“[They] decided to cling to each other for comfort.”
Orphaned Opossum and Baby Squirrel Form Unbreakable Bond
When a baby animal is rescued and brought to a wildlife center, comfort is just as important as care. For one tiny orphaned opossum, that comfort came from an unlikely friend—a baby squirrel.
Earlier this month, the Raptor Center of Tampa Bay (RCTB) took in a 46-gram orphaned opossum. With no other opossums at the center, she was placed in an enclosure by herself. But by morning, she had managed to escape—and was found curled up, fast asleep, with a group of baby squirrels.
It was clear the squirrels had accepted her as one of their own.
Later, after most of the squirrels were transferred to other care facilities, the last remaining baby squirrel turned the tables—this time, he found his way into the opossum’s enclosure. Seeking warmth and companionship, the two continued to snuggle together.
“[W]hat I say is, ‘If you’re an orphan, any other orphan will do,’” RCTB founder Nancy Murrah told The Dodo.
While their adorable bond was heartwarming, Murrah knew that for proper development, the two needed to be with members of their own species. Both were transferred to Little Bit Wildlife Rescue, where they could be placed with other opossums and squirrels.
But their friendship proved stronger than distance. On their first night in their new home, they once again wriggled out of their pouches to find each other.
“They decided to cling to each other for comfort,” Murrah said.
Once they’re ready, both the opossum and the squirrel will be released into the wild, where they’ll go their separate ways. But the connection they shared will always be part of their journey—proof that friendship knows no species.