Have you ever looked at a stuffed animal and thought it was shifting on its own?
Don’t worry, it wasn’t anything eerie or paranormal. What actually happened turned out to be one of the most amusing moments ever captured at an animal rescue center.
Brigette Brouillard, an animal care expert from Kentucky, was the one who witnessed this strange event. For a few seconds, she could hardly believe her eyes, until the truth finally sank in!
Yeti’s Unexpected Spot
Brigette, who founded Second Chances Wildlife Center in Louisville, Kentucky, has devoted her life to helping animals in need.
Since the center’s opening, she and her team have rescued and rehabilitated a variety of animals, including bats, skunks, raccoons, squirrels, and many others.
One of their long-term residents is a leucistic opossum named Yeti.
Yeti came to the center after being struck by a car. She arrived severely injured, with road rash, fractures in her jaw, the loss of one eye, and neurological damage. Since then, she has received ongoing care and has slowly adjusted to her new life.
One afternoon, Brigette couldn’t find Yeti anywhere. That’s when she noticed a plush toy moving in one of the baskets. Upon closer inspection, she realized Yeti was snuggled in with the stuffed animals, wriggling around to get comfy.
“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, thinking there was no way Yeti could climb into the basket. But the determined opossum proved her wrong!
It turned out that Yeti had adapted so well to her environment that she could even surprise her caregivers with new tricks, and find herself a cozy napping spot in the process.
Yeti’s Remarkable Recovery
Over the months, Yeti’s health has improved significantly. She gained weight, overcame fleas and infections, and grew more comfortable in her new surroundings.
Due to her permanent disabilities, she became a permanent resident of the center, as she cannot be returned 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 companionship of her caregivers and fellow animals. Though she no longer lives in her natural habitat, her joyful personality shows that she is content and well cared for.
Yeti has developed a love for fruit, which she gets plenty of at the center. She’s also become quite good at finding the coziest spots for naps, whether it’s in her caretakers’ shoes, soft blankets, or her new favorite basket of toys.
Although she doesn’t enjoy being held, Yeti is one of the gentlest animals at the center.
“She is very gentle but does not love to be held. Yeti definitely knows who her caregiver has been,” the team noted.
Safe, loved, and surrounded by care, Yeti is now living the comfortable, peaceful life she always deserved, a life full of warmth, attention, and lots of fruit.