Sam the Squirrel

It's a partly sunny day as I sit out on our patio eating a mid morning snack. Providing companionship is the 2 month old squirrel whom I have lovingly named Sam, Sammie, and Sammie choo. Jed and I took care of his Mama, Mama squirrel, and her sister, Gingie, during their pregnancies this past late winter. We kept the girls well fed. They love Jed and I so much, that they have brought their children to us to feed them too!

Mama Squirrel and Sam are the calm and docile ones of the family. When Mama brought Sam to me, he was scraggily. The young male had a hurt paw that he was trying to make due by limping on to getting around on and his tail furr was patchy at best. I was instantly concerned for the young male squirrel. There was nothing we could immediately do for him His foot didn't appear to be broken, just bruised. When I went to Jed upset and concerned for the young squirrel, Jed said that all we could do was give him food, love and TLC. Jed posted on social media, "I guess we have a stepson now ... Hope has named the young boy squirrel Sam." And I haven't looked back since!

I have been giving Sam love, TLC, food and encouragement everyday since Mama brought him to us.. It’s been a few weeks and I am so happy to say that Sam’s foot is better, his tail is slowly but surely growing in and my boy has a little tummy growing!! Both Mama Squirrel and I are so happy and are hopeful for Sam. With some encouragement, Sam has become comfortable with sharing space with me and eating together on the porch.

Most days, I sit outside on the porch either at 1130am or 430pm and I enjoy some relaxing quiet time my Sammie choo! We share space while we eat our snack. I am able to sit on the ground with Sam 2-3ft away from me while he eats. He even lets the Mamarazzi come out and entertains my love of taking pictures and video of Sam while he eats. He doesn't eat out of my hand or sit on my lap or shoulder; but I am thankful that two anxioud beings can calm each other enough to share space. Anyone else tries to do this and Sam is long gone. Jed sometimes is able to get Sam to stay and eat but it really depends on how the doves act.

I know it won't always be this way with Sam. Eventually he will move on. He will find himself a girl squirrel and have a family of his own. Even if he sticks around, feral squirrels only live a few years. I find myself so thankful for these moments with Sam and Mama squirrel. They are not our pets. We share space with them and are blessed that they trust us and enjoy the food we lay out for them several times a day.

I lay back up against the door frame of our front door while Sam continues eating. I look around and soak it all in. The sunshine, the gentle breeze, the warmth of the high 80’s, the coverage of the shaded porch, the songs from the birds in the tree in the yard, the sounds of the doves Dave, Steve and Bob scrapping down below as if it's MMA and there isn’t enough food to go around. I smile and sigh. Thankful for this moment that I have. I am filled with love for these wonderful woodland creatures and the woodland creatures and trees are one of the reasons why Jed and I have stayed in Willowdale.