Downtown Lancaster, Pennsylvania, is always full of activity—people strolling, relaxing at cafés, or taking in the sights. It was just such a Saturday when a local married couple found themselves enjoying the lively atmosphere.
Little did they know, they were about to notice something completely out of the ordinary. When they did, they wasted no time contacting their daughter to share the news.
Around 1 p.m., their daughter got in touch with a wildlife rescue group, who quickly rushed to the spot.
Swift Action Was Essential
When the rescue team learned that someone had found a groundhog in that location, they were taken aback. Betsy Shank, the founder of Acorn Acres, was especially alarmed.
“My heart dropped,” Betsy told The Dodo. “[She] was mere feet from one [of] the largest and busiest intersections in the city.”
The fact that a groundhog had ended up in such a place left her stunned. On top of that, she was concerned, knowing that groundhogs in Pennsylvania are considered a rabies-vector species.
That urgency meant the team had to move fast. “My team literally ran out the door to get on scene as fast as possible,” she said.
“Downtown was bustling with people! And there, behind the flowerpot on the wall of the stairs, was a terrified, dehydrated, momma groundhog.” Acron Acres described the “scene of the crime” in their Facebook post.
Once they evaluated the situation and picked the safest approach, the team got to work. With a broom handle and some help from the father of the girl who made the call, they carefully secured the groundhog.
The success of the rescue brought relief to everyone involved, and even bystanders expressed their gratitude and excitement for the team’s efforts.
Headed Back To Her Natural Habitat
After navigating their way through the crowd, the rescuers brought the groundhog to a clinic for a check-up.
Since they didn’t have the right space to keep and care for her long-term, they transferred her to Red Creek Wildlife Center, a rehabilitation facility in Millersville, Pennsylvania.
After evaluating her, they believed the groundhog may have broken free from a trap before ending up in the city.
It saddened them not knowing what happened to her babies. But since she was no longer nursing, they hoped her young ones were old enough to survive on their own.
Fortunately, their concern gave way to relief when they saw how quickly the groundhog began to recover and would soon be ready to return to her natural surroundings.
“Since I am familiar with the area where she was released, I feel pretty confident in saying that it is likely she will never see a bustling city square again,” Betsy said. “Her future is full of fields and forests with their abundance.”