He just needed a helping hand.
When Long Island rescuer John Debacker received a call about a squirrel tangled in a basketball court net, he didn’t hesitate. Within half an hour, he was on-site, ready to help.
At first, Debacker expected to find the squirrel caught near the bottom of the net. But as he looked closer, he spotted the frightened animal struggling high up near the top instead.
Having handled many similar rescues before — everything from cats to possums — Debacker knew exactly how to proceed.
“I get a lot of calls about animals stuck in sports nets,” Debacker told The Dodo.
Climbing a ladder with calm precision, he carefully snipped away the netting around the panicked squirrel.
“At first he was pretty feisty, not realizing I was trying to help,” Debacker said. “But once he settled down, it went smoothly.”
Soon, the little creature was free. After a quick check to make sure he wasn’t injured, Debacker watched the squirrel dash back into the wild — safe and unharmed.
“It’s such an incredible feeling to see an animal finally free,” Debacker said, reflecting on the rescue.