"Why Is Mommy Gone?" by Krittermom
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Description
I often have babies that were found by a dead mother in the road. The baby will most often stay there until it dies because it knows not to leave mom. Usually it is raccoons, skunks, possums or groundhogs. I have never had a baby squirrel come to me this way, until 2 weeks ago. What I find in most of these babies is that they are hungry and frightened, but also grieving because they know mommy is dead. This little guy was scared, but mostly he was sad. He was grieving for his mother like the other animals do when they know she is dead. I believe with squirrels, usually the mothers leave the nest, get hit and then the kits are just left to starve. People find them when they hear them or when they crawl out of the nest to find food. The mother usually is not killed close enough for them to find. This little guy way laying on her and instead of being scared when he was picked up, he started the "mommy cry". This is a cry that they make only when calling for mom. He knew he was being taken away from her. He is still not the happy go lucky baby most squirrels are by this time. He is eating, but he still has that sad look in his eyes. He knows mommy is dead, he just doesn't know why.
Comments (14)
Cyve
Very great shot !
T.Rex
Awww, Bev. This brought tears to my eyes. So cute, the little fellow. I can really feel his pain. 2 years ago, while riding home on a highway late one winter night, a LARGE hare jumped in front of the car. We all felt the thud when the car hit, then the two bounces as the front then back wheels went over the poor animal. The driver was so shocked he stopped the car. Nobody got out since the body was a good ways behind and one doesn't walk on a highway. When we had recovered reasonably, the car crawled the last miles to our town. I have often wondered if there were little ones somewhere in the fields who were wondering why mom/dad didn't come home. I still feel sad about this. And beautiful job with the photo. I don't know who is holding him. But he doesn't seem scared of the camera lens or the person holding him, and no attempt to bite, which I would expect from a frightened animal. Keep up the good work! I'll come back to you as I get some more time! :-)
Faemike55
After hearing and viewing that movie you sent me of the raccoon babies crying, I can just imagine that this little one's cry is about the same, heart-breaking. how can one explain to this one or to others what happened? thanks for sharing
caty77
Lovely little baby! He has chance to find you.
jendellas
Very sad, l am sure though with your good care he will be ok. I hate seeing the dead animals on the road. Xxx
NightGallery
Too cute. You do a wonderful thing. The sadness will leave this little one in time with your care, i am sure :-)
kgb224
Superb capture. God bless.
weesel
I'm sure you will have him up and about as time goes on. I have never heard a squirrel cry, but I can vouch that ferrets cry and sob and sound so human it's spooky. Do the best you can; it's all any of us can do for the critters who need help.
giulband
Lovable !
durleybeachbum
Very cute, good luck!
spacechimp
This story is so sad, really upsetting .nice to know the little one is being looked after. lovely little creature!!!
cheekyelf
Omg,you are heaven sent,we have squirrels near our home,that is about all the wildlife we get apart from birds.this year they must of bred well as one day there were four little ones also mum,which was amazing to see,I did not have my camera to hand as I was in my kitchen looking out the window & there they were sat on the fence.I have not seen them since only now & again I see two & one that hangs upside getting my bird nuts in the tree daily.so good luck with the little baby you have with you now.
irisinthespring
Lovely capture, I had a baby squirrel when I was a kid. He had fallen out of a tree and my Mom keep him in a bird cage until he was older and wilder and then we let him loose out front and set food out for him to have just in case, he soon adjusted to living outside in the acorn tree he had originally fallen from, when we found him. He was fortunate because he never became completely tame and there were plenty of nut/acorn trees besides ours in the neighborhood. I could always spot him when I was looking for him because he had a damaged short tail which never grew back. This little fellow here reminds me of him...:))
brewgirlca
Poor little guy, he really does look so sad. I hope that he was able to adjust to his life without mom and grew up to be a happy guy.