Squirrel blocks woman’s path then leads her to injured baby by ‘tugging at her leg’, police say

'Squirrel whisperer’ Tia Powell claims to have also protected the rodents from a nearby cat

A woman has claimed a squirrel approached her on a trail, tugged on her leg and led her to help its injured baby.

A Pulaski police spokesperson said Tia Powell, a Virginia resident, called officers on 20 September.

She explained the squirrel blocked her path near Kiwanis Park before leading her to the young animal, which had an injured leg.

Ms Powell then realised a cat was nearby and could attack the animals.

She called police officers and a friend for assistance.

Pulaski police praised Ms Powell and dubbed her the “squirrel whisperer.”

A spokesperson said the responding officers found the squirrels sitting with two women.

The women and the officers then helped the animals back into a tree, which the squirrels appeared to be living in.

“A huge shout out to Tia (aka: The Squirrel Whisperer) and Jasmine! Had Tia not been willing to trust her instincts that something was wrong, this might have had a very different ending!” said a spokesperson from the Pulaski Police Department.

There are six species of squirrel in Virginia, including three subspecies which are considered federally endangered.

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Additional reporting by agencies