When a man in Long Island recently tried to start his car, he couldn’t figure out why it wouldn’t turn on. It had been sitting unused for a few months, so he assumed the battery had died or something had rusted.
But when he brought it to a mechanic friend, they discovered the real reason — and it was far sweeter than either of them expected.
As the mechanic popped open the hood, he saw what looked like a giant pile of leaves and twigs packed tightly inside.
But when he leaned closer, the pile started to move.
Nestled among the leaves were six tiny, fuzzy baby squirrels — all blinking sleepily up at him.
Apparently, while the car sat idle for weeks, a mama squirrel had decided it was the perfect spot to raise her family. The engine bay had become a cozy (and surprisingly well-insulated) nursery.
The men carefully lifted each of the babies out of the car and placed them somewhere safe. But one big question remained: Where was their mom?
Unsure what to do, the car’s owner contacted local wildlife rehabilitator Karenlynn Stracher, who immediately offered advice.
“She told him to put the babies in a box near where the car had been parked and wait,” the rescue shared.
So he gently tucked the babies into a shoebox, set it on the grass by the curb — and watched from a distance.
Moments later, a flash of gray darted down a nearby tree.
“She ran down instantly,” Stracher told The Dodo. “It was the fastest reunification I have ever seen!”
The mother squirrel didn’t hesitate for a second. One by one, she picked up each baby and carried them off to a new, safer nest nearby — determined to get every single one home.
In just minutes, all six babies were tucked away again, safe in their mother’s care.
You can watch the mom rescuing her babies in a video here:
Stracher hopes the story reminds people to check their cars, sheds, and attics before cleaning or repairing — especially in spring and summer when wild animals are raising young.
“I wish people understood how badly these moms want their babies back,” Stracher said. “When the babies are healthy, every effort should be made to reunite them — because no one can raise them better than their mom.”
If you’d like to support rescues like this one, you can donate to Karenlynn Stracher and help other wild families get their second chance.
