Students save helpless baby squirrel in Pirmasens!

Students save helpless baby squirrel in Pirmasens!

On July 3, 2025, fifth grade students at the Käthe-Dassler-Realschule plus in Pirmasens experienced a remarkable adventure during their hiking day in the Strecktal. The small group discovered a baby squirrel alone, lying abandoned on the ground, with no visible nest or mother nearby. The animal, which was outwardly intact and whose closed eyes indicated its young age, immediately became the center of attention.

Teacher and FDP city councilor Erika Watson was aware of the urgency of the situation and immediately contacted various places to get help. Despite her efforts to reach animal emergency numbers, animal rescue centers, veterinary practices and animal rescue centers, she was initially unsuccessful. Finally, she turned to the community via Facebook, where the phone number of the Eichhörnchen Notruf was shared.

The rescue act and the trip to St. Wendel

The emergency call referred Watson to Tanja and Marco Berger from St. Wendel, who run a squirrel rescue center. With a lot of care and wrapped in a warm cloth, she brought the baby squirrel, who goes by the name Baraa, to St. Wendel. There the little rodent was thoroughly examined and classified as healthy. However, it was determined that Baraa, estimated to be only two to three weeks old, would not be able to survive without support.

However, Baraa proves to be combative and takes the offered milk well. The initial forecasts are positive: the animal keepers in St. Wendel are optimistic that the little one will survive. This is the seventh baby squirrel surrendered to the sanctuary this year and the youngest animal in the rescue center's care. If Baraa grows up successfully, a release into the wild is planned, although not in the Pirmasens area, but in Saarland, where the environment is more natural for the animal.

Commitment of the squirrel aid

Supporting associations like Eichhörnchen Notruf e.V. is crucial for the protection and conservation of the European squirrel. This association is active throughout Germany and offers a nationwide network of contact persons as well as rescue and release stations. Their ultimate goal is to preserve these small creatures in their natural habitat.

“Available around the clock,” it says, where telephone advice enables a better assessment of the situation. Experienced foster homes are often necessary to place the small foundlings in the right hands. Raising wild animals requires not only time but also a lot of expertise, as patents and medicines that are suitable for pets can be dangerous for wild animals. A quick call can often save lives here - that's one reason why the work of these organizations is so valuable.

On the Thursday after the rescue, the students asked about their little protégé and were informed about the current status via the school messenger.

Newborn squirrels are in a very fragile state: they are naked, blind and helpless and only open their eyes after about four weeks. However, in nature they would be able to move around on their own after around eight weeks. Until then, dedicated helpers such as Eichhörnchen Notruf e.V. and private rescue centers support the little rodents so that they have a chance of a healthy life in the wild.

The case of Baraa clearly shows how important it is to pay attention to the needs of wild animals and to act quickly when help is needed.