A Family Nursed An Injured Squirrel Back To Health And The Photos Are Heartwarming
Squirrels are definitely some of the cutest animals, so it's natural for anyone with a kind heart to want to help one in trouble. A family in Finland found a red squirrel lying motionless by the side of the road, and they quickly became worried.
Though the sight was upsetting, the little squirrel soon showed signs of life. What started as a heartbreaking moment turned into a truly heartwarming journey. Keep reading to see how this story developed.
Spotting The Little Red One
In 2007, a family in Finland found a tiny red squirrel lying motionless by the roadside. They guessed it might have been hit by a car or attacked by another animal.
The family felt devastated, especially since they'd never seen a baby animal in such bad shape before. Even though they weren’t sure what to expect, they were determined to do everything possible to help the little squirrel survive.
Nursing Back To Health
The family's first thought was to take the tiny squirrel home, hoping to care for it and help it heal. As kind-hearted people, it felt like the right thing to do at the time.
After several trips to the vet, the little squirrel began to improve and showed signs of getting healthy again. No longer close to death, the family could clearly see the progress. Seeing this recovery, they decided to take the next step...
A Little Bit Of TLC
Like so many things in life, a little love and care can make a huge difference. The family did everything they could to give the tiny squirrel all the attention and nurturing he needed.
Soon enough, he grew curious and full of energy, ready to explore his surroundings. The family was thrilled, completely captivated by his every move. It was as if he had been given a fresh start at life.
One Major Problem
Although things looked heartwarming, not everything was as perfect as it seemed. The family's care had helped the squirrel recover, but a hidden problem still lingered.
The hopeful outcome they wanted changed when they made a worrying discovery. Reddit user Priami, whose family had taken in the squirrel, explained, "We realized his eye would never fully heal, and he wouldn’t be able to survive on his own." So, what did this mean for the little squirrel’s future?
Heartbroken
Naturally, the family was heartbroken to learn that their little friend couldn't go back to the wild where he belonged. But despite that disappointment, there was a bright side—they were ready to make him a permanent member of their household.
Since he had already become such a special part of their lives, officially adopting him as a full-time family member felt like the obvious choice. Letting him go just wasn’t something they could do—and really, who could blame them?
An Official Decision
They made up their minds. The family finally decided to make the squirrel a part of their life by officially adopting him. The next step was to decide a name for their furry little guy.
What name would be best suited for a squirrel do you think? Maximus? Arthur? Maybe even Daniel? They decided to go with Arttu, "pretty much the Finnish version of 'Arthur.'"That name ended up fitting him so well. Big things were in store for little Arttu.
Time To Get Acclimated
Once they decided on a name, the next step was to make sure Arttu was nice and comfortable at his new place of residence. Much like when a friend comes to visit, you want to make sure that he or she feels good during their stay.
Since this was a permanent stay, and because he was an animal that usually isn't domesticated. It wasn't long before they found out that Arttu had quite the personality.
A Jokester
Who would have thought that squirrels could be so funny or have a sense of humor? Clearly, no one, but Arttu was such a jokester according to the family. He would do things that you wouldn't expect animals to do.
"He liked to have playful 'fights' with our hands (you know, like cats do) and he was smart enough not to bite too hard," his new family said. You just have to love an animal with a playful side.
Just Hanging Out
It was like a dream come true for Arttu and his human family. He had a blast all day and every day. The family loved his presence as much as he loved playing with them.
In the moments when Arttu wasn't climbing all over the humans, he would make the most out of their hoodies. One thing he would do is nestle into them and make temporary nests so he could be nice and warm.
The Hungry Squirrel
Not only was Arttu a funny guy, he had a tremendous appetite. When you're spending most of your time wasting energy climbing up people five times larger than you, you will be hungrier than the average squirrel.
To solve this, the family tried many different snacks to see which he would like the most. They were pleased to find out he liked to eat well. They gave him a diet of nuts, fruits, berries, and mushrooms.
Family Time
This little guy just loved being around everyone. It was like he was meant for domestication. He liked munching on his snacks outside with the rest of the family while they enjoyed each other's company.
Obviously, he couldn't speak, but he made it clear with his presence that being around his humans was something he did enjoy very much. He loved every minute spent with them and the family loved every minute with Arttu.
Comfort Became Instinct
Wild animals and humans don't normally blend that well. It just isn't in their nature to be buddies with people and that's common knowledge. However, the exact opposite could be said for Arttu and his family. He had become extremely comfortable with them.
Comfort became instinct with Arttu. No matter where or when, Arttu was able to transform any place into a cozy resting nest that was perfect for his next nap. The hoodies are where it started, but that soon became cupped hands too.
Exploring With Arttu
It's unfortunate that Arttu couldn't roam around the great outdoors like the rest of his species. Climbing huge trees, finding food, and jumping from branch to branch wasn't in his daily life anymore. However, his family helped with that issue.
They really enjoyed taking him outside so that he could climb around as nature originally planned for squirrels to do. As long as he had the proper supervision, everything was fine. Look how happy the little guy looks!
Making Sure He Felt A Little At Home
Imagine being stripped away from your native country but accepted elsewhere wholeheartedly. As good as it is to be accepted, there will always be a part of you that might miss where you came from. Arttu's family wanted to make sure this didn't happen with him.
Whenever it was time for Arttu to come back inside after playing, they let him feel close to his home. That's right, Arttu was allowed to bring back in something from nature. His favorite was pine cones!
Christmas Time!
Can you imagine having a little furry tree climber roam around your house during Christmas time? There's no telling what he might do around the Christmas tree! That's why whenever that holiday came around, the family ensured that the tree was extra protected.
It was only a matter of time before Arttu would climb to the top of the tree! That was just in his nature as a wild animal. What else would you expect?
Smart Little Guy
As it turns out, Arttu was smarter than your average squirrel. That's something you might never hear in your life, but it could be said for this little guy! Although he liked climbing, he soon began to realize something important.
Trees inside the house were way different than the ones he found and loved outside. And he may have realized this, but that didn't stop him from appreciating the ornaments found on the Christmas tree.
A Special Set Of Needs
A cat or dog is usually the standard type of pet to keep. That means animal stores and groomers are better suited to tend to those kinds of animals than, say, a local squirrel you found on the side of the road.
A squirrel has a special set of challenges that come along with the unique joys they bring. Arttu needed to have his nails regularly trimmed due to not living in the outdoors. That itself was quite a task.
Taking It Like A Boss
Have you ever seen those videos on YouTube where the owner is attempting to groom their cat, but the cat just isn't cooperating? That happens with a lot of pets and it's expected. Don't expect it with Arttu.
Many other animals act out of character while they are getting special treatment, but Arttu takes it like a real trooper. He understood the better he acted, the sooner it would all be over with and he could get back to acting like is playful self.
Long Live Arttu
The family found him curled up in a nest looking like he was sleeping. Once they realized he wasn't alive anymore, it was difficult for the family to come to terms with the fact their unexpected family member was gone. No matter how short his life was, Arttu certainly had one for the ages. Neither he or the family could have ever predicted that they would be living under the same roof in unity like they were. It was like something out of a Disney movie.
The family did something touching for the little guy. "We fed other squirrels all the food we had stored for him before he died," they said. They even gave Arttu a little tombstone.
