Firefighters Rescue Squirrel in Upstate New York
On Christmas Eve, firefighters in upstate New York sprang into action to save a chubby squirrel that had managed to get stuck in a dumpster.
The Binghamton Fire Department responded promptly, finding the somewhat swollen rodent with its head wedged in a drainage hole of the trash can.
Rescue workers affectionately named the squirrel Holly. Remarkably, Holly didn’t resist being rescued, as the firefighters approached the situation with “patience, consideration, and a very gentle touch,” as noted in a post by the department.
“No matter the size of the call, we are always ready to help, and we’re relieved that the rescue was successful and the squirrel is back to normal life!” the department shared.
Given that the squirrel was nearly frozen, firefighters handed Holly over to a local wildlife rehabilitation organization, All Creatures, Large and Small. There, Holly was treated to a Christmas Eve feast featuring a generous amount of peanuts, water, and even some Gatorade.
On Christmas morning, Holly received some bandaging and was happily released back into the wild. Rehabilitation staff praised the firefighters for their careful handling of the unexpected holiday guest.
Unfortunately, not all squirrels share Holly’s good fortune. Peanut, a beloved pet squirrel known in the area, met a tragic end in October 2024 during a violent incident at his rescue shelter, Peanut Freedom Farm Animal Sanctuary. Alongside him, his friend Fred the raccoon also suffered a grim fate.
Authorities from the New York Department of Environmental Protection conducted a raid on a Pine City residence and seized the animals from the sanctuary. Early reports indicated that Peanut had bitten one of the agents before being euthanized, but his owner later alleged in a lawsuit that he had been decapitated.
The headless remains were then taken to the New York Department of Health’s Avon office and kept frozen.
This apparent disregard for the animals sparked significant backlash online, with many deeming it an example of government overreach.
In response, Republican senators in New York introduced the Peanut Act, or Humane Animal Protection Act, which would mandate a 72-hour waiting period before any seized animals could be euthanized.
Interestingly, the proposed bill hasn’t changed since its initial proposal.
