Brookfield Zoo Chicago’s rescued opossum officially named Crouton after 12,000 votes

Brookfield Zoo Chicago’s rescued Virginia opossum has a new name: Crouton. According to a press release by the zoo, the name won after nearly 12,000 votes in a public contest, giving the young male marsupial a title that matches his small size and “flavorful” personality.

Crouton was rescued near Urbana-Champaign with four littermates and later rehabilitated at Oaken Acres Wildlife in Sycamore, as reported byWBBM Newsradio. His siblings were returned to the wild, but Crouton could not be released because he is missing fingers and toes on multiple feet, which makes climbing harder and limits his chances of surviving outside care.

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Why Crouton became an animal ambassador

The zoo confirmed that Crouton’s injuries made him a better fit for life as an Animal Ambassador than in the wild. Brookfield Zoo Chicago has also highlighted his role in helping visitors learn about Virginia opossums, the only marsupial native to North America, per the announcement.

Virginia opossums help ecosystems by eating bugs and decaying matter, according to the zoo’s information on the species. The animal also has a lower body temperature than many mammals, which makes it less likely to contract rabies than some other wild animals.

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What makes Virginia opossums different

Virginia opossums have five toes on each foot, and their hind feet include an opposable, thumb-like toe that helps them climb, the zoo’s website states. Their unusual hands and feet are one reason they are skilled at moving through trees and other rough surfaces.

The species is also widely misunderstood. Even so, its role in cleaning up dead material and insects makes it an important part of the food web, per the zoo’s website.

Brookfield Zoo Chicago said the naming vote turned a rescued animal into a public favorite, while also drawing attention to a native species many people rarely notice. Crouton now joins the zoo as a face for education about wildlife rescue and rehabilitation.