Avon Firefighters Rescue Red Squirrel with Nesting Box

0:00It's March 27. This is Hartford News Today, AI-powered stories from your city. In Avon, Connecticut, volunteer firefighters joined Animal Control Officers last week to relocate a small red squirrel from the town's animal shelter. Instead of a typical rescue, they built and installed a nesting box high in a nearby tree to give the animal a natural new home. The squirrel had spent the winter in an outdoor enclosure at the shelter on Arch Road. One staff wanted to move it off property into a better habitat, so the fire department stepped in with ladders and tools to make it happen quickly and safely. Local officials praised the firefighters for their teamwork and lighthearted approach to the unusual task. Everyone involved saw it as a win for the critter and a fun community effort. Red squirrels differ from the more common grey ones in Connecticut. They're much smaller and prefer a coniferous forest. State wildlife experts note their populations have dipped in some spots due to habitat changes like vanishing pine woods.

1:00Efforts like this highlight simple ways towns can support local wildlife, ensuring even tiny residents get a fair shot at thriving.