The Family Who Helped An Injured Baby Squirrel Got A Huge Surprise 8 Years Later
When the Harrison family came across a weak and injured squirrel, they knew they had to help. So they took her in and did what they could to nurse her back to health. But after releasing the critter back into the wild, it never ventured too far away from the kind family’s house. One day, though, something changed. The Harrison family's furry friend was acting differently, and it turns out she had a big surprise for the humans who’d helped her.
Not normal
For the most part, squirrels tackle their day-to-day lives without much human interaction. You can expect them to scurry up and down trees, bury some nuts, and make chattering noises. But then there are squirrels like this one that totally rewrite the book on squirreling. She’d had a rough start in life, so it's unsurprising that she turned out to be a little different.
Bella
Heartbreakingly, the squirrel was attacked by an owl when she was just four weeks old. She had no chance of surviving her wounds in the wild, so it’s a blessing that she wasn’t alone. A resident of South Carolina called Brantley Harrison rescued her, took her into her Greenville County home, and named her Bella. Harrison was an experienced wildlife rehabilitator and was happy to help little Bella.
Squirrel family
Brantley not only gave Bella a home, but she also gave the baby squirrel a family. Bella shared her cozy haven with three adopted siblings called Moe, Larry, and Curly. And during her recovery period, she lived with the trio in a shelter in the Harrisons’ yard.
Getting stronger
Because of her young age, Bella stayed with the Harrisons during the winter for her own safety. She grew strong on a diet of fruits, vegetables, formula and — her personal favorite treat — nuts. But Brantley didn’t domesticate any of the squirrels — that wasn’t the point.
