Maryland Woman’s Unusual Rescue Mission in Rock Creek Park

The search for a rodent in Washington, D.C.’s Rock Creek Park began when a woman from Maryland stumbled upon a Reddit post about a lost or abandoned creature.

On July 14, 2026, Teal Quinn embarked on a more than one-hour journey from her Maryland home. Her mission was to rescue an albino rat reported to be missing in Rock Creek Park. Quinn was an active member of a subreddit dedicated to pet rat enthusiasts. Late one evening, as she prepared for bed, she noticed an intriguing post.

“Lost or Abandoned Rat in Rock Creek Park!” read the post. It was accompanied by a picture showing a small albino rat cautiously peering out from beneath a bush.