On December 5th, as part of Crestwood Library’s Winter Wonderland festivities, Cottontail Cottage Wildlife Rehab brought a friend to join us! It was Parsley the Opossum! She was taken from the wild to be someone’s pet, but that made her sick and unable to return home, so now she’s an animal ambassador who travels around helping teach people about opossums. Over 70 patrons came to see Parsley and to hear one of the Cottontail staff read The Christmas Owl by Ellen Kalish and Gideon Sterer.
In anticipation of future collaborations, Crestwood staff member Hanora Woodruff reached out to Cottontail for an interview so the Crestwood community can learn more about them and their cause. Cottontail founder Briggitte Dix was able to respond, and the correspondence went as follows:
Hanora: How did Cottontail Cottage come to be? What were the motivations for founding it? How many animals have you been able to help thus far?
Briggitte: My path into wildlife rehabilitation actually started during graduate school, when I was living on Galveston Island, a small island off the coast of Texas. While I was there, I worked with an organization that rescued stranded sea turtles. I spent countless early mornings patrolling about five miles of beach on foot, looking for turtles in distress. That experience was really where my passion for wildlife work began.
When I later moved to New York, I knew I wanted to continue working with wildlife, but sea turtle rescues were not exactly in high demand here. I decided to pursue my wildlife rehabilitators license and create a dedicated space to care for injured animals. During that process, I realized there was a real lack of accessible mentorship in this field. Wildlife rehabilitation can be isolating, and learning opportunities are limited.
Cottontail Cottage was created not only to help animals, but also to serve as a learning and mentorship space for future wildlife rehabilitators. I sold my business and used those funds to build the rehab space itself. Since then, Cottontail Cottage has grown into a collaborative environment with multiple licensed rehabbers and rehab assistants. Together, we have helped and released over a thousand animals.
H: Can you recount Parsley's rescue story? How long has she been at Cottontail Cottage?
B: Parsley came to us after being illegally kept as a pet when she was a baby. During that time, she was fed an improper diet, which caused her to develop severe metabolic bone disease. By the time she entered rehabilitation, the damage was already significant.
Parsley was transferred to Cornell Wildlife Hospital, where she received specialized treatment. After a thorough evaluation, it was determined that she would not be able to survive in the wild due to her long term health issues. Because of her gentle temperament and medical needs, she was deemed non releasable and best suited to become an ambassador animal. She now helps educate the public and gives her story real meaning.
H: Where have you been able to take Parsley to educate the public on opossums and other wildlife? What programs have you been able to lead?
B: Parsley joins us at libraries, schools, and community programs, including the program at Crestwood Library. She helps people meet an opossum up close and learn who they truly are, calm, curious, and incredibly important to our ecosystems.
Through these programs, we focus on coexistence, what to do when you find wildlife, and why wild animals should never be kept as pets. Parsley’s story helps people understand how human actions can directly impact wildlife outcomes, both positively and negatively.
H: What is the best part of volunteering at Cottontail Cottage? What is the most fulfilling part of your work?
B: For volunteers, the most rewarding part is being directly involved in an animal’s recovery. Volunteers assist with daily care, feeding, cleaning, and monitoring progress. You get to see growth, healing, and sometimes release, which is incredibly meaningful.
For me, the most fulfilling part will always be release day. Watching an animal return to the wild after everything they have been through never stops being emotional or humbling.
H: What are some of your favorite/most notable animal rescue stories?
B: There are so many stories that stand out. We have cared for countless orphaned rabbits who were mistakenly taken from the wild, and a big part of that work is education and prevention. We have treated animals hit by cars, attacked by pets, or impacted by human activity who went on to recover and return to the wild.
Some of the most meaningful moments are the quieter ones. An animal eating on their own again. A volunteer gaining confidence. A child leaving a program saying they want to help wildlife one day. Those moments are just as important as the dramatic rescues.
Cottontail Cottage Rehab is supported entirely by donations made by the public, so if you’d like to make one to Cottontail Cottage and support their efforts in rescuing local wildlife, you can do so at this link.
Crestwood Library will be hosting more programs and storytimes with Cottontail Cottage and Parsley throughout the winter. Finalized dates will be posted on ypl.org, so keep a lookout! We hope to see you there!
Hanora Woodruff is a Part-Time Clerk and patron of Yonkers Crestwood Library since childhood. She recently graduated from Stony Brook University with a degree in Biology and Creative Writing. Her favorite reads at the moment are Sylvia Plath’s poems.