Three baby opossums found outside the Lehighton Police Department are now in the care of the Carbon County Environmental Education Center.

“Our local police have always been very good about helping us help the public and help wildlife,” said Susan Gallagher, chief naturalist for CCEEC.

A Lehighton police officer found one of the baby opossums outside the police station Monday morning. The officer searched unsuccessfully for its mother, but found two more babies.

The police contacted the environmental education center, which specializes in wildlife rehabilitation.

The center picked up the animals, which the police put in a box with police badge stickers labeled Larry, Moe and Curly.

At the center, they determined that one of the opossums’ was actually a female.

“It’s Larry, Moe and Shirley,’” Gallagher said.

Opossums are often found in populated areas because, like skunks and raccoons, they aren’t picky eaters. Litters of young opossums, which can number up to 20, live in their mother’s pouch or ride on their back. It’s not uncommon for them to fall off and become separated.

“If they lose a baby, it’s not often they’ll realize it. That’s probably what happened to these guys,” Gallagher said.

The three baby opossums will stay at the center until they are ready to survive independently. Because they’re fed in the pouch, they have to be tube fed.

When they reach a certain size, or show they can make their own nests, they’ll be released into the woods.

The center actually has several other baby opossums in its care at the moment. Every year during the spring months, they care for many abandoned baby mammals, like squirrels and rabbits. Usually, they see an increase in orphaned baby birds shortly after that.

Members of the public often call the center and get guidance on caring for abandoned animals. Some of them end up at the center.

“We’re here as a public service if anyone finds wildlife they believe is orphaned or distressed,” Gallagher said.

Referring to the police department taking the youngsters into custody, the center posted Friday, “We paid the triplets’ bail, but if you’d like to contribute to the baby opossum rehabilitation fund, you may do so via PayPal at cceec@ptd.net.”