Late last month, on a beautiful evening in Islamorada, Florida, Robert and his wife, Shelby, were returning home from the grocery store when Robert noticed someone tiny headed straight towards him.
The unlikely visitor was a baby squirrel, and he seemed to be asking for help.
“We locked eyes, and I asked, ‘Are you coming to say hi to me?’” Robert told The Dodo. “[H]e kept getting closer. I was a little shocked that he would get that close. He stopped on my shoe and looked up at me.”
Robert Foley
Robert handed the groceries he was carrying to his wife. With his hands free, he reached down and gently ushered the squirrel into his palm.
“[H]e immediately started to snuggle and rolled himself into a ball,” Robert said. “The feeling was amazing. It was probably one of the cutest moments with nature I have experienced. At the same time, I understood he needed help and that this was unusual behavior for a wild animal.”
Robert Foley
Robert and Shelby assumed the squirrel once lived in a large tree in their yard. The couple were heartbroken for the little animal, who clearly couldn’t make it on his own. They suspected his mother had passed away, perhaps struck by a car on a busy road nearby.
Robert Foley
In need of expert help, Robert and Shelby contacted Karen Dettmann at Ark Angels Wildlife Rescue, who sent rescuer Brad Bryan to the scene.
Bryan took the little squirrel, whom Robert and Shelby named George, back to the rescue. Safe at last, George gratefully gobbled his food. Small-mammal specialists will continue to monitor George as he grows, tracking his feeding schedule and ensuring he has everything he needs to thrive on his own one day.
Robert Foley
As for Robert and Shelby, this experience didn’t necessarily change their perspective on wildlife. The animal lovers, who always try to be good custodians of the ecosystem, already have a strong sense of their coexistence with nature. Rather, helping George and collaborating with wildlife experts in their area reaffirmed their faith in humans.
“What I did learn from this experience with George is how many people out there are genuinely helpful and caring,” Robert said. “[People] who quietly answer the call to action when people and animals are in need.”
