Unbeknownst to the worker, there was one stray squirrel left behind. In an attempt to escape, the little guy jumped right into the wet foam.
The poor squirrel was suddenly covered from head to toe in a substance that promised to dry like concrete.
“The contractor acted very quickly, removing as much foam as possible before rushing the squirrel to the Wildlife Rescue Center,” Missouri Wildlife Rescue Center (MWRC) wrote on Facebook.
The squirrel was still caked in foam when he arrived at MWRC, but the construction worker’s quick thinking made a huge difference.
The rescue team wouldn’t have as much waterproof foam to remove, but they still needed to decide how they would tackle the rest.
First, they swabbed his mouth and nostrils to unplug his airways. When he could breathe again, they gently cleaned his eyes before wiping off any other areas that could restrict his movement.
They took off as much foam as they could that first day, then gave him some fluids and a place to snuggle for the night.
Swabbing resumed the next morning. By his second day at the rescue center, the resilient squirrel was finally foam-free.
His skin was raw and red in most places where the foam had been, but his demeanor perked up right away.
The little one is still at the beginning of his healing journey, but his new friends at MWRC are happy to report that he’s thriving even more each day.
MWRC has high hopes for the squirrel’s recovery, no matter how long the road ahead might be.
They look forward to the day when they can see him run free in the wild again. But, until then, they’ll keep enjoying their time with the adorable, almost-fluffy boy.