Often misunderstood, contractors do far more than manage construction sites—their responsibilities extend beyond that.
They not only source materials but also need to be vigilant about any wildlife that may appear and tackle issues as they come up.
Recently, a notable incident occurred at a construction site in Missouri.
On the Job
Upon arriving at his job site one morning, a contractor in Missouri discovered that someone had already arrived ahead of him.
A family of squirrels was scurrying across the site, prompting him to safely guide them away.
Once the area was cleared, he got down to business. He grabbed a can of nitrogen, shook it, and directed the nozzle into a crevice, releasing some resin-based foam.
Regrettably, the contractor overlooked a lone squirrel still on site. In its frantic effort to flee, the squirrel jumped directly into the wet foam.
The unfortunate creature quickly became covered in a substance that hardens like concrete.
The contractor promptly extracted the squirrel from the foam and transported him to the Missouri Wildlife Rescue Center (MWRC).
“The contractor responded swiftly, removing as much foam as possible before rushing the squirrel to the Wildlife Rescue Center,” stated MWRC on their Facebook page.
At The Clinic
While the contractor’s quick response was commendable, the squirrel required professional assistance.
The staff at MWRC needed to devise a plan to extricate the squirrel from this unusual predicament.
At the Center, the animal care team raced against time to delicately remove the foam using cotton swabs and vegetable oil before it fully set.
They tackled the foam removal in small, manageable sections. Pain relievers and sedatives were administered to help calm the squirrel and ensure his comfort.
The Recovery Effort
Initially, their priority was to ensure he could breathe freely. They cleaned his mouth and nostrils to restore his ability to breathe easily.
Next, they tended to his eyes before turning their attention to the remaining foam impeding his movement.
They removed as much foam as possible, and concluded the day’s efforts by hydrating him and providing a warm place to rest for the night.
The following morning, the team resumed their efforts. After diligently working, the squirrel was finally free of foam and pristine.
Although there were areas of his skin that appeared raw and irritated, the little one seemed noticeably happier.
We’re closely monitoring his recovery—we have a lengthy journey ahead, but we are truly impressed by his progress thus far.
The little trooper still has some healing to do, but the staff remains very hopeful and positive.
The team at MWRC takes great pride in their ability to assist this little one and is eager to support him on his path to recovery.
They look forward to the day he can return to the wild where he truly belongs.
