The squirrel and the human

It’s early spring. The sun is finally shining after months of cold and snow. A human has just finished his basketball practice in his backyard. He sits on a bench, enjoying the fresh air and the distant sunset. A thin, scruffy squirrel scurries up to him, tail twitching. The squirrel stops a few feet away, tilts its head, and speaks.

Squirrel: Hey, human! You got anything to eat? A nut, a seed, even a crumb? I won’t be picky!

Human: Whoa! You can talk?!

Squirrel: Of course I can talk! Just because you humans don’t understand us most of the time doesn’t mean we’re not saying something. Now, what about that food?

Human: Uh … I don’t have any on me, sorry. You look a little thin, though. Are you Okay?

Squirrel: Thin? Try starving! Winter was rough, you see. No berries, no acorns, barely any scraps. And do you know how hard it is to dig up a frozen nut? Almost impossible! If we don’t find enough food in autumn, we suffer. And not just me but all the other squirrels, and birds, and rabbits, all the little ones. We hide from hawks and foxes and snakes, but hunger? That’s worse. It gnaws at you.

Human: That sounds awful. I never really thought about it. I guess I assumed you’d always find something.

Squirrel: Ha! You think food just appears? We work for it, store it, sniff it out. But some winters are cruel. And humans, well, you’ve changed things. There are fewer trees, which means less food and places to hide, fewer safe places to live, and when the ground gets too hard, we’re in real trouble. But you could help, you know.

Human: How?

Squirrel: Some humans put out seeds, nuts, and even dried fruit in the winter so we can find it. Just a little can mean the difference between surviving and … well, not. Not just for us squirrels, lots of us small creatures could use a helping hand when nature turns harsh, you see. You like watching us, don’t you?

Human: Yeah, I do. Sometimes I like taking a photo or two of you to post it online. People like those. You’re kind of adorable.

Squirrel: Exactly! So, imagine a world with no more chattering squirrels, no birds singing, no rustling in the underbrush. It would be a silent, empty forest. That’s what happens if we don’t get through winter. You humans help each other when times are tough. Why not help us, too?

Human: You make a good point. I think I’ll start leaving out some food next winter. And I will put more seeds in the birdfeeder. I am sure the birds wouldn’t mind sharing with you.

Squirrel: Now that’s the kind of thinking I like! But it’s not just about me, you know. Imagine a pregnant squirrel in the dead of winter. She’s cold, she’s hungry, and she knows she’s carrying tiny, helpless babies inside her. She may appear fat to you and perhaps you think she’s well fed. But the truth is, she searches and searches, but finds nothing. She smells some sunflower seeds from a large container. She gets excited. But she can’t open it. She feels her strength fading, and all she can think about is that she might not make it, and neither will her tiny babies. That fear? It’s unbearable.

Human: That’s heartbreaking. I never even considered that.

Squirrel: Most humans don’t. But now you know. A handful of nuts, some seeds, perhaps an apple core, tiny things for you, yet, lifesaving for us. Every bite matters when you’re fighting to survive, especially when you’re carrying the next generation on your back. Even if you may sometimes think the world doesn’t need more squirrels, we also have the right to live just like you do. Many other species have disappeared already.

Human: I get it now. I’ll make sure to help next time winter comes. And will help you now when food is still escarce.

Squirrel: Good! But for now, are you sure you don’t have a snack?

Human: Alright, alright. How about this granola bar?

Squirrel: Oh, that’s lovely, human! You just made one squirrel’s day a whole lot better. [chomps happily]

Human: Glad I could help. You really went through a lot, huh?

Squirrel: More than you know. But kindness? That goes a long way. Thank you, human.

Human: Stay safe, little guy.

Squirrel: You too, big guy. [winks and scurries off]