When Ron Milburn stumbled upon a tiny, hairless creature no bigger than his thumb lying in his driveway, he wasn’t sure what it was. After wrapping it up to keep it warm and consulting Google, he discovered it was a newborn squirrel—likely one that had fallen from its nest. Following wildlife advice, Milburn placed the baby squirrel in a shallow box outside, hoping its mother would return. Although she did come to check, she ultimately left the tiny squirrel behind. Later, Milburn discovered the baby had a mouth deformity that likely made nursing impossible.
Uncertain if the little one would survive, Milburn decided to try. He took the squirrel inside and began an intense care routine, feeding it puppy formula with a syringe every three hours, day and night. It was “like having a newborn baby in the house,” he said. To his delight, the squirrel began to thrive, and their bond grew stronger with each passing day.
Once Milburn was confident the squirrel would make it, he named him Bobby—short for Robert T. Squirrel (the “T” stands for “The”).
Milburn shared Bobby’s rescue story and their unique relationship on Newsner’s We Love Animals channel, which quickly captivated hearts. The video, now posted on Milburn’s TikTok account, @robertsquirrel, has garnered over 4 million views.
Watch the heartwarming video:
https://www.tiktok.com/@robertsquirrel/video/7180346935369354538?
@robertsquirrel
From an interview on Newsner who has 30 million followers in 11 languages
But Bobby’s story doesn’t end there.
Bobby has since built a family of his own. Living in an outdoor squirrel house crafted by Milburn, Bobby and his squirrel wife, Barbara Ann, are the proud parents of four baby squirrels: Peepers, Jeepers, Creepers, and Sneekers.
“Peepers seldom ventures from the treehouse, Jeepers is a bit more adventurous, Creepers creeps out further, and Sneekers sneaks into other trees,” Milburn shared on his website, bobbysquirrel.com.
Despite his outdoor independence, Bobby still comes to visit Milburn inside regularly. Videos on @robertsquirrel show Bobby doing everything from seeking comfort during thunderstorms to snuggling into Milburn’s pocket for some downtime.
Unfortunately, Milburn has faced challenges with his HOA, which requested he stop feeding squirrels in his yard, labeling them a “nuisance.” But anyone who watches Bobby listening intently to his story being told or seeking comfort during a storm would find it hard to call him anything but adorable.
Milburn often clarifies that squirrels aren’t ideal pets. Raising one from a newborn, as he did with Bobby, is vastly different from trying to domesticate a wild squirrel. Squirrels have sharp claws and teeth—something Milburn has humorously showcased in videos of himself covered in Band-Aids. However, he’s also working to gain Barbara Ann’s trust, a slow but rewarding process.
To celebrate Bobby’s story, Milburn created a children’s book titled Bobby and Friends, which features 10 short stories for kids ages 2 to 11, along with an accompanying coloring book.
Bobby’s tale has won over countless fans online, and it’s easy to see why. He’s the perfect mix of wild and affectionate—a squirrel who thrives outdoors but still loves to cuddle up with his human. For many, Bobby is the squirrel we all wish we could have as a friend.