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Squirrel Rescued, Rehabilitated After Plunge Into La Brea Tar Pits

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Photo by Non Paratus via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr

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A squirrel narrowly avoided the fate of so many mastodons and saber-toothed cats eons before, when it was rescued from the La Brea Tar Pits.

A worker from the Los Angeles County Museum of Art saved the creature from the tar pits a few weeks ago and called the California Wildlife Center near Calabasas to rehabilitate the creature, The Acorn reports.

The rescue operation involved lots of soapy water and patient interns scrubbing the squirrel's face with toothbrushes:

After untold buckets of water and nearly one hour later, the tar was cleaned off. The squirrel is now eating on its own and quite angry — signs that it is ready for release.

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