Squirrels, squirrels everywhere! I absolutely adore these fluffy tailed acrobats! They live in tight knit communities so when you see one on your lawn it is related to the other in your neighbor’s yard and so on. 

Due to their small stature and eager hunting, especially in the Fall, we see far too many of them hit by vehicles.

Unfortunately, squirrels aren’t the only animals to suffer from such a fate. We must be careful and alert to all activity when we drive. Keep it slow so we can stop without hurting others.

Road Rescue

It may sound odd to some but not only do I stop to rescue a lost or injured animal but also when I see an animal on the road that looks to have been hit. I check to see if it can be saved or is intact…

This isn’t always possible due to traffic and I am mindful of this.

Up until yesterday, every one of these poor creatures (cats, mice, birds) that I found in the road was already gone from this world once I got to it. For each instance I’m careful not to touch them with bare hands.

I grab whatever I can to protect myself and gently pick them up and place them onto the grass.

Keeping the Faith

I respectfully say a little prayer and usually cry a bit, okay sometimes it is more than a bit… but the general idea here is that I hate to see these poor animals crushed over and over by vehicles on the road. It makes me upset so I’m doing it for them and for me.

Yesterday I got super lucky and wanted to share this nice story because it made me feel like I made a difference and that everyone else can too!

Maybe you aren’t inclined to pick up what is harshly called ‘road kill’ but you can be careful driving. Accidents happen and have to me so this is not a guilt trip just a reminder.

Please keep this story in mind for the next time you see an animal on the road…

What’s Up Ahead?

On my way to driving to the grocery I could see that ahead of me, on the pavement of the oncoming lane, there was what looked to be a dead squirrel on the road. I slowed down to a stop and saw that he was perfectly intact.  He was such a beautiful creature, large and beautiful with a majestic plumed tail.

It was a sad sight to see but I wasn’t going to let him get shmushed… like I said I hate seeing that. So once I stopped my car, I quickly grabbed some tissues to grab him up with, stepped out of my car and gently picked up his still body.

New Found Hope!

I can’t really explain exactly how it felt when my hands touched him. His body was warm to the touch and I could feel his HEART POUNDING… I was OVERJOYED that he may still stand a chance!

Slowly I walked to the nearest lawn and laid him down on the grass. He was in shock so I petted him gently with one hand while cupping his body with the other so that I could feel his heartbeat. I told him that it would be okay – either way…

Not sure if he was going to make it I continued to soothe him and then about 3 minutes in, he started to move his nose to nuzzle and smell the grass. Slowly he began to move a fraction here and there.

Deducing and Waiting

As he was in this state I was determining my next steps. How could I transport him to a vet or rescue and at what point would I make my next move? There wasn’t any blood on him but some scuffs of fur were visible but I’m not a vet. Things continued to go in the right direction as I watched his head and shoulders find themselves. He seemed to be recovering from his shock.

I’ve no idea what happened but here he was fighting to come back. Just as I was about to pick him back up, to take to the vet, a car honked its horn. He leaped away from me toward the fence and put his two legs up onto it to perch.

The honker scolded me for leaving my car in the road without my flashers. I usually do this but this time I forgot. So I apologized and explained that I was trying to save a squirrel that somebody hit. She told me to put them on next time. Okay…

Is He Still There?

Eager to check on my furry friend, I turned to see that he was still perched on his hind legs balancing on the fence. I barely moved towards him to reassess his status when he made a huge leap over the fence! He bounded into the ivy where he continued to scurry off into the ground cover! 😊

Perhaps he lived to see another day and I have high hopes that this is true. At the very least, I am happy he did not get shmushed while in shock but still alive in the street!

Joy filled me up that he lived and from being able to make a positive difference for this little life!

Time to Sanitize

Next thought that raced through my mind – WASH YOUR HANDS! I couldn’t wait to wash my hands. I do fear diseases from doing this kind of act. The fact is that dead or alive, domestic or wild, animals can carry diseases that can be deadly/harmful to humans. My Purell was low but I was able to wash up at the grocery store.

You Can Make A Difference!

If you can, please stop and look when you see a fur or feathered baby in the road or injured anywhere- THEY MAY STILL HAVE A CHANCE and YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!

Fall is the season in New England when all the little squirrels are pressed for time and gathering up all the nuts they can that fall from the trees. They’ve got to get it done before the winter so they can have enough food stored up to survive.

I encourage you to help them out and enjoy watching the birds and squirrels. If you don’t already have a feeder for the squirrels then look into buying one for some outdoor fun!

Be sure to buy peanuts and corn that is sold specifically for animals! Believe it or not, there is a difference so please keep this in mind.

Theories of thought are that humans should not interfere with their hunting and gathering methods. That said there is theory that considers it acceptable. I generally put food out for the birds and squirrels during the winter and early spring.

Hopefully the critters are helped by this and not hindered.

Practice Mindfulness

Please stay alert and be careful for the safety of yourself and others. They are tiny and fast so you need to be prepared and the best way to do that is to stay present.

Live in the moment and be mindful of your actions. Accidents generally occur when our mind wanders to random thoughts not pertaining to our present state.

Practice mindfulness, kindness and stay in tune. Try to get out for a walk whenever you can to connect with nature. This world is such a gift as is all the life it gives and maintains.

Thank you for being a positive part of it! – Purr Out!