Orphaned squirrels travel hundreds of miles before being rescued

Shania and Redneck are two baby squirrels that found their way to a very caring home where they were fed and cared for until they could be taken to a proper animal rehab center. But the journey that they unknowingly embarked on was a very long one. These two were living in a nest in a mobile camping trailer, along with their mother until the trailer was moved by the owner, Bowen, who didn't realize he had a squirrel family on board. The trailer was driven over 250 miles to the Havelock Country Music Jamboree in southern Ontario. The mother was left behind and was separated from her babies.

Once Bowen arrived at the massive country music festival, he set up his trailer and fell asleep. He awoke the next morning to find a tiny male squirrel snuggled in his sleeping bag with him. He had obviously come out of the nest looking for food and warmth when his mother did not return. More than 24 hours without the mother squirrel left this little guy dehydrated and hypothermic. The little baby was named Redneck and was turned in to a police officer who knew a local veterinarian, Kristy Hiltz, who had a soft spot for tiny creatures.

Later that night, a second squirrel, cold and hungry, came out into the open and Bowen's friend, Kayla went back to the police with the second stowaway. This little female was named Shania (after Shania Twain, country music superstar). The veterinarian made the two hour journey to pick her up and reunite her with her brother, Redneck. The two babies were given electrolytes to treat their dehydration and then they were fed a special infant formula from a syringe.

Hungry little squirrels need food every few hours and caring for these two is a big commitment, but who could resist such adorable little faces? Luckily, they caught on quickly and drank eagerly from the syringe. After each feeding, Redneck and Shania instantly became tired and they curled up and fell asleep, in a warm armpit if one was available. They are only a few weeks old and had only just opened their eyes the day after they were found.

These squirrels are about to embark on another long journey to the rehab centre where they will be cared for until they can be released into the wild.