So remember how I was saying how boring my life has been? Well I must apologize for that because I lied. I lied big time. Maybe not, it was boring up until today but today definitely took a turn back towards my usual chaos. Story time:
I awoke this morning as usual: regretting ever deciding to do anything but live in my parents basement, eat potato chips, and sleep. But Educational Media for Educators was calling my name so I dragged my butt out of bed and got ready. Following my usual routine I dressed, brushed my teeth, cooed "good morning" to Dobby (my double tailed, green betta), grabbed my backpack, went into the kitchen, reminded myself for the fourth time this week that I have
got to get granola bars, cooed "morning buddy" to Draco (the kitchen fish - yes, I'm a crazy fish lady) and left the apartment.
I was just thinking to myself that I could take my sweet time getting to class when I noticed a lump on the sidewalk. With piqued curiosity I advanced towards the lump to discover a baby squirrel. The poor thing was covered in fire ants and making the most pitiful noises I have ever heard. Without thinking I scooped it up and attempted to clear all the fire ants off - while sustaining quite a few bites. Shivering, the little fur ball started trying to bury itself into my shirt. Once I overcame how stinking cute it was and how sad the situation was I began to panic. I had to go to class but was standing with a baby squirrel in hand! Grabbing my cell I dialed my pre-vet friend who advised me to leave the squirrel alone because if the mom came back and smelled my scent then she might not take the baby back (whoops!) but that if it was still there a few hours later then I should do something about it. Not knowing what else to do, I tucked the baby into some leaves at the base of a nearby tree and set off for class. All morning I was a nervy spaz. First the realization hit me that I had just handled a wild animal - what if it had a disease?? Like rabies?? And you know how whenever you have something on your fingers suddenly everything starts to itch? Well I had that, especially on my face, but was trying so so hard not to touch anything with my squirrel fingers. When I finally made it to Haley I immediately dashed into the bathroom to sanitize. For my entire three hour class my stomach was in knots - what if it died while I was gone? What if a dog ate it? Or a hawk? For the first time ever my class went the full three hours but as soon as the teacher dismissed us I was out of my seat like a rocket. I power walked all the way back to where I had left the baby squirrel, praying that it's mommy had come back for it or at least that it wasn't dead.
Sure enough, there it was, still curled up under the tree. Scooping it's little form into my hands I did a really attractive backpack jog back to the apartment.
By now I have become pretty attached to this furry little creature and obviously have named it, so going forward it will be referred to as Squirrel Face.
During class I read online that you have to keep orphaned squirrels warm so at first I was so red-headed from my power walk/jog my own body heat sufficed for keeping both of us pretty toasty. But then I heated up some water to and put it in a Ziplock bag, covered it with a t shirt and snuggled little Squirrel Face into a mixing bowl nest. Following directions off of a website I found I mixed some salt and sugar with water to make a rehydration fluid, but Squirrel Face would have none of that. She's kind of a diva. Meanwhile my roommate came through the door - "Surprise! I have a squirrel!" I think just tried to ignore my frenzy.
From there I called my boss to tell her I'd be late to work, my mother, and then Animal Control. Luckily, Animal Control advised me to take my little guy to the Auburn Raptor Center - apparently they're big on rehabilitating all animals. I grabbed Squirrel Face and tucked her cautiously into the passenger seat. Never ever have I been so aware that my car vibrates so violently, also never in my life have I driven so carefully.
We both made it to the Raptor Center in one piece and I handed her over to my new best friend Mary Ann who promised that she would give my Squirrel Face a flea bath and get her restored to full health.
And that's the story of Squirrel Face - I quite miss that fuzzy stinker, even though she gave me quite the heart attack this morning. My mom says that someday I'll be reading a book out on the back porch and out of nowhere a squirrel will drop into my lap and cozy up to me. It'll be Squirrel Face coming home. One can only dream.
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sleepy little squirrel in her t-shirt nest |
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isn't she the cutest? |
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miss my Squirrel Face |