As North America’s only native marsupials, opossums have a lot to teach us, which is why Carmen Smith, Best Friends’ licensed wildlife rehabilitator and educator, was happy to accept two male juveniles into Best Friends’ wildlife education program.

The opossums were discovered at a state wildlife reserve near St. George, Utah, about 80 miles west of Best Friends. They were in a cage, indicating that someone had tried raising the pair and then decided to dump them. (Please note: Wild animals are best left in the wild! Visit our online resource library to learn more.)

Officials at the reserve tried to place them in a zoo rather than release them back into the wild, since they would have a good deal of trouble surviving without their mother. But no zoos had room, and so the officials turned to Best Friends.

One of the factors that made taking the two a no-brainer for Carmen is that although they are happiest in the wild, opossums like these are highly trainable (they can even be trained to use a litter box). They are also very amenable to being handled and delightfully congenial. Already, they’ve won the hearts of the staff in the Wild Friends office, which is currently their home.

A lot of people think of opossums as pests, and Carmen wants to give visitors a new perspective on these animals. “Opossums are an important ingredient in any ecosystem, and are vital for rodent control,” Carmen says.

A common misconception about opossums is that they are related to rats. Not true. As marsupials, they are related to kangaroos, koalas and other animals who raise their young in pouches. And they’re an ancient species, dating back to the time of the dinosaurs. Their hairless, prehensile tails, which they use to grasp objects, is a rather strong reminder of how ancient the species is.

The two opossums are incredibly curious. When they’re not snoozing (which they do quite often), they are scooting behind boxes and desks and crawling on bookshelves and into tight spaces just to have a whiff and a feel. Having been cleared of all parasites, the two are ready to be held and loved on by those who visit Wild Friends, the wildlife rehabilitation and education center at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary.

Plans for their care include building a special indoor enclosure for them with a little door leading outside to a “possumery.” Carmen and the rest of the staff at Wild Friends will monitor their diets closely so these rather lethargic creatures don’t overeat and gain too much weight.

Story by Ted Brewer
Photo by Sarah Ause

Name the opossums! The two young possums have yet to be named. If you have any ideas, Wild Friends would love to hear from you. Please send your suggestions to wild@bestfriends.org before March 18th.

May 15, 2009 : 1:57 PM ET
posted by: horsey55

It's probably too late, but how about Gidney and Cloid?

March 30, 2009 : 2:21 PM ET
posted by: Alyx

Oh they are so cute. I hate when people say they are ugly....whenever I suspect there is a opposum in my garden at night I try to put out some leftovers. Animals in the city have such a tuff time of it.

The first names that came to my mind where Ham and Harry..

then I thought of Frank and Harry...

simple names for the visitors and staff to call them to dinner etc.....

March 27, 2009 : 12:26 PM ET
posted by: jennie.wiseman

How about Pete and Treat?

I rescued a little opossum at our home last summer. His momma was killed and he was staying right next to her. I got him into a box with a little cat food and out to our wildlife area and the rangers there. I think they are sort of cute.

March 27, 2009 : 9:02 AM ET
posted by: DawnandAnsley

Ansley likes the names Tyler and Trevor. They're so cute! :)

March 25, 2009 : 10:16 AM ET
posted by: JoannH

They are very sweet looking little guys. My name suggestion would be Sugar and Spice.

Joann Haynes

March 23, 2009 : 9:04 PM ET
posted by: leaann

How about Simon and Garfunkel or John and Paul or Thing 1 and Thing 2 or Ying and Yang or Cloud and Stormy for thier gray color

March 22, 2009 : 5:46 AM ET
posted by: cmykiki

Love the cuties! How about Reba and Chu Chu? Don't know why, just seems to fit them. Or itsy and bitsy!

March 16, 2009 : 7:28 PM ET
posted by: Kimberlea Bartholomew

Cletus and Opie--

you can't get more NA native than that.

March 11, 2009 : 6:39 PM ET
posted by: cocoloco

Ooh! I second the vote for Crash & Eddie! They were so hilarious!

March 11, 2009 : 3:29 PM ET
posted by: vicnjess

How about Oliver and Gus? Jessie Sorano

March 10, 2009 : 10:26 PM ET
posted by: stlcardsdiva

How about Henry and Harry? People always think I'm weird because I like opossums, but I think they are so cute!!! That one on the right sure has a cute grin!

March 10, 2009 : 1:29 PM ET
posted by: dragonlady9947

How about Blynken and Nod? Or Wynken and Blynken. A great little poem about little children.

March 9, 2009 : 8:15 PM ET
posted by: chenee

How about Aisha (means "life" in Swahili) and Jua (means "sun" in Swahili).

March 9, 2009 : 3:03 PM ET
posted by: shawcable.com

Too cute.......How about "Oppy" (long sounding O) and "Posy" (long sounding O). After all, the names do partially signify who they are as Opposums. (Oppy/osum and Op/Posy/ums.

Thou art Oppy and Posy.

Thanks for the opportunity,

Brenda L. B.

March 9, 2009 : 11:48 AM ET
posted by: medeiroset

Bradford Broccoli Spears and maybe Trevor McChatty?

March 9, 2009 : 11:45 AM ET
posted by: DWMeowMix

Names? How about Puma & Odo...

March 9, 2009 : 9:59 AM ET
posted by: DancingOpossum

I am a HUGE fan of possums--I use them in my online name and avatar, I luv'em so much. They are gentle, intelligent critters who cause no harm to anyone and do much good in the world.

That said, I can't think of any clever names for these guys, but I like some of the ones I've seen here: Crocodile and Dundee, Roscoe and Ralph...how about Pitter and Patter?

March 9, 2009 : 9:24 AM ET
posted by: bellee

Tutti & Fruity would suit those two cuties nicley Susan in Wilmington, NC

March 9, 2009 : 9:21 AM ET
posted by: bellee

Sew & Sow

March 9, 2009 : 7:48 AM ET
posted by: jsommers

How about Scooby and Scrappy? :) Jeannie

March 9, 2009 : 1:47 AM ET
posted by: suzithedoglady

I think that names of the Opossums should be:

Calvin & Hobbs

Suzi Johnston

March 8, 2009 : 9:42 PM ET
posted by: chaynesk

They are so adorable. They look like an Elvis and a Hank. Or Elvis and Edgar.

March 8, 2009 : 8:56 PM ET
posted by: Mtrusello

God bless 'em!! Just look at those "who, me?' expressions - they look like two furry little bundles of mischief just waiting to be gotten into! Why not name them Fred and George?

March 8, 2009 : 6:22 PM ET
posted by: Ladyhawke

How about Flotsam and Jetsam?

March 8, 2009 : 4:23 PM ET
posted by: farmflower

I LOVE possums!! They are so gentle; I have one who lives in my yard. How about Stan and Ollie?

March 8, 2009 : 3:41 PM ET
posted by: Janelle

As someone who routinely feeds opossums along with my feral cats, I've always been entertained by the funny noises they make! So, how about Snuffle and Snort? (By the way, I've yet to find an opossum who doesn't love vanilla wafers. As a matter of fact, most have learned to come running when I say "cookies"!)

March 8, 2009 : 1:23 PM ET
posted by: shandi

Name them Milo and Otis! They are to cute for words.

March 8, 2009 : 2:00 AM ET
posted by: luvzcatz

How about "Pogo" and "Alfred" after that long ago comic strip about a little opossum and his friends living in the swamp? The strip was, of course, "Pogo".

March 8, 2009 : 12:03 AM ET
posted by: sassy

Bonnie & Clide

These are so lucky to have a home at Best Friend and I think Bonnie & Clide is the perfect name for them.

March 7, 2009 : 9:01 PM ET
posted by: Gina--Baby

I guess I should've read further before suggesting Peanut Butter & Jelly - 2 other people thought the same thing. Ah, great minds think alike! I must say, "greenblue's Mars & Soupy Al (marsupials)" is excellent!

March 7, 2009 : 9:01 PM ET
posted by: Moonmau

These little guys are adorable! I think Jeb and Jethro suits them pretty well. I've sent a copy of the newsletter to my youngest granddaughter, who was gifted with a stuffed possum (toy, of course) for Valentine's Day. She'll be thrilled to see the real possums.

March 7, 2009 : 8:51 PM ET
posted by: Gina--Baby

I have no idea why this came to mind but how about Peanut Butter & Jelly!

March 7, 2009 : 7:33 PM ET
posted by: cattfrancisco

They look like Elmo and Ernie to me . . .

March 7, 2009 : 7:31 PM ET
posted by: cattfrancisco

They look like Elmo and Ernie to me . . .

March 7, 2009 : 5:44 PM ET
posted by: Mary Leon

How about Frick and Frack? Or Abbott and Costello? Or Martin and Lewis? I know most people won't know who these men were, but it's a few names that sound good together.

Mary

March 7, 2009 : 5:43 PM ET
posted by: aljones

George and Barclay??

March 7, 2009 : 2:46 PM ET
posted by: jeanne3955

Many names come to mind like: Billy Joe and Jim Bob, Pea-dink and Poe-dunk, Popeye and Sweapea OR: Aime' masculine form of French Aimee', meaning "Much Loved", and Amadour, French form of Latin Amator, meaning "Lover", OR: Basile, French form of Latin Basilius, meaning "King" and Fe'licite' French form of Latin Felix, meaning "Happy" or "Lucky. How about: Philbert, meaning "Very Bright", Raimund, meaning "Wise Protector", Sylvestre, French form of Latin Silvester, meaning "From The Forest" and Sylvain, French form of Roman Silvanus, meaning "From The Forest" also. Good Luck, from all the suggestions posted only those that are close to them will best pick the right name.

March 7, 2009 : 2:16 PM ET
posted by: sierranh

Voltaire and Rousseau ive always found interest in the conflict of opinion between the two.

March 7, 2009 : 1:29 PM ET
posted by: mrs. poot

I love possums. So sweet and nonviolent. I once took care of a rescued possum we named Belle because she was so beautiful. How about Sally and Belle.

March 7, 2009 : 12:45 PM ET
posted by: hottdeanne

I love possums! They are so strange looking that they are adorable! We welcome all wildlife into our yard, considering ourselves truly lucky to have the opportunity to witness them in their habitat. How about Oscar and Felix from the famous movie and comedy series The Odd Couple, Bernie and Elton, from the song writing team of Bernie Taupin and Elton John or Waylon and Willie for Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson? I could go on and on........................

March 7, 2009 : 11:55 AM ET
posted by: sweetydog

PB & Jay

They are too cute, I love their noses. Coming to BF in a couple of weeks and we'll stop in to meet them for sure!

March 7, 2009 : 11:41 AM ET
posted by: Kat Paw

Oh.. it does say they are two males. Scratch the Delila. How about Jasper and Gideon

March 7, 2009 : 11:40 AM ET
posted by: amccabe

My children love the Opossums on ICE AGE 2. There names are Eddie and Crash. I think that these names have personality and they are cute!!!!!

March 7, 2009 : 11:36 AM ET
posted by: Kat Paw

Sampson & Delila ( don't think I spelled this correct)

March 7, 2009 : 11:31 AM ET
posted by: Kat Paw

How about Opie and Snoozer

March 7, 2009 : 11:28 AM ET
posted by: vacafarm

My opossums name is Carlos Santana. He is about 8 months old now and has been released to my property a month. He was so good about using a litter box and loved his "cat tree". Now he has a reflective collar and lives with many other animals here. How about Mick Jagger and Keith Richards ? (Mick and Keith )

March 7, 2009 : 10:34 AM ET
posted by: bluewaterranch

How about Huck and Finn?

March 7, 2009 : 10:25 AM ET
posted by: Bones Du Jour

Percival is a great name! I'm changing my suggestion to Percival and Pericles. Percival was a Knight that searched for the Holy Grail and Pericles mean surrounded by glory. Being at Best Friends certainly means they are surrounded by glory and have indeed found the Holy Grail of Opposumdom at Best Friends.