I’m hooked on Facebook stories about human-animal interactions. People often find baby birds, chipmunks, possums, turtles, badgers, and other animals by the side of the road, assuming the parent has either died or abandoned them. They scoop them up, sometimes with their bare hands, and bring them home.

Often, these babies are so tiny that their eyes are still fused shut and their pink, fragile bodies make it difficult to tell exactly what kind of animal they are. Once home, the rescuers warm them up and give them a gentle bath. They invariably feed them, often using an eyedropper or tiny bottle filled with what I assume is some kind of liquid infant formula. The story unfolds through a cascade of photos documenting the animal’s growth, usually ending with a picture of the once-struggling creature happily settled into the rescuer’s life. Reading these stories makes me want to find a struggling baby animal of my own, nurse it back to health, and become its lifelong best friend.    

I find it fascinating how deeply these animals bond with their rescuers. Pictures of a turtle scurrying to the front door to greet its person or a dove nestled in the crook of someone’s neck, sound asleep, are utterly charming. (Though I do have to wonder—are these animals housebroken?)  If I had a small bird sleeping that close to me at night, it wouldn’t stand a chance, I would surely flatten it with all my tossing and turning!

 What’s even more amazing are the animals that seek out humans for help. Cristina Zenato, a shark diver and conservationist, has removed over 300 fishing hooks from sharks’ mouths from sharks that seem to seek her out specifically. The first time it happened, a shark gently nudged her while she was swimming. Without fear, she looked at it, somehow understood what it needed, and had both the knowledge and the tools to help. She carefully removed a large hook dangling from the shark’s mouth—by reaching down its throat! Who does that? If sharks are so attuned to human nature, why do they go around chomping on people at the beach willy nilly?

 In New Hampshire, there was an extraordinary moment when a desperate cougar brought her premature kittens to someone’s doorstep, seemingly pleading for help. The startled homeowner cautiously opened the door to find the mother cougar staring up at him, her tiny, fragile kittens huddled at her feet. Moved by the sight, the man carefully gathered the kittens and mother cougar onto his porch. With a mix of awe and concern, he sprang into action, retrieving infant formula and small baby bottles to feed the tiny, helpless creatures. Several times a day, he took on the role of caretaker, feeding them, and keeping a respectful yet reassuring presence for the mother, who watched over her babies. As soon as the kittens grew stronger, the mother took over the feedings, yet let the babies stay comfortably on the porch.  Eventually, she began taking her babies outside to teach them about the ways of the wild, and one day she left with them. Months later, on a crisp autumn morning, he stepped onto his porch to find a familiar sight—a happy, healthy cougar standing at the edge of the woods with her now-strong kittens trailing behind her. Their gazes met, and the man understood that she was saying thank you.

 From heartwarming rescues to incredible moments of trust between humans and wild animals, these stories never fail to captivate me. They make me wonder if animals are more intelligent than given credit for. 

The other day I saw a squirrel staring at me from a tree branch and I paused. Was it injured?  Was it seeking my help? I stood there, holding its gaze, ready to offer my home, my time, and perhaps a tiny baby bottle of formula for its nest of babies. Then it promptly flicked its tail, chattered at me in what I can only assume was squirrel profanity, and scampered away. I will have to keep living vicariously through the incredible animal/human stories I see on the internet.