This was my first rehab baby, Rocky a.k.a. Mouse. To me it says everything innocent, soft and sweet. Look at that little curled up foot... those tiny nails extended on that little hand behind his head. The soft pink tummy, the teeny whiskers starting to sprout. This is one to click on to enlarge! It will bring a little aaaaah to your day.
(I know, I have conspicuously left out mention of his little weenie. Even his tiny bits are cute)
Every day, after I'd fed a baby squirrel and it was nice and sleepy (the only guarantee they will stay somewhat still for about 20 minutes), I'd put it in a bowl lined with a fuzzy piece of cloth in the sun on my table. Besides that it was pleasantly warm and cozy, the way squirrels like life, I hoped each would absorb vitamin D to strengthen their growing bones.You think he looks big here until you realize I have him in a fairly small cereal bowl... with all that room to spare. Only way you can tell this is a movie at first is by watching his breathing (if you ignore my swift camera moves).
A week or so later, when Rocky had finally opened his eyes and doubled in size (still tiny as you can see below), I caught him looking out the window at the world he would be a part of in all too short a time.
A cold front blew in last night. Lots of rain and in the mid 40's. I was driving home from Christmas shopping in a chilly downpour and wondered where he was right then. I hoped it was in a warm squirrel box in some kind rehabber's back yard, since he is only about 4 months old now. It's not as cold or snowy as squirrels in other parts of the country endure this time of year, I know. Maybe he is curled up, shielded by his now-bushy tail, dreaming of these blissful naps taken in the Indian summer's morning sun.
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