How often do you come across a stuffed toy that seems to be shifting around on its own?
No need to worry—it wasn’t anything spooky or supernatural. What actually unfolded was one of the funniest moments ever captured inside an animal center.
Brigette Brouillard, an animal specialist from Kentucky, was the one who witnessed this puzzling scene. For a few seconds she couldn’t believe her eyes, until the truth finally clicked!
Yeti’s Clever Hiding Place
Brigette, the compassionate founder of Second Chances Wildlife Center in Louisville, Kentucky, has dedicated her life to caring for animals.
Since opening the facility, she and her team have been on a mission to rescue and rehabilitate countless creatures: bats, skunks, raccoons, squirrels, and more.
Among their long-term residents is a leucistic opossum named Yeti.
Yeti arrived at the center after being struck by a car. When she was taken in, she was badly injured—suffering from road rash, fractures in her jaw, the loss of one eye, and neurological damage. She has been under ongoing care ever since, slowly adjusting to her new life.
One afternoon, Brigette couldn’t find her anywhere. That’s when she noticed one of the plush toys in a basket mysteriously moving. On closer inspection, she discovered Yeti nestled right in with the stuffed animals, happily wriggling around to get comfortable.
“Yeti has a favorite ‘go-to’ spot when it’s her turn out to excercise. She manages to climb in the Egyptian fruit bat stuffed animal baskets. We are pretty glad she is able to do this,” the SCWC team shared.
At first, Brigette was stunned, convinced Yeti couldn’t possibly climb into the basket. But the determined little opossum proved her wrong!
It turned out that Yeti had adapted so well that she could even surprise her caregivers with new tricks—and snag herself a cozy nap spot at the same time.
Thriving Despite Challenges
Over the months, Yeti’s condition improved dramatically. She gained weight, overcame fleas and infections, and became more comfortable in her new environment.
Because of her lasting disabilities, however, she was welcomed as a permanent resident of the facility, unable to return to the wild.
“Obviously, with these impairments, she is not releasable. She will live her best life with specific care for her special needs. She does enjoy her time out and about exploring,” the team explained.
Now, Yeti spends her days enjoying the company of her caregivers and fellow animals. She may not live in her natural habitat anymore, but her cheerful demeanor makes it clear that she’s happy and well cared for.
Yeti has developed a fondness for fruit, which she gets plenty of at the center. She also has a talent for discovering the coziest napping spots—whether it’s in her caretakers’ shoes, soft blankets, or her newly discovered basket of toys.
Though she doesn’t enjoy being held, Yeti remains one of the gentlest animals at the facility.
“She is very gentle but does not love to be held. Yeti definitely knows who her caregiver has been,” the team noted.
Safe, nurtured, and surrounded by love, Yeti is now living the comfortable life she always needed—a life filled with warmth, care, and plenty of fruit.