Cottontail Cottage Wildlife Rehab

08/30/2026

It’s kind of crazy looking at what I managed to build in a basement. There was never some huge investment behind this. I quit my job, took the money I had from selling my business and poured everything I had into this because animals needed help and I figured I’d find a way to make it work.

And somehow, it grew. A lot… What started in my basement has turned into an incredible grassroots organization with volunteers, thousands of animals helped and a community that I’m so grateful has gotten behind what we do. And now the good news is, we’ve officially outgrown the basement.

We need a real wildlife rehabilitation center where we can save even more animals and help even more people. Unfortunately we’re trying to do that in one of the most expensive areas in the country 😅 but I really believe we can make it happen.

There’s no corporation behind us, no highly paid CEO, not even paid employees. Every dollar goes back into this mission. So if you believe in what I started and what we’ve all grown it into, please donate, share this, tell your rich uncle 😂 whatever helps. Because if we can do all of this in a basement, imagine what we could do with an actual wildlife rehabilitation center. 🤍

08/26/2026

Most individuals caught on glue traps don't survive. Trapped for hours or days, they can die from exhaustion, dehydration, starvation, or severe injuries while desperately trying to escape 💔

This bat was one of the lucky ones, thanks to Cottontail Cottage Wildlife Rehab .

Please never use glue traps.

08/13/2026

I mean… I think we have to hire her 🥹

This little one actually came to us after being hit by a lawnmower, which scraped part of her little head. Thankfully she’s doing really well now and apparently has been using her recovery time to perfect her carrot cake skills.

It’s always so sweet getting to see them start feeling better and watching their little personalities come out as they grow and heal in our care. This is definitely one of the best parts of what we get to do 🤍

If you’d like to contribute to the care of our little bunny bakers, you can donate through the link in our bio. We are completely donation funded, so even a few dollars really does help us keep doing this for every little one who comes through our doors.

And if you can’t donate, following us and sharing our videos helps too. Especially because I think this little baker deserves some recognition for those carrot cake skills!

07/04/2026

I know it’s the Fourth of July and yes, I’ll be back to talking about fireworks and wildlife in a minute.

But first, I felt this video deserved a second debut because not nearly enough people witnessed this important moment.

I’m also choosing today to reignite the age-old debate.

Do cats make biscuits and rabbits make carrot cake?

Not to sway the debate or anything but fun fact: rabbits only got their carrot loving reputation because of Bugs Bunny. They’ve been victims of cartoon propaganda for decades.

I know some of you have very strong feelings about this topic, and I ask that everyone remain respectful in the comments during this difficult time. 🤣

Personally... I think the evidence speaks for itself. 🥕🐰

06/24/2026

100,000 followers and this is still where it all happens.

In honor of hitting 100K (which honestly doesn’t feel real yet), I wanted to share the humble beginnings of Cottontail Cottage. People see the videos, the releases, the volunteers and the animals, but they don’t always see where it started.

The truth is, there was never a big facility or major investment behind this. It was just me deciding that if these animals needed help, I was going to do everything I could to give it to them. I quit my job, took the money from selling my business and poured everything I had into building this.

This little space has seen more tears, stress, joy, heartbreak, hope and late nights than I can even explain. There were so many moments when this felt impossible, moments when I was exhausted, overwhelmed, out of money, out of space and wondering how I was going to make it all work.

But every time I thought about giving up, another animal needed help, so I kept going.

One animal at a time, one volunteer at a time, one donation at a time, one day at a time.

Today we’re caring for wildlife across multiple locations and working toward a permanent home of our own, which honestly still feels a little unbelievable to say.

I think the reason I’m sharing this is because so many people are waiting until they have more money, more space, more experience or more confidence before they start doing the thing that’s on their heart. The truth is, I didn’t have those things either. I just started and somehow, through a lot of hard work, a lot of incredible volunteers and a community that believed in this mission, it grew into something bigger than I ever imagined.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that you don’t need perfect circumstances to make a difference. You just need to care enough to take the first step.

Thank you for being here, thank you for caring about wildlife and thank you for helping turn something that started as a crazy idea into something that’s making a difference every single day.

🤍

05/29/2026

Our bat rescue story is featured on The Dodo today! 🥹

Every year we help bats, rabbits, opossums, squirrels, and so many other wild animals, but none of it happens without people like Jeanine who stop to help, and people like you who support our work.

If you’ve ever wondered what happens after someone finds an animal in trouble, take a look at her story. It’s one of my favorites. 🤍

She was shaking 😰

A woman noticed what looked like a dried brown leaf on the sidewalk — but right before she stepped on it, she realized it was actually a tiny stunned bat lying perfectly still on the ground ❤️

05/21/2026

She was found trembling on a sidewalk in one of the busiest parts of New York, barely able to move. Someone stopped. Someone cared. And because of that, Janine got a second chance. 🤍

After weeks of treatment for head trauma and inflammation, Janine finally spread her wings and flew free again at sunset.

Our bat program is such an important part of what we do at Cottontail Cottage Wildlife Rehab, but it’s also one of the hardest to fund. We are one of the only wildlife rehabs caring for bats across a huge part of New York, and we truly can’t do it without your support.

If Janine’s story touched your heart, please consider donating to help bats like her continue getting a second chance. 🤍

05/15/2026

This is my first Opossum funeral, so I guess a eulogy seems appropriate.

Parsley changed a lot of minds about opossums, but I don’t really want to talk about that right now.

I want to talk about who she was.

She was gentle. The kind of gentle you only understand once you’ve held it in your hands.

She explored the world nose first, slow and curious, like everything deserved a closer look. Her tiny ears would twitch at every sound. Every blanket had to be tested. Every corner inspected. Every soft bed claimed as if she had personally discovered comfort itself.

She walked on her wheel at the pace of an elderly woman window shopping at a garden center, and somehow it was the cutest thing any of us had ever seen.

When she first arrived, she survived almost entirely on fruit pouches and dog food because apparently she had the palate of a stubborn toddler. Eventually she branched out to cherry tomatoes, fresh fish, and the occasional vegetable when she felt like making healthy choices. Roma tomatoes, however, offended her deeply and personally.

But what I’ll remember most is the way she looked at the world.

There was so much softness in her. So much wonder. She looked at life like it was still worth being curious about.

And maybe that sounds silly to say about an opossum, but anyone who truly knew Parsley understands exactly what I mean.

She wasn’t “just” an opossum. She was a soul. A funny, sweet, strange little being full of light and warmth and quiet joy.

I know there are other opossums out there just as wonderful as she was. But how lucky was I that this one found me.

How lucky was I to know her.

I think a lot of people go their whole lives without ever getting the privilege of being loved by a creature like Parsley. And I got to wake up every day and experience her tiny existence beside mine.

What a gift that was.

Run slow in the next life, sweet girl 🤍

05/06/2026

You’re not seeing the hardest part of this.

This little fox was the only one left after rodenticide poisoning took his entire family. While all of that was happening, I was here, running on no sleep, just trying to get him through it.

I tend to go quiet on here when things get like that. Not because nothing’s happening, but because everything is.

At one point I checked my phone and saw a message that someone had canceled their monthly donation because I don’t post enough. And I get it, I really do. Social media is how I get the funds to keep this going.

But the truth is, I’m not an influencer. I’m just someone trying to save as many of them as I can and social media is the only way I’ve found to fund that. So when I’m not posting, it’s usually because I’m right here doing this instead.

Most of this work isn’t visible. It’s long days, cleaning, overnight care, sitting with them when things aren’t looking good and just hoping they turn a corner. Sometimes hour by hour.

And I’m always going to choose that first.

Thank you to my friend Claire at Wild by Nurture. She has the space for long term fox care and seeing him there now, playing and just being a baby again… it means everything. I can’t say enough good things about her and what she does.

Most of what goes into moments like this isn’t really seen. It just happens over a lot of hours with a lot of people who really care.

He made it and now he gets to be a fox again. And that will always matter more 🤍

04/22/2026

If you think bats are scary… listen to this one complain 😭

That little squeaking? That’s not echolocation, that’s pure batitude 🤣

She’s letting us know, very clearly, that she has opinions about being handled… and honestly, fair.

Most people never get to hear this side of them. They’re not scary, they’re just tiny, dramatic and full of personality.

And yes, she was absolutely fine… just offended.