A Chip off the HRD

It was a cold and damp morning. As usual, the cats went outside at dawn. Shadow loves to hide in the thicket near the HRD and scare off the birds, turkeys and assorted other critters that come by. As you know, occasionally he or Smokey has a 'successful' hunt ~ sometimes bringing the catch inside, dead or alive.

This morning, hubby had a day off work, and since I was up quite late last night, I slept in a bit. Half-awake, walking into the kitchen to get my cup of coffee, I noticed a cardboard box on the counter.  "There's a half-dead chipmunk in there", hubby said. "Smokey brought it in, and it looked drowned but was breathing so I put it in the box".  I didn't even pour my coffee, but went right to the task at hand.

My experience reviving chipmunks goes back over 20 years and two states. The first successful rescue was on Long Island, and there have been quite a few since. But this poor little guy was making a raspy noise when he breathed, was totally wet, cold and not moving. Hubs had put a clean white towel in the box, and I wrapped the baby up in it more thoroughly, after checking him over to look for blood, cuts, etc. There were none, thankfully. Wrapped up in his towel, I carried Chippy into the bathroom where I held him to my chest, and turned the blow dryer onto the towel wrapped bundle. It seemed to me he needed warmth, and quickly.  Just a few minutes on low, and I unwrapped the towel to check on the little guy. His breathing still seemed labored, but his tail was fluffy and he was less damp.  I bundled him back up, put him back into the box and set it in a nice warm spot in my room.  Man, now I really needed that coffee!!



A short while later, I checked on the little bundle.  He laid in the box in the same position where I'd left him; quite still, but his breathing seemed less labored.  I tucked him back in, put my healing rock in with him, and left the room. 


When I returned again, I saw he had pooped!!!! Wow, things were looking up.  Moving the towel to locate him, I saw he was resting with his head on the rock!


We had to go out and he wasn't up to par yet, so I put a few hulled sunflower seeds in the box, and a plastic cover overtop weighted down with an antique peanut butter mug that held my sweet grass and white sage. Hey, can't hurt to call in all positive energies in these situations!

When we returned a few hours later, Chippy had made several poops! YAYYYYY, it looked like this would be another successful rescue.  He still allowed me to pick him up but seemed in much better condition, so I took him, in his box, out to the HRD for release.  It didn't take him long to realize he was free to go, and out over the top of the box he jumped, toddling off into the woods.  I followed him and saw where his hole was, in a thicket of small tree trunks.  He got a handful of sunflower seeds left on his doorstep, just so he can have an easy time of it to fully recuperate from his ordeal.  Oh yeah ... the cats are in for the rest of the day.  Give a Chippy a break♥

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When we show our respect for other living things, they respond with respect for us.
~ Arapaho Proverb

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