Thanks to sweet Hurricane Gustav, we’ve had a couple of days of windy conditions here in west Alabama. Nothing really major, but resulted in the falling of a few large dead tree limbs.
Today, while waiting on the geriatric dog to do her business I spotted a little blob of something in the grass covered by ants. It resembled a large blob of pink bubblegum. However, upon closer investigation, I realized it was an very teeny tiny squirrel baby. Mother Nature had already taken her course so we gave the baby a proper burial.
We suspect the poor little thing probably got blown out of its nest. I decided to check the area in case there were more victims. Sure enough, there was another tiny body in the grass close to where we found the other one.
Here is a photo I found on the Internet of exactly what we found:
(approximately 1 week old)
Because we knew we did not have the capability to nurse a newborn squirrel to life. We euthanized it an buried it with its sibling.
*Enter the Princess into the backyard of death*
She caught us in the act of burying the second creature and wanted to know what was going on. I explained to her briefly, when she suddenly spotted something in the yard.
Why, oh why?! Yes folks, there was ANOTHER one in the grass. It was raining newborn squirrels, for crying out loud.
Of course, she called Lego-Man to the death scene, and he has the biggest heart for animals in the family. We provided them an explanation as to why we could not save them and how the newborn was better off with its siblings. In squirrel heaven, of course.
So, with the kids sent inside, we euthanized the tiny thing and also buried it with the other two.
We made another sweep of the yard around the tree and saw no other signs of falling squirrels. Too bad their daddy wasn’t this guy, maybe things would have turned out differently.
Please, PETA people, do not turn me in for cruelty to animals. Believe me, I wish things could have turned out differently for the poor babies. Internet research has only reinforced the delicate balance of life and hard work it would have been to help these unfortunate victims of Gustav stay alive.
Rest in peace, little baby squirrels…….*sniff*
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9 comments:
That picture is kinda freaking me out.
Anyway, thanks for the prayers. We're home already.
Tough situation. They definitely weren't "done" yet.
I'm sure it wasn't an easy thing to do -- I'm so sorry you all had to go through that.
I know the feeling.years ago and a different life(My first marrage) we had a cat die giving birth. two babies survived. our vet told us what we needed to try to keep the 2 kitties alive. we did as we were told to unfortunaly one died the other survived.
My neighbor would have a heart attack if she knew you did that. She is currently nursing a newborn squirrel. She is an animal FREAK. Yuck.
Ugh. Having nursed a considerably bigger and furrier baby squirrel for weeks, only to have it die AFTER the kids were permanently attached to it, I think you did the kindest thing for all involved. There's no way those babies would have lasted long without around-the-clock care, feeding, heat, etc. If you hadn't found them when you did, they would have died soon anyway.
Sorry your kiddos had to experience that, though. It's always sad for them to see little animals die...even when nature's just taking it's course.
AWww bless their little squirrel hearts!
I new you were TWISTED-sad, sad, sad little fellas-
Oh, I would have done the same thing-
We've got plenty of squirrels in the south- we can do without a few!
Now when you say euthenized...
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