Lessons From a Squirrel

Yes ..... You see right. A squirrel! I had one as a friend for over 5 years, and learned some valuable lessons about life.
Her name was ButtHead, and there were times she could really be one, but she was an adorable ButtHead. I found her when she was two weeks old, along with a brother I named Beavis. I learned quickly what was needed to properly care for them and thus began a grand adventure. Poor Beavis didn't live long, just a few weeks. I don't know why he died...I fed and cared for them both the same. But BH (as she became known online, was trying to be polite at the time) became an adventurous juvenile.
When she got old enough, and her eyes opened, I kept her in a cage. She had plenty of room, and was out every day so she could get enough exercise. Well one day I'm at work and my wife calls me just a boo hooing. BH had gotten injured somehow and was just crying and latching onto my wife. I was at a loss for what to do, was still learning about the critters. She lay on my wife’s shoulder, or in her cage for two days and wouldn't eat or drink...I was afraid she would die too..but on the third day she came out of her nest box...and started eating while laying on her belly. I or Agee (my wife, at the time) would hold her in a sitting position and let her eat that way. For the next two years She would just drag her hindquarters, but every day she would come out of her cage and explore the house. She got to the point where she could climb from the floor to my shoulders using only her front legs...and could do it quick.
BH was a determined little critter...this was the first lesson she taught me...she never, ever, gave up. So what she couldn't use her back legs,(at the time) she got around just fine. Now I had to make a decision, and I know some who read this wouldn't agree, but it was either have her put to sleep,....or keep her myself and take all the responsibility that came with her. She could never be released into the wild, which was my original intention. I never planned to have a "pet" squirrel. But it turned out that way...though I believe she thought I was the pet.
Either way, she seemed content with her situation, and wasn't in any pain except for the first day of her injury. So I decided to give her the best life that I could provide.
Her determination to live, gave me the determination to help her. This was my second lesson, even if you think you don't know how,...you can help someone(human or animal)in need. You can learn if you don't know something. That is one fantastic advantage of living in this age...the internet. Can find any information you need, though sometimes you have to sift through the info to find what is right and what is baloney. But it's not complicated...if you have a little common sense.
That’s another lesson BH taught me...common sense. She had more of what we term "instinct", but for having such a tiny brain she was smart, and did seem to have common sense to go along with it. I know a lot of folks that are really smart....but don't have a lick of common sense. God gives us the ability to learn, and we need to use it right. Don't do things the hard way...do them the smart way.
Ever watch a squirrel when they are burying nuts? When they go sniffing for one to dig up, majority of the time the ones they dig back up aren't ones they buried...but ones buried by another squirrel. They don't work as a group to gather food, but they wind up profiting from each others work. There is a lesson there too. Profit from what others have done, and they in turn can profit from you. One squirrel doesn't defend a certain territory where food is concerned, they know there are nuts somewhere, everywhere, to find.
The most valuable lesson I learned was this,....always be yourself. BH was crippled,but through the determination I talked about, and a little help from me and my wife, after two years of dragging her legs...she regained the use of her back legs. Not completely, but enough to be able to walk, run, and even jump a little bit. But through all this, not being in her true element, living in a cage and a house, she stayed true to what she was...a squirrel. She would bury nuts, build her own drey (nest), do all the things she would have done if she was in the wild. That taught me to be what God made us to be, not something else. Do the best with what you have, you can strive to do better, but if for some reason you can't achieve that goal...don't quit, and don't be disappointed. Never give up, no matter what. Don't take shortcuts that can be harmful. Be true to what God made you. BH didn't try to ever be anything but a squirrel. Sure she was gentle with me...which wouldn't happen with a truly wild squirrel. She knew she could trust me...that’s a lesson too. Trust is an all important factor in life. She trusted me to help her..and I trusted her not to eat me alive, which she could have easily done.
She bit me 3 or 4 times in the five plus years she was with me, I mean she bit to the bone with those sharp, chisel like teeth. But, each time it was my fault...spooking her and her not really realizing it was me. The important part was, even though she was a wild animal...each time she bit me she would tend to my wound, or wounds, as she would have to herself or another squirrel...grooming the wound and just looking pitiful like she was sorry it happened. if you hurt someone accidentally, tend to their hurt...do your best to rectify the situation.
Even the death of my dear little buddy taught me a lesson....never, I mean never, abandon a friend. I had to let BH stay with a dear friend because of circumstances beyond my control. But her death, I do believe was from grief, she felt abandoned. I know my friend took the best care of BH...but she wasn't me...her trusted friend. I did my best to change my circumstances, but it wasn't soon enough. This was a situation beyond my control, but I could have done more. Never put yourself in a situation where someone gives up on you...no matter what it takes. I didn't quit, I just took too long. But still I could have done more. I know that now. It was the hardest lesson I ever had to learn, but it was also a valuable lesson, so even in her death,BH shared with me.
I hope this will help someone...and that you don't think it's just dumb. You can learn from all of nature, and we all are a creation, just like all of nature. We are supposed to be the supreme creations, but sometimes we see that we are just the opposite. But the greatest gift we have is the ability to overcome any obstacle in our path...BH overcame her lameness...so I know we have the ability to overcome anything that tries to cripple us....just remember that.
BH was the best and most valuable friend I've ever had. I know that will sound odd to some, but it don't bother me. I cared more for that little squirrel than I do for a lot of people. Why? Because I could trust her. That can change too...one of the good things about this life.
Thanks, and again I do hope this helps, even inspires someone.
Have a Blessed New Year,
For BH: April 2004 till January 2010
We lived a good life. You do the same.