Tuesday 6 October 2020

Squirrel SOS

 

I had a terrible experience the other day on my way home. I'd just left the office and I was on my way to the railway station to take the train home. I usually walk through the park. It's a short-cut between the office and the railway station.

As I got in the park I noticed a wounded squirrel on the ground. At first I thought he was dead. Lying flat out on his tummy and not moving. Then I saw his eyes blink. I moved closer ever so slowly to see if he'd run away. But he didn't. He stayed there his eyes moving. He was alive and injured. Probably fell off a tree or something. Lying there flat out. At first I thought he was covering his nuts, protecting them perhaps before burying them. But he was injured all right.

I did not know what to do. I decided to tweet about it. I have quite a large following on Twitter. At least six people. Someone is bound to respond with a suggestion.

No one did. I phoned a colleague at work. Mandy ... she loves animals. She keeps snails ... hundreds of them, she said. She sells them to French restaurants. Frogs too. She told me to take the squirrel to a vet.

I tried picking him up and the brute bit my finger. Drew blood too. It really hurt. I wrapped my finger with my handkerchief. Put on a glove and quickly picked the squirrel and put him in my brief case. I shut it quick and ran for my train.

Throughout the journey the damn animal kept making noises. I could feel him moving inside my brief case. People were looking at me. I pretended to have a painful stomach in the hope they thought the noises emanated from me. I doubt anyone was convinced.    

I always have trouble with animals. Perhaps I should have left him there to die. Did I tell you I once killed a parrot? It was my boss' parrot. We were at my boss' house for a Christmas drink. He asked me to open a bottle of Champagne. The cork flew out, hit the parrot in the head and he dropped off his perch to the floor dead. I can see it all in slow motion now in my head.

They were all standing there. My boss, his wife and guests and colleagues. All with their empty glasses waiting for the Champagne. I held the bottle at an angle as you do. The cork flew across the room, hit the parrot in the head like a bullet, and he dropped with a thud to the ground. I can hear it too. Pop of the cork, a soft hit to the head, the parrot squawked and fell with a thud.

They stood there silent. Looking at me, looking at the empty perch and at the dead bird on the floor. Meanwhile the Champagne was spewing from the bottle onto the expensive carpet. 

And now I had a demented squirrel in my brief case on the train. I rushed to the vet. Luckily he was still open and there were no other customers. He was there with his nurse and receptionist. I told them what happened and they took the brief case from me.

Minutes later the receptionist returned my briefcase. The damned animal had torn all my papers and did what all frightened animals do. There was wee and poo all over inside the brief case.

The vet said he'd injured his leg but not broken any bones. I mean the squirrel, not the vet. Why should the vet have injured his leg. You're not keeping up with this story are you?

He said, the vet that is ... he said ideally I should return the squirrel where I found him because that's where his nuts are. I didn't understand at first. The nurse sniggered. The vet explained that squirrels bury acorns and other nuts in certain places for winter. This one was now miles from his domain, and if left in our local park he'd probably starve seeing we're close to winter.

They gave me a small cage, which I covered with cloth so no one could see inside. The following day, being Saturday, I drove back in my car all the way to the park near work; a fifty miles journey each way. Parked the car in a car park costing me a fortune. Went to the park and released the animal.

Should you ever find a wounded animal or bird, do not tweet about it. Do not phone Mandy. And do not put it in your brief case.

I wonder what the Good Samaritan in the Bible would have done if he found the squirrel?

21 comments:

  1. ...I guess that no one ever told you to leave wild animals alone!

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    1. I had to help him, Tom. He had no medical insurance; and I wanted to be a Good Samaritan.

      God bless.

      Delete
  2. Squirrels are amazing, they squish, they don't break. Supper smart and acrobatic I like watching them except when they try and nest in my rafters, then they are the enemy. Anyway, I saw this on Facebook this morning which fit right in with your story.

    https://www.newsbreak.com/news/2045168351625/man-rescued-squirrel-and-now-she-doesnt-want-to-leave-video

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    1. That didn't happen to me, JoeH because I took the squirrel back to the city park where I found him, and did not give him any money for the railway ticket home; so he could not follow me.

      God bless.

      Delete
  3. Squirrels are fun to watch if you have a bird feeder that is high up in a tree. We had one and the squirrel stretched and leaned to try and get access but failed. If he tried and fell, my dogs were waiting at the bottom of the tree. He put on quite the show for us that year. If he fell, I wouldn't pick him up, the vet lived next door to us.

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    1. You're lucky to have a vet so close, Bill. We get a visiting a squirrel every now and then for the bird feeder. As you say, they are quite acrobatic.

      God bless you.

      Delete
  4. Squirrels are the best! When they're not shredding or making potty in your briefcase. Certainly more interesting than a bird. Speaking of which, it sounds like the parrot didn't suffer. Ka-pow!

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    1. Yes Mevely, that parrot certainly did not know what hit him. The poor thing dropped like a dead bird ... which he was.

      God bless always.

      Delete
  5. Funny picture. Though squirrels can be fun to watch and really not a fan. We had them in our attic one time!!

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    1. That squirrel earns a fortune as a masseur, Happyone.

      God bless.

      Delete
  6. I have a soft spot in my heart for squirrels, due to the fact that Racer, a squirrel, is one of the main characters in my novels. You did the right thing trying to help the poor creature, Victor, but I'm so sorry he wreaked havoc on your poor briefcase! I'll have Racer give him a talking-to!
    Blessings!

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    1. Yes, I remember Racer from your books, Martha. The thing is, it may have been a stupid thing to do to pick him up; but he looked badly injured.

      God bless.

      Delete
  7. That's a wonderful gif.
    I know there are many that do not like squirrels but I always enjoy seeing them, in fact we had some in the garden today and I spent time watching their antics...

    All the best Jan

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    1. They are fun, Jan. But a little annoying when they eat all the seeds from the bird-feeder; or drop the lot to the ground. Very acrobatic, too.

      God bless, Jan.

      Delete
  8. Dearest Victor,
    Well you were very kind to that squirrel by picking him/her up and taking to the vet.
    I've been bitten by a young squirrel too, after rescuing him from the neighbor's cat. We had him for only six weeks and he suddenly died. It was the cutest pet I've ever had. He bit me when I held him in one hand while opening and closing the faucet; he panicked. Hurts like hell but what do you do when someone is biting the hands that are feeding him/her?!
    Hugs,
    Mariette

    PS https://mariettesbacktobasics.blogspot.com/2017/05/our-pet-squirrel-eekie-dachshund-mauzie.html

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    1. Squirrels are lovely creatures, Mariette. And indeed, would bite when frightened; to defend themselves. Visiting your link now.

      God bless always.

      Delete
  9. Hi Victor,
    I think you should have left the train at the station, not taken it home with you, and inside your head is not an ideal place to keep a parrot.

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  10. What about the squirrel?

    God bless, Brenda.

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    1. Well I think you did the same as the good Samaritan did Victor.
      God bless.

      Delete
  11. If a Cajun from south Louisiana found the squirrel, he would have had a squirrel stew! When i find injured wildlife, i take them to the wildlife rehabilitation hospital. Yes, we have one of those.

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