Help name Brookfield Zoo Chicago’s newest Animal Ambassador
Public invited to vote on the name of a rescued Virginia opossum now through August 3
Brookfield, IL—A new furry face is preparing to join Brookfield Zoo Chicago’s Animal Ambassador group, but there’s one important detail still missing: a name. The Zoo is inviting the public to help choose the name for a young, rescued male Virgina opossum (Didelphis virginiana) currently acclimating to his new home near the Hamill Family Play Zoo.
The future Animal Ambassador was rescued as a joey in the Urbana-Champaign area alongside four littermates. Following rehabilitation at Oaken Acres Wildlife in Sycamore, his siblings were successfully released back into the wild. However, missing fingers and toes on multiple feet left him unable to climb as effectively, impacting his ability to survive in the wild. He has now found a home at Brookfield Zoo Chicago, where guests will soon have an opportunity to meet him while learning more about Illinois’ only native marsupial.
“Every Animal Ambassador has an important role in helping guests connect with wildlife, and this opossum already has an incredible story to share,” said Jennifer McGee, director of wildlife experiences at Brookfield Zoo Chicago. “Many people may have seen an opossum in their neighborhood but may not realize how important they are to healthy ecosystems. We’re excited to help guests learn more about this often-misunderstood species and invite our community to be part of his story by helping choose his name.”
Community members can cast their vote now through August 3 while visiting the Zoo and online at brookfieldzoo.org/animals/virginia-opossum. Guests who vote at the Zoo can pick up a special opossum sticker from the North Gate or South Gate Market, while supplies last.
The Zoo’s Wildlife Experiences team, which cares for the rescued opossum, identified four potential names that best fit his emerging personality:
Crouton – a reflection of his small size and big personality
Fig – inspired by one of nature’s small but mighty fruits
Garbanzo – a fitting choice for his adorable bean-shaped eyes
Vincent – a tribute to famed painter Vincent Van Gogh and a nod to the opossum’s distinctive ear, which was injured prior to his rescue
Virginia opossums are the only marsupial native to North America and play a key role in maintaining healthy ecosystems. As opportunistic omnivores, they help clean up bugs and decaying matter. While opossums are commonly known to hiss, flee or even “play dead” when startled, a lesser known fact is that these nocturnal creatures are far less susceptible to rabies than many other mammals due in part to their lower body temperature.
Guests will be able to visit the new Animal Ambassador in his outdoor habitat at the Hamill Family Play Zoo and during Animals Up Close sessions at the Nature Stage. The best way to learn what’s new at the Zoo—including being the first to know the opossum’s name—is to follow Brookfield Zoo Chicago on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X and TikTok
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Media Note: B-roll and photos are available for download here, with credit to “© Brookfield Zoo Chicago” for media use only. Journalists interested in interviews and photo opportunities should contact Zoo PR Manager Megan Pellock at megan.pellock@brookfieldzoo.org.
About Brookfield Zoo Chicago: Connect. Care. Conserve. Since 1934, Brookfield Zoo Chicago has been a global leader in animal well-being and conservation, inspiring conservation leadership by connecting people with wildlife and nature. The Zoo is a private nonprofit organization that operates on 235 acres of land owned by the Forest Preserves of Cook County and is home to more than 3,500 animals representing over 500 species—including many of Earth’s most endangered. Brookfield Zoo Chicago was the first zoo in the world to be Humane Certified™ by the American Humane Society for the care and welfare of its animals, and is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums, and ArbNet. For more information, visit www.brookfieldzoo.org or follow @BrookfieldZoo on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and Threads.
