When Chris found this baby squirrel lying on the ground,
he couldn't believe what he was seeing.
The squirrel was so young, he hadn't even opened his eyes yet.
And I was just like, "Oh no! Why is he laying on the ground? Where's his mother?"
Chris waited for his mama to show up.
But when she didn't, he knew he had to help the little baby.
I was like, "I gotta do what I gotta do, we're all earthlings here."
Chris needed the squirrel to trust him,
so he could get him big, and strong, and ready to go back to the wild.
He made formula for the baby to eat.
But the squirrel was stubborn.
And probably really scared.
He didn't know Chris was trying to help him.
Chris had to be patient.
Until eventually, the squirrel got a bit more hungry than scared.
After those first few sips, he realized that maybe Chris wasn't so bad after all.
And when he finally opened his eyes, and saw Chris and his family for the first time,
he never wanted to leave.
Chris decided to give him a name: Acorn.
Acorn ate, and he ate.
And got bigger, and stronger.
Chris would hold Acorn tight, just like a momma squirrel would.
It was almost like Acorn was a member of the family.
He would sit in their arms,
and give them hugs,
climb all over them,
and complain when Chris went to work.
"Wanna come to work with me? Wanna come to work with me?"
"Ah, he's under my shirt! [laughs]"
Acorn and his humans were inseparable.
Which made Chris kinda worried.
Acorn trusted them,
which was what Chris had always hoped.
But Acorn wasn't supposed to be a pet.
He would need to go back to the wild someday.
It was going to be tough, but Chris knew he had to get him ready to leave.
The family started taking him outside,
because that's where squirrels are supposed to live.
At first, Acorn was nervous.
He still wanted to be close to Chris.
"Don't you jump on me! You're a wild guy now."
Acorn had changed quite a bit since Chris first found him!
But he trusted Chris enough to give this "outdoor" thing a try.
Slowly, he started exploring,
one tree branch at a time.
Soon, he was spending all his time outside.
"You've been goin' all day!"
And then, one day,
Chris didn't see Acorn in his yard anymore.
He had gone off somewhere to be a wild squirrel.
Chris was happy for Acorn!
But he missed him, too.
He wondered where his little squirrel might be living now.
But one day, Chris went out to his backyard,
and got a big surprise!
Up in his tree, he spotted a squirrel nest.
And inside was Acorn!
Acorn had been building a nest this whole time!
Right next to Chris.
"He is still on the property, so, I guess we're gonna be neighbors."
Like every baby, Acorn had to grow up.
But even though he had to live on his own,
he'll never be far from home.