Contrary to what many believe, contractors are not only responsible for construction tasks, they handle much more.
They assemble materials, watch over the site, and sometimes even step in when wildlife crosses paths with their work.
One morning on a Missouri site, a contractor discovered exactly that kind of challenge waiting for him.
A Surprise Encounter On The Job
When the worker arrived at the site, he quickly realized he wasn’t the first one there.
A lively family of squirrels had already taken over, scurrying around until the man guided them safely away.
After clearing the area, he got back to work. He picked up a can of nitrogen, shook it, and directed the nozzle into a gap, filling it with resin-based foam.
But he hadn’t noticed that one little squirrel was still left behind. In its desperate attempt to get away, the small creature leapt straight into the fresh foam.
The helpless squirrel was instantly coated in a substance that would harden like concrete if left untouched.
The worker acted quickly, pulling him out and rushing him to the Missouri Wildlife Rescue Center (MWRC).
“The contractor acted very quickly, removing as much foam as possible before rushing the squirrel to the Wildlife Rescue Center,” wrote MWRC on their Facebook.
Care Begins At The Rescue Center
The man’s quick response gave the squirrel a fighting chance, but more help was needed.
At MWRC, the staff now faced the delicate task of figuring out how to free the tiny creature from his sticky, dangerous trap.
The animal care team moved fast, carefully working with cotton swabs and vegetable oil to loosen the foam before it could harden further.
They took things slowly, step by step, and administered sedatives and pain relief to calm the squirrel while making the process as comfortable as possible.
Mission To Save A Life
The first and most urgent step was clearing the airways. The staff swabbed his mouth and nose to help him breathe normally again.
Next, they cleaned his eyes and began working across the rest of his small body, removing the foam piece by piece where it restricted his movements.
By the end of that first exhausting day, they had removed as much as they could. The team gave the squirrel fluids and settled him in a warm, safe space for the night.
When morning came, the team resumed their careful work. After hours of patient cleaning, the little squirrel was finally free of the foam, his fur soft and clean once again.
His skin was still raw and irritated in places, but his spirit was brighter, and he seemed relieved to move freely once more.
We are still keeping a close eye on his condition, and he has a long way to recover, but we are amazed by his current progress.
Though recovery remains ahead, optimism is high.
The MWRC staff couldn’t be prouder of their success in helping this determined little squirrel.
They remain by his side through every step of his healing and look forward to the day when he can be released back into the wild where he belongs.