“This story has the perfect ending” ❤️
A few weeks ago, WEST Wildlife Rehab (WWR) in Oregon received a text that immediately caught their attention. A local woman named Kim had stumbled upon a shocking sight in her yard: a tiny, hairless pink baby animal lying helplessly on the ground.
At first, Kim wasn’t sure what she was looking at — the newborn was so small, his eyes still sealed shut, with no fur to protect him from the elements. But she quickly realized she was looking at a wild baby squirrel who had somehow fallen from his nest.
Knowing the fragile little one wouldn’t survive long without help, Kim jumped into action.
A Desperate Situation
WWR staff encouraged Kim to try reuniting the baby with his mother rather than bringing him to the rehab center immediately. After all, a wild baby’s best chance is always with its mama.
Thankfully, Kim had already thought of that.
“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 shared on Facebook.
The rescuers were relieved by Kim’s fast thinking — but they still had concerns.
Warming Up a Fragile Newborn
Because the baby squirrel had spent time on the cold ground, there was a risk that his body temperature had dropped too much.
“Even 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 explained.
They advised Kim to make a simple heating tool: warm up a sock filled with rice in the microwave and place it next to the baby to bring his body temperature back up.
Kim followed the instructions — but when she returned outside, she was met with an incredible surprise.
The Best Possible Ending
By the time Kim reached the tree again, the tiny pink baby was gone. At first, she feared the worst — but then she looked up.
Mama squirrel had already returned and carried her baby safely back to the nest.
“By the time she returned to the yard, mama had taken the baby back to the nest,” WWR wrote.
Kim’s quick thinking and the rehabbers’ guidance had given the little one the best chance at survival: back in his mother’s care where he belonged.
Why Reunions Matter
While WWR is always ready to step in when needed, the organization stresses the importance of reunions like this one.
“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 explained.
If you find a baby squirrel or other wild animal on the ground, the first step is always to check if it’s healthy and uninjured. Then, contact your local wildlife rehab center, who can walk you through safe steps to reunite the baby with its mother.
A Storybook Ending
Not every wild animal rescue has a happy conclusion, but this case ended exactly as everyone had hoped. The newborn squirrel was back in his mother’s care within hours, warm, safe, and ready to grow.
“This story has the perfect ending,” WWR wrote.
Thanks to a caring passerby and a team of dedicated wildlife experts, one tiny life was saved — and a family was made whole again.