaten it from being crammed in their small cage.

That was four years ago. Donovan still has metabolic bone disease, which Mathews treats. Mathews said Donovan only drinks water with a drop of honey; has a specific diet; loves low-fat strawberry yogurt for a treat; can only eat at a certain angle; and needs help using the bathroom. His eyesight is waning.

Laughing, he said he takes care of Donovan like he would an elderly family member.

“I can’t not help an animal that needs me… He needs me to survive. That’s why he was never released.”

Matt Mathews

Matt Mathews and his opossum, Donovan. Mathews is fighting back after the state took Donovan and won't reveal information about his condition or whereabouts. (Courtesy, Matt Mathews)

“They don’t have a voice. We are their voice.”

Mathews said wildlife officers who took Donovan said the state biologist would call and update him on the opossum, and that Donovan would be put in an educational facility. But, Mathews said the opossum wouldn’t do well in that type of setting, and he doesn’t believe that’s actually where Donovan is headed.

“They told me that basically to shut me up,” he added.

The Alabama Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries has not followed up with information about where Donovan will be sent, Mathews said, nor have they asked about his medication. Mathews is afraid that the animal has already been euthanized.

“Why would you just not call me?” Mathews said. “They could say, ‘let me reassure you, this is what’s happening, here is where he will be, here’s a photo to make sure he’s safe…”

Mathews has leveraged his massive social media following to call the Wildlife Division for answers about Donovan and wants to use his platform for change in how animal advocates can work.

“You want to advertise that you are an animal advocates, but you make it so hard for people to be (licensed rehabilitation specialists),” Mathews said about the state.

“No one wants to deal with it… so we’re supposed to let them all die. That’s not okay. That’s not right.”

When asked his message for the state division, this is what Mathews said:

“I would plead with them to let Donovan go to the Opossum’s Pouch (Sanctuary) and let him finish his days there. And, make it easier on regular people who just want to help wildlife… they make it so difficult that people can’t.”

“I know that they can’t give him back. I’m not asking you to give him back to me. I am asking you to allow him to be transferred to a reputable facility where he can be cared for and I can be updated on his condition until he dies. Why wouldn’t you do that?”

Mathews sighs, knowing he likely won’t get to hold Donovan another time.

“They don’t have a voice. We are their voice.”

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