Adorable baby squirrel adopted by hen after becoming separated from its mother

Experts suggest the squirrel kit spent several says at the chicken farm after being separated from his family and searched for the hen as a surrogate parent.

Following his rescue, the animal is now being cared for at the SSPCA’s National Wildlife Rescue Centre in Fishcross, Clackmannanshire.

The squirrel will soon be released back into the wild following his recovery.

Beth Galbraith, a SSPCA animal rescue officer, said: “We received a call from a member of the public who advised that a squirrel had been coming into their hen house and sleeping under a chicken for several days.

“The squirrel kit had likely been separated from his mother and had been seeking warmth and comfort from the hen.

“The hen wasn’t fussed at all with the new addition.

“The kit was very thin and dehydrated so is now under the care of our wildlife hospital who will rear him until he is healthy and old enough to be released back into the wild.

“This was a very unusual rescue but also a very cute one.”

The adorable interaction follows a similar story where a baby fox sought comfort from a different species.

A cub and a baby owl bonded at Heronfield Animal Rescue Centre after the pair were both individually attacked by predatory birds in 2007.

On another occasion, an orphaned peanut skunk became friends with a mountain lion cub at an animal wildlife park in Ontario, Canada in 2012.

Anyone who finds an animal in distress is advised to call the SSPCA’s animal helpline on 03000 999 999.

Advice on squirrels can also be found on their website at: http://www.scottishspca.org/advice/squirrel.