Woman feeds a stray squirrel for weeks – then her camera captures the animal leaving her a special present by the window

Small acts of kindness toward animals can sometimes lead to extraordinary outcomes. One such moment was captured in a viral TikTok posted on August 18 by user @sourceenergy1, a page devoted to metaphysics, universal laws, and spiritual transformation. In the clip, a woman’s simple routine of feeding a stray visitor turned into an unusual gesture of gratitude that has captivated millions, drawing more than 1.5 million views and sparking widespread discussion about the surprising ways animals may express appreciation for human kindness.

The video began with the woman returning home after running errands and noticing a cookie on her sill. Curious, she checked her security camera footage, which revealed the mystery: the squirrel she had been feeding for weeks. Overlay text on the clip read: “She has been feeding this squirrel for weeks.” As the footage continued, a man giving commentary explained that the animal had been visiting daily for food, and one day appeared to repay the kindness with a token in return. The squirrel was seen carrying the cookie in its mouth, climbing the railing, leaping across to the windowsill, and carefully placing it down. 

The video quickly spread across TikTok and was praised for its heartwarming display of the connection between humans and animals. Viewers filled the comments with both touching stories and playful jokes. “I used to feed a squirrel on my balcony, and the little one used to bring me roses as a thank you. Great video!” shared @lilygav777. “I feed mine corn on the cob and they bring me half-eaten crab apples from the house across the street,” @_obiwand_ chimed in.

Others responded with humor. “I've been feeding my husband, he doesn’t bring me cookies!! This is why I love animals,” joked @malexbay785. “I fed my squirrel, but it brought me nothing. All he was doing was bringing new pals. After that, he hosted large garden parties and asked me to provide the catering,” added @christianhennig55. Meanwhile, @awesome5570 noted, “And someone had a cookie stolen by a squirrel. How crazy is that?”

While the squirrel’s behavior may seem unusual, the idea of animals offering “gifts” is not new. Research on wild bottlenose dolphins at a wild dolphin provisioning programme documented "23 occurrences of gift-giving." Dolphins brought wild-caught cephalopods or finfish species to the staff members. According to the study, it is part of their play and food-sharing behavior that becomes the core of the relationship formed between humans and these mammals. Similarly, crows are well-known for leaving objects such as pine twigs, lost earrings, rocks, or bones for people who regularly feed them. Whether the squirrel left the cookie accidentally or as a genuine act of reciprocity, the video showed how small gestures between humans and wildlife can bring them closer.