Mom and I run errands in the morning. We make a pit stop at my parents' house; Dad comes in from the yard. "I found a baby squirrel, do you want to see it?"
We think he has fallen from the nest in a tall tree in the yard, rolled off their roof, and landed in the grass. He was found nestled near their neighbor's dogwood tree. We pick him up gently, with gloved hands.
He tries crawling away butt-first, giving up when I keep catching him, and goes to sleep.
We name him Steve, leave him nestled in a corner, and I head to Nashville and Butch Walker. Mom keeps me updated that the night: Steve moves from the corner to the dogwood, and an adult squirrel is climbing around the tree limbs. We hope it is one of his parents.
On my way home, I stop to check on the little boy. We were all worried he'd die Monday night, but he's still hanging in there! He's all curled up, clearly wanting to be left alone to rest, but I sneak a few shots of his cute face.
When we check on him later that afternoon, we can't tell if he's breathing. There is sadness all around, but we are also impressed he lasted so long.
Steve is still alive. Dad spots him crawling around, slowly but surely. He moves a large planter into the yard to both shade the squirrel and ensure no one passing by steps on him.
Dad feeds Steve milk from a spoon. He drinks all that is put in front of him, but can't move towards it on his own.
His eyes are open for the first time, but his fur is matted and his tail isn't fluffy. Flies are buzzing around, and things look dire.
We move him to the backyard, so he can take his last breath at the roots of a tree squirrels have loved since the beginning of time. Ants are crawling all over him, but each time we think he is gone, we see his body shudder with another breath. Our trooper.
Dad goes out to pick up the body so it won't decay in the yard.
Dad searches around the tree roots, in the hedge nearby, and finds nothing but the milk spoon he left out the night before.
I love the mystery surrounding Steve - anything is possible! There are no bones, so I choose to think that, thanks to the milk and care, he grew strong enough to run around with the local squirrels. He's going to have an awesome life eating the pecans my mom tosses out into the yard.
I hope that Steve is alive and well! This is the first year that I haven't found a baby bird in our yard. The first year in our house we found a nest of new baby birds that had fallen but the birds had died. Later that summer we found more baby birds but they were alive. I read how to care for them and then the next day we drove 2 hours to a bird sanctuary that takes in house swallows. Same thing happened last year only it was just one bird and it was a little older.
ReplyDeleteI love what you did for the birds! We found a nest of baby birds built onto a windowsill about 5 or 6 yrs ago, but their mama was still around so I just photographed them and left them alone. My dad has found some dead baby birds that fall from trees, and an egg once or twice.
DeleteWhen I was a kid, a raccoon had babies in our chimney and then died so we took the babies to some sort of animal sanctuary. We wanted to take Steve to a nature center but looks like he made it on his own (fingers crossed)!
Oh, I'm hoping he is okay too! How sweet he is and how sweet you were for caring about him!
ReplyDeleteMy dad is the true hero! He found him, kept his shaded, and fed him milk. I was just an innocent bystander snapping photos saying "Oooh, I wish I could take him home!" =)
DeleteThat is so sad. I hope that he is okay and that he survived and that an animal didn't eat him or anything. He was so tiny. Aw :(
ReplyDeleteMy brother had a pet baby squirrel when he was a child. Ever since he charms them and they just approach him and follow him around. It is really weird..
+Victoria+
I know he's ok. He's so strong to have made it that far... gotta have faith!
DeleteMy mom is really good with squirrels; she leaves them pecans a lot and they'll come up to her on the porch. My dad is good about finding baby animals, too. Let's just hope I have that same touch if/when I get a pet!
Steve! I know he is okay. He is frolicking. I know it.
ReplyDeleteYES! The power of our positive thinking.
DeleteI have faith in Steve squirrel. He is running around telling all his new friends how he tricked those silly humans into giving him free milk for a week.
ReplyDeleteThat is SO Steve's style. I hope he knows he can come back and trick us into giving him pecans, we were just out last week.
DeleteAh he's so cute! I bet he's just fine now.
ReplyDeleteI think that the more people say it, the more it's true. So thank you for your help.
DeleteThis is very touching in a not-sappy way.
ReplyDeleteThank you! I felt sappy while I was writing it so I'm glad it didn't come off that way.
DeleteGreat little story, you had me hooked right from the start. Miracles do happen, maybe this was one of them.
ReplyDeleteLong time no contact. I was posting a review (Mad Mike's Burgers and Fries) today (first in forever)and I thought of you. Hope you are well. The Weinermen and Weinerwomen are all doing fine.
If you are ever driving through northern Ky on I-75, look this place up.
Deiter
Weinerman! I've been haunting your blogs for so long, hoping to see a post! Glad there will be a burger one to make me hungry! I'm doing very well and glad your family is as well! Thanks for the burger rec, think I can make it in time for lunch?
DeleteLunch probably not, but they are open until 11pm and Oktoberfest Zinzinnati is open until midnite tonite and 10pm Sunday. Only 16 miles from a Mad Mike's Burger to a Straus Haus Zoomer!
DeleteGood to know! I've been planning a trip to hit Mammoth Cave, and also want to go back to Cincinnati and Columbus, so now I have a route planned out with meal stops.
DeleteI'm pretty sure he befriended a little boy who fed him peanut butter crackers and gave him a tiny motorcycle that he rides around the hotel at night.
ReplyDeleteOh, wait, he's a squirrel? Never mind...
Totally acceptable. We made up tons of Mouse and the Motorcycle situations for him.
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