A Texas woman from Dallas-Fort Worth had an unexpected surprise when she heard a sneeze in her home before discovering an uninvited guest hiding in her Christmas tree. Brett Ingram, a 29-year-old media marketing manager, shared her unusual encounter on social media, which quickly went viral.

Ingram told Fox News Digital that she was finishing up some work when she heard a soft sneeze. At first, she thought she was just imagining things, but then she heard it again along with some squeaking noises. Initially, she suspected that her cat had brought in a rat or that some small kittens had somehow entered her home.

Curiosity got the better of her, and she began searching for the source of the mysterious noise. After checking under couches and behind curtains, Ingram finally discovered the culprit - an opossum. Startled by the sight of the animal, she reached out to a friend who is a wildlife and rehab volunteer for guidance on how to safely remove the creature.

Ingram was concerned about the possibility of the opossum having babies in its pouch, so she wanted to ensure she didn't harm it. Her friend provided her with some steps to remove the animal from her tree and her home. However, extracting the opossum proved to be more challenging than she anticipated.

Wearing gloves for protection, Ingram carefully plucked each finger of the opossum from the branches, trying to release it from the Christmas tree. Despite its size, the opossum displayed surprising strength as it clung onto the branches. After successfully freeing the creature, it wriggled out of her hands and sought refuge under her couch.

Undeterred, Ingram persisted in her efforts to capture the opossum. She pushed the couch aside and managed to pick up the animal under her arm, similar to how one would handle a cat or dog. Although the opossum showed its teeth, it didn't hiss at her. Ingram remained calm and proceeded to set the opossum outside her door, safely releasing it into the neighborhood.

Having a deep affection for animals, Ingram wanted to ensure the opossum's well-being. She documented the entire encounter and shared it on TikTok, where it quickly gained popularity, accumulating approximately 6.6 million views. Ingram believes the opossum may have been inside her home for a few days before she discovered it, but she remains unsure how it managed to enter.

While the terms “possum” and “opossum” are often used interchangeably, they refer to two different species. Opossums are the only marsupials found in North America, while possums, with their furry tails, are native to Australia. The two animals have distinct physical characteristics, with possums having shorter, less pointed snouts compared to opossums.

Since posting the viral video, two weeks have passed without any further appearances from the opossum outside Ingram's home. She now keeps a close eye on her security cameras, just in case the creature decides to pay her another visit.