When you rescue a wild animal, it usually comes with the understanding that you'll have to eventually set them free and say goodbye.
Most of the time, the animal's instincts will take over, and they will become one with nature, probably never to be seen again.
However, Bella the squirrel is an exception to the rule. The Harrison family agreed to take Bella in when she was just 4 weeks old and badly injured after a skirmish with an owl.
The family was used to taking in wild animals, but had no idea just how special Bella was about to become to them.
Bella was one of four other squirrels the family also took in. The Harrisons kept the squirrels during the cold winter, then released them in April when it was warm enough for the youngsters to thrive.
They didn't see much of their squirrel friends after letting them back into their natural habitat — that is, except for Bella.
Bella's human mom, Brantley Harrison, told The Dodo:
Her personality was not any different than any other squirrel I have ever raised while she was in my car. The main objective is to return them all back into the wild so I never treated her like a pet. She acted no different than the others.
Bella ran into the woods just like the other three squirrels the family rescued.
However, she came back to the house within days to visit.
Brantley explained that the other squirrels came back too, which is typical, but Bella's behavior was especially unusual.
Bella would stand in front of the door or window and leap until she got someone in the family's attention.
This included the canine members, too.
The most amazing part about Bella's visits is that they have lasted for almost eight years (since 2009) and that she makes them almost every single day.
Bella doesn't love to be pet, but she does love sitting on the lap of her family members and be fed lots of nuts, which isn't too surprising for a squirrel.
It goes without saying that Bella is lucky to have the Harrisons.
She probably wouldn't have made it past her first birthday without them.
The family rescued Bella again a few years ago when she had a broken foot and nursed her back to health.
At the same time, there was another surprise waiting for the Harrisons: Bella was about to give birth to some squirrel babies of her own.
Brantley told The Dodo that "it was truly amazing to watch the baby I raised [now] raise her own babies."
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