A few weeks ago, the folks at WEST Wildlife Rehab (WWR) received a concerning text from a woman who’d made a startling discovery. The Good Samaritan, Kim, reported finding a hairless, pink wild baby in her yard — one who was so tiny and defenseless his eyes hadn’t even opened yet.
Facebook/WEST Wildlife Rehab
The WWR staff responded immediately, hoping to help Kim reunite the baby with his mother on her own without any further intervention. Thankfully, Kim was one step ahead of them.
“She knew it needed to be back with its mama, so she put it in a bucket and attached the bucket to the tree where the nest was, then texted WEST,” WWR wrote on Facebook.
Facebook/WEST Wildlife Rehab
The avid rescuers were relieved to hear that Kim had already relocated the baby squirrel to a safe spot above ground and closer to his mother. Still, they were worried that the little guy may have spent too much time on the ground, causing his body temperature to drop.
“[E]ven on hot days, eyes closed babies can’t thermoregulate and will get cold, and mamas will not take cold babies back to the nest,” WWR wrote.
Facebook/WEST Wildlife Rehab
So, WWR advised Kim to heat a rice-filled sock in the microwave, then place it next to the baby to warm him up. Kim did just that, but when she went back outside, she was shocked to discover that the sock was no longer needed.
“[B]y the time she returned to the yard, mama had taken the baby back to the nest,” WWR wrote.
You can see more images from the squirrel’s rescue here:
Kim and the WWR staff were overjoyed to know that the mom had come back for her baby so quickly. While rescue organizations like WWR are eager to help animals like this tiny, pink squirrel, part of their mission is to encourage the public to facilitate these types of reunions on their own.
“There aren’t enough rehabbers to keep up with the demands of all the wildlife in need, so it’s really crucial that we try to reunite fallen babies with their mamas whenever possible,” WWR wrote. “If you find a baby on the ground that looks healthy and is uninjured, call your nearest rehabber and they’ll talk you through what to do to get that baby back to the nest, where it belongs!”
Facebook/WEST Wildlife Rehab
Luckily, this call for help resolved itself quickly, and the folks at WWR were able to focus their attention on other pressing cases. Not every wild animal rescue goes according to plan, but this baby squirrel’s story is a hopeful exception.
“This story has the perfect ending,” WWR wrote.
To help animals like this baby squirrel get the care they need, you can donate to WEST Wildlife Rehab here.
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