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A Fairfax resident facing a dashboard full of warning lights in March discovered an unexpected cause under the hood: baby squirrels curled inside a nest in the engine bay.
The resident contacted Fairfax County Animal Services. When an officer arrived, she found the babies but no sign of their mother.
The incident reflects a seasonal surge in encounters between people and wildlife. From March 1 through April 27, 2026, Fairfax County Animal Services received 920 wildlife-related calls, according to Thomas Ingle, the agency’s chief field services officer and deputy director.
The Wildlife Rescue League, based in Northern Virginia, also receives hundreds of seasonal calls through its help line. Many involve animals that appear orphaned, including young squirrels and displaced cottontail rabbits.
However, human intervention is not always necessary and can sometimes make matters worse.
A nearly fully feathered bird hopping on the ground is probably a fledgling learning to fly and find food. Its parents are typically watching nearby. Young deer may also spend long periods alone while their mothers forage.
Other animals may need immediate assistance. Injured birds, displaced rabbits and baby squirrels are among the most common cases during the spring.
Turtles face another seasonal threat as they begin searching for nesting sites. Many are struck while crossing roads and arrive at rehabilitation facilities with cracked shells or other injuries.
Drivers who spot what looks like a rock in the road should slow down and check for a turtle. If it is safe to help, the animal should be moved across the road in the direction it was already traveling.
The squirrels found in the Fairfax car needed help reuniting with their mother, who likely chose the engine compartment because it was warm.
The responding officer transferred the babies into a basket to keep them warm. She then placed her phone nearby and played recordings of baby squirrel sounds.
The calls worked. The mother emerged and, after cautiously approaching the basket, carried her babies one by one to a new hiding place.
The Wildlife Rescue League’s regional help line operates from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. at 703-440-0800. Fairfax County Animal Services can be reached through the county’s non-emergency line at 703-691-2131.