When Ron Milburn discovered a tiny, hairless creature the size of his thumb in his driveway, he was unsure what it was. To keep it warm, he carefully wrapped the creature and began researching online.
It turned out to be a newborn squirrel, likely fallen from its nest. Milburn initially placed the squirrel in a shallow box outside, hoping its mother would return. While she did visit, she ultimately left again. Milburn later learned that the baby squirrel had a mouth deformity that probably prevented it from feeding properly.
Despite his doubts about the squirrel’s chances of survival, Milburn decided to take action. He brought the tiny animal inside and started feeding it puppy formula with a syringe every three hours, around the clock. He likened the experience to having a newborn baby at home.
Milburn’s efforts paid off. The squirrel grew and thrived, forming a strong bond with him. Once he was sure the squirrel was going to survive and determined it was male, Milburn named him Bobby (short for Robert T. Squirrel, with “T” standing for “The”).
Milburn shared Bobby’s rescue story and their evolving relationship on Newsner's We Love Animals channel. The heartwarming video quickly garnered over four million views on his TikTok channel dedicated to Bobby.
But the story didn’t end there. Bobby now has his own little squirrel house and a family of his own. He lives with his squirrel wife, Barbara Ann, and they have four young ones named Peepers, Jeepers, Creepers, and Sneakers.
According to Milburn, Peepers stays close to the treehouse, Jeepers is more adventurous, Creepers ventures further, and Sneekers sneaks into other trees. Milburn details these observations on his website, bobbysquirrel.com.
Milburn’s TikTok channel, @robertsquirrel, features a collection of endearing videos, including one where Bobby seeks shelter indoors during a thunderstorm. Bobby’s comfort with moving between his outdoor home and Milburn’s house, even making his way into Milburn’s pockets, is particularly touching.
Unfortunately, Milburn has faced challenges with his homeowners association, which has requested that he stop feeding the squirrels, labeling them as a “nuisance.” Despite this, it’s hard to view Bobby as anything but a cherished companion.
Milburn has addressed questions about keeping squirrels as pets, noting that raising a squirrel from infancy is very different from attempting to domesticate a wild one. He also shared that squirrels have sharp teeth and claws, which can pose challenges. He is working on building a relationship with Barbara Ann, who grew up in the wild, and while progress is slow, he remains optimistic.
Additionally, Milburn has authored a children’s book titled “Bobby and Friends,” which includes ten short stories and a coloring book for children aged 2 to 11.
Bobby the Squirrel has captured the hearts of many, embodying the ideal blend of a wild animal living a natural life while also enjoying affectionate interactions with his human family.