The little animal was getting buried in the dirt.
A construction worker recently made an unexpected rescue after discovering a frog almost completely buried at the bottom of a hole on a job site.
Residential framer Cole Montsma was preparing to begin work when he noticed what appeared to be an ordinary mound of dirt below him. Moments later, the pile shifted, revealing that a small animal was trapped underneath.
Montsma quickly realized it was a frog.
He and his coworkers were surprised to see the amphibian in such an unusual situation and had no idea how long it had been stuck there. Rather than leave it behind, the crew stopped what they were doing and carefully began removing the soil surrounding its body.
Using their hands, they gently cleared away the dirt to avoid injuring the frog. Once enough of its body was exposed, Montsma carefully lifted it out of the hole with a shovel.
At first, the frog appeared weak and barely active, suggesting it may have been trapped for some time.
The dry environment was also concerning. Frogs depend heavily on moisture to keep their skin functioning properly, and prolonged exposure to dry conditions can leave them dangerously dehydrated.
Hoping to help, Montsma gently poured some water over the frog to wash away the remaining dirt and give it a chance to rehydrate.
The change was noticeable.
After receiving some water, the frog became more responsive and alert. Montsma then placed the animal on a small piece of wood and carried it away from the construction area to a nearby grassy field.
Once it was returned to safer surroundings, the frog began moving around on its own and appeared much stronger than it had moments earlier.
What could have been an easy detail to overlook turned into a successful rescue because Montsma and his coworkers chose to stop and help.
For Montsma, taking a few minutes away from the job was worthwhile. The tiny animal had been given another opportunity to recover and return to its natural surroundings.