Unacceptable Rypstra
1116 (5) (WS) Joey
One of last summer's highlights.
There was a Gray Squirrel nest in our Sitka Spruce tree. Part way through her second brood, she decided to relocate the kits.
The children had seen her running through the yard, on and off all day, with one in her mouth.
On that day, we also heard what we thought was a new bird call from the front yard. Being busy, we didn't have time to check it out till evening, when the sad, plaintive call was still occurring at intervals.
Well, it wasn't a bird, but this little fella. For some reason, he had been abandoned by it's mother at the base of the nest tree.
Gray Squirrels are introduced and invasive here, being notoriously destructive to bird nests in the spring. As we stood over it, I debated what to do about this helpless one.
Red ants had already found it, and he cried every time one bit him. They had managed to bite through the skin in several spots. He also had mites. Other than that, and a few scuff marks which probably happened when he was dropped, he seemed in decent shape.
The children all of a sudden made the call to try and save him, looked on-line on how to meet his needs, raced to the local store to pick up what we didn't have before the stores closed for the night, and hoped he'd make it through the night.
When my son went to pick him up with an old shirt, the kit was so desperate for warmth, that he did his best to crawl up into his hand, though still 'blind', with a sudden show of strength in his little limbs.
They determined he was 2-3 weeks old. Priorities included getting him warm and rehydrating him with a honey/water solution.
He was thirsty. Once he drank the allotted amount, he fell into an exhausted sleep.
If you're interested in this story, I'll upload one or two more shots with the end of the tale. Just let me know.
Please don't use this image on websites, blogs, etc. without my permission.
Note: Although I love favs, I will typically respond only to those who leave a comment.
1116 (5) (WS) Joey
One of last summer's highlights.
There was a Gray Squirrel nest in our Sitka Spruce tree. Part way through her second brood, she decided to relocate the kits.
The children had seen her running through the yard, on and off all day, with one in her mouth.
On that day, we also heard what we thought was a new bird call from the front yard. Being busy, we didn't have time to check it out till evening, when the sad, plaintive call was still occurring at intervals.
Well, it wasn't a bird, but this little fella. For some reason, he had been abandoned by it's mother at the base of the nest tree.
Gray Squirrels are introduced and invasive here, being notoriously destructive to bird nests in the spring. As we stood over it, I debated what to do about this helpless one.
Red ants had already found it, and he cried every time one bit him. They had managed to bite through the skin in several spots. He also had mites. Other than that, and a few scuff marks which probably happened when he was dropped, he seemed in decent shape.
The children all of a sudden made the call to try and save him, looked on-line on how to meet his needs, raced to the local store to pick up what we didn't have before the stores closed for the night, and hoped he'd make it through the night.
When my son went to pick him up with an old shirt, the kit was so desperate for warmth, that he did his best to crawl up into his hand, though still 'blind', with a sudden show of strength in his little limbs.
They determined he was 2-3 weeks old. Priorities included getting him warm and rehydrating him with a honey/water solution.
He was thirsty. Once he drank the allotted amount, he fell into an exhausted sleep.
If you're interested in this story, I'll upload one or two more shots with the end of the tale. Just let me know.
Please don't use this image on websites, blogs, etc. without my permission.
Note: Although I love favs, I will typically respond only to those who leave a comment.