Marie Cooper and her sheepdog, Belle, went out to her back yard in Edgecomb on May 5 and found a baby black squirrel sitting there. Belle and the squirrel started playing, chasing eachother around the yard.

Eventually Cooper put Belle inside to prevent injury to the little squirrel. It had no fear of woman or beast. It followed Cooper around.

When it started heading toward the road, Cooper went to it and coaxed it back to safety. It followed her closely, sometimes walking between her feet. When she stopped walking it came and sat on one of her feet, putting its paws on her leg and looking up at her.

A call was put in to the Lincoln County Animal Shelter. Betsy Pratt, animal control officer and wildlife rehabilitator extraordinaire was there in no time flat with a small cage.

Pratt scooped the little squirrel up, where it sat contentedly in her hands while a couple pictures were taken. Pratt said she had already rescued 4 or 5 other baby squirrels recently, and that they did, indeed, have no fear of humans or animals.

The fact that the baby squirrels are alone probably means that they have been abandoned by their mother, and the first thing they need is hydration, Pratt said.

If you come across a baby squirrel, please call the Lincoln County Animal Shelter at 207-882-9677. They will alert Betsy Pratt, and you'll feel good about saving a sweet, trusting little creature. Marie Cooper does.