A Virginia opossum --- rescued by the Arizona Department of Public Safety on Christmas Eve, while playing possum on Interstate 10 --- has a new home and name.

After she was found on Dec. 24 along the busy freeway, state troopers took the opossum to the Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center, which houses about 350 wild animals including foxes, porcupines, coyotes, bobcats, owls, bears, hawks, raccoons and mountain lions, according to a press release.

Throughout the year, the non-profit wildlife refuge near 156th Street and Rio Verde Drive in Scottsdale, rescues and rehabilitates dozens of native wild animals with the goal to release them back into the wild, whenever possible.

“Thanks to DPS troopers she is safe and sound. She was tired and hungry, so she ate a good holiday meal and took a long nap. Virginia opossums are not native to Arizona so we cannot release her back into the wild. She will stay at SWCC. We think we will name her ‘Freeway,’” said Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center Founder/Executive Director Linda Searles, in a prepared statement.

Ms. Searles said Freeway probably hitched a ride on a semi-truck and fell off near Interstate 10 and Warner Road in the East Valley.

Interstate 10 runs from Jacksonville, Florida to Santa Monica, California. The freeway runs through Phoenix, Los Angeles, Tucson, New Orleans, Houston and Tallahassee, Florida.

The Virginia opossum is the only marsupial native to North America and can be found in southern and midwestern states, the release noted.

Open for tours this holiday season, those interested in visiting the center can sign up at: southwestwildlife.org.