‘I had this small faith that she’d return. And yes, she came back.’: Woman who rescued tiny injured squirrel from dogs and vultures consoled by daily visits after it escaped while healing

Author image for Laurent Shinar
Laurent Shinar • Writer and Editor
Jul 3, 2026 9:00 AM EDT

It is not all too often that you hear of a squirrel being rescued and most certainly not a young squirrel. But thanks to the heroic hooman who could not stand to see this animal suffer, this is the story we have to tell today.

This nutty tale comes from the pages of Reddit's r/AnimalRescue subreddit. A place where all sorts of animal lovers converge to discuss the best course of action when rescuing an animal and to celebrate the wins that come from returning their rescues to their rightful homes. Our story is of course an example of the latter detailing the journey of an injured squirrel and her journey back to full health. And this would make the story sit just the same as the many hundreds of others telling similar tales. But in this story there is what we like to call, a Snow White twist.

Because while everything seemed to be going well at first with the patient on the mend and looking livelier with each passing day. On one fateful afternoon, the squirrel escaped, leaping through an open window into a nearby tree. This was initially heartbreaking for our rescuer who had grown attached to her rodent friend and was grossly concerned for her wellbeing. However, it turns out that this would not be the last time that this carer and her critter patient would meet. As the squirrel made a point of returning each and every single day after her escape. Showing her hooman that she is ok, taking care of herself, and above all else incredibly grateful. 
 

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  • 01
    "It's been about 1.5+ months now, and she's fully recovered, and she visits us daily. "
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  • 02
    Hi everyone, This morning I found a tiny squirrel with a fresh injury. We gently cleaned the wound with B .e and mixed a small dose of antibiotic (prescribed by my doctor family members) into her food.
    via Own_Lengthiness_9964
  • 03
    She's eating a bit, but she's understandably scared of me and keeps darting around when I get close. Because there are many stray dogs and even vultures in my neighborhood, I've placed
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  • 04
    her in a secure, ventilated case to keep her safe. I plan to keep her for about 2-3 weeks, until she's healed enough to be released. I'm adding soft cloth for warmth and comfort, but I'd love any additional advice from people who've rescued squirrels before.
    via Own_Lengthiness_9964

  • Well, we have to say this is a really rather delightful start to the story. Often young wild animals who find themselves injured do not last very long. They are either rejected by their parents and left to expire, or some other creature gets to them before. But in this case the other creature happened to be a helpful hooman who gave this sweet squirrel the chance that so few animals in the wild ever get. Thank goodness for the good people in this world, the people who would rather save a squirrel than spend all their time on their phones. 
     

  • 05
    Hi everyone! A few days ago, I posted about rescuing an injured baby squirrel. I wanted to share a quick update and also thank this amazing community for all the concern, suggestions, and kind words. She's doing
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  • 06
    much better now! Her wounds were quite severe when we found her, but with regular care and medication, she's slowly healing. She's still not comfortable with us (which is understandable),
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  • 07
    so we're keeping our distance just making sure she has food, water, and a clean, safe place to rest. We apply medicine gently when needed and let her stay as stress-free as possible. A few of you suggested calling a local animal
    via Own_Lengthiness_9964
  • 08
    rescuer or wildlife rehab center, thank you for that! Unfortunately, in my area, there aren't many active animal rescuers, and the few we contacted didn't respond. So, we had no choice but to take care of her ourselves.
    via Own_Lengthiness_9964
  • 09
    Luckily, there are doctors in my family, and we have experience caring for other pets, so we had a general idea of what to do. Still, your input really helped guide us and gave me confidence in my approach.
    via Own_Lengthiness_9964
  • 10
    Cheezburger Image 10642736640
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  • 11
    Just to clarify: yes, she is a squirrel (not a chipmunk) maybe the image wasn't very clear in the original. post, but she's definitely a squirrel baby.
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  • 12
    We'll be taking care of her for as long as it takes whether it's two months or four. Once she's fully recovered and strong enough, we plan to release her on our terrace where she can slowly reintegrate into nature. Thanks again, Reddit. Your support means the world.
    via Own_Lengthiness_9964

  • Isn’t it wonderful when the internet comes together for good instead of evil? It is truly above and beyond what this woman has decided to do for this injured critter. After all, such long term care is draining both in the physical sense and in the financial sense. And if she had not taken this care upon herself it might have fallen upon a rescue who would have had to scrape together whatever limited funds they have to help. Thereby raising the point, that if you can, and feel confident enough to save and give a safe space to an injured animal. You will not only be helping them out, but also the whole animal rescue system at the same time. 
     

  • 13
    I found an injured squirrel near my home. Not knowing much about animal care, I turned to the Reddit community for help and the responses I received were incredible. People shared tips, remedies, and encouragement that truly helped me care for her. For the next six days, she stayed with us. We
    via Own_Lengthiness_9964
  • 14
    cleaned her wound daily, applied cream, and made sure she was fed with healthy food. Watching her gradually heal was one of the most fulfilling feelings ever. Then, she ran away. I still remember the
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  • 15
    moment, it was around 4:30 p.m. I tried to catch her, but she was too quick. I was worried the whole night, keeping an eye on where she might go or rest. The next morning, she was gone from where she had spent the night, and my heart sank.
    via Own_Lengthiness_9964
  • 16
    A few hours later, my brother spotted her nearby safe and active. That moment felt like pure relief and happiness. I had this small faith that she'd return because every day, we keep food for birds and squirrels on our terrace. And yes, she came back.
    via Own_Lengthiness_9964
  • 17
    Since then, she visits us daily. It's been about 1.5+ months now, and she's fully recovered, her wound has healed, and she's back to her playful, lively self.
    via Own_Lengthiness_9964
  • 18
    You know, she still runs away whenever she sees me. She doesn't do that with anyone else maybe she remembers the medicines and bandages But I quietly watch her from a distance, feeling grateful that she's healthy and free again. Thank you everyone for your valuable support
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    Cheezburger Image 10642736384
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  • 20
    This little journey reminded me how healing isn't just about care, it's about letting go when the time comes. Sometimes, love means stepping back and simply hoping they're doing well out there.
    via Own_Lengthiness_9964

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