Around 8:00 this morning, I peered out the backdoor to my porch and the yard beyond to see if she was there.  Who is “she”?  The injured squirrel I discovered 3 days ago.  

The first glimpse I saw of her was fleeting.  Anyone who has observered squirrels for more than a few seconds knows they are rarely still, unless they are eating, or resting in an area where they feel safe.  But something about her leg caught my eye.  It appeared injured.  A squirrel moving about in the leaves and liriope clumped around the big willow oak tree in the backyard is difficult to assess. I kept my binoculars close by to hopefully get a better look.

Yesterday morning, I was taking my coffee to the back porch to start the day, but paused short of opening the storm door.  There she was….poised on the wooden deck railing with her back up against the post.   Often the squirrels who eat the nuts or peanut butter and crackers I put on the railing will back up against the 6×6 corner post, affording them some protection as they eat.  But I realized this little one was also using the post for support.  As she curled over to lick her leg wounds, the post kept her from falling over.  She licked and chewed, not noticing my reflection through the storm door.  As I reached for the binoculars to get a better look, I saw a horribly swollen foot and leg that was furless, and had several puncture wounds. I had to capture her, and transport her to someone that could better assess the injuries.

To avoid startling the little one, I used the side door to go outside and retrieve my have-a-heart animal trap.  But as I eased onto the steps of the deck, trap in hand, she was startled, and I lost sight of her.  My mother used many old sayings, and one she frequently shared was “a watched pot never boils”.  Well, a watched backyard never reveals an injured squirrel either. The rest of the day I kept my eye out for her, and in anticipation I had the trap ready….baited with peanut butter and set to trip.

This morning, I had renewed hope that I would see the injured squirrel and somehow lure her into the waiting trap.  When I looked out towards the porch railing, there she was, backed up against the post, chewing and licking her injured leg.  Even though I eased slowly outside, I still scared her and watched as she struggled down to the ground, wove through the flora under the tree, and climbed up the redwood fence dividing my yard from the neighbor’s.  The fence was only about 30 feet from my porch, and she crawled to the top where she could crouch, allowing her injured limb to hang down beside her.  With the extreme swelling which was worse than yesterday, the little squirrel could not pull her right leg under her to huddle as she would normally.

I was desperate.  So, I did what many humans do in times of extreme distress….I prayed.  I asked God to please let me capture this squirrel to either get her help to heal, or have her humanely euthanized because she had to be in severe pain.

Anyone who has ever tried to catch a squirrel can testify to the fact that it is difficult, if not impossible.  They are smart and have minds of their own.  With an abundance of food around, what would make an injured squirrel struggle to get back across the yard, climb up to the porch railing and crawl into a strange looking wire cage? And with up to half a dozen squirrels scavaging about at any given time, what would keep me from capturing them vs. the injured one?

Sometimes faith and the power of prayer come together inexplicably….. except for those who truly believe. The proof is in the results that sometimes unfold right before your eyes, watching the impossible become possible, as it did for me.  Over the next 10 minutes, I watched the severely injured squirrel slowly crawl down the 8 foot fence, make her way through the bushes, leaves, and liriope, and climb up onto the wooden rail just a foot away from the trap.  I could not believe what I was seeing.  Was my prayer being answered?

Peanut butter was smeared on the wood just in front of the wire cage, and a huge glob of the creamy goodness was at the rear of the trap, just past the trip lever.  As the squirrel licked the peanut butter off the railing, she must have caught the smell of more, and continued into the trap.  I was elated to hear the latch shut.  Quickly, I covered the cage with a towel, and placed it into a cardboard box for transport.

A few days ago, I wrote about another one of my animal rescues, “Backyard Miracle”.  Navigating through that particular rescue acquainted me with an extremely experienced squirrel rehabber through Wildlife Welfare.  By the time I caught the injured squirrel this morning, I’d already spoken with the rehabber.  I sent her a photo of the squirrel’s leg, which I took just after the capture. (see photo) As I left for the Emergency Vet, my new friend in the Wildlife Welfare organization forwarded the photo to another rehabilitation expert in her network.  This other licensed expert focuses on adult squirrels, and agreed to take her after release from the emergency vet.  By the time I reached the animal hospital, the adult squirrel expert had already called and coordinated the potential transfer to her care.  This would be the ultimate outcome…..emergency vet evaluation, wound care performed, antibiotic and pain med administration, and transfer to the rehabber for further treatment, recovery, and release back into nature.

I was greeted at the Animal Emergency Hospital and Urgent Care by a veterinary assistant and the receptionist.  After gently transferring the squirrel into the box for them to take her for assessment, I completed the registration form and gave an optional donation to assist with medical care costs.  This hospital takes care of most types of injured wildlife, with the exceptions of adult deer, bats, raccoons and foxes due to possible rabies.  To my knowledge, it is the ONLY area veterinary hospital that is dedicated to taking wildlife as patients, and is open 24/7.  After the animals are treated, they are released to one of several experienced licensed wildlife rehabilitators in this region of North Carolina, depending on their specialty focus and available space.  Before leaving the hospital, I was reassured I would receive an emailed update on my little patient tomorrow.

Unfortunately, I received an update far too soon.  In fact, it came from my Wildlife Welfare connection less than 2 hours after my drop-off.  The little squirrel succumbed naturally to it’s injury.  At least for her there is no more suffering and pain, but what about my broken heart?  Why didn’t I capture her sooner?  How could I have decreased her stress during transport?  Did my actions hasten her death due to the stress?

I did all I could.  But sometimes my best isn’t good enough to get the outcome I desire.  Over half a dozen people coordinated together and worked out a plan to try and help this squirrel, a creature that many humans detest and view as a nuisance.  This morning, God renewed my faith in the power of prayer and pure belief that the impossible is sometimes possible.  Though the outcome was not what I wanted, I am grateful that my prayer was answered.