The squirrel loses - but it's no victory for me

I was getting ready to leave for work this morning and was rinsing my teacup to put in the dishwasher.  I glanced out the kitchen window and saw the squirrel trap out on our deck and it looked like it had gone off.  But, I didn't have my glasses on, so I couldn't really see.  So I grabbed my coat and stepped out in the rain, across the yard, up the deck stairs, and approached the trap.  It had definitely been sprung, but I couldn't see from the angle I was standing if we caught the squirrel.

I was a little excited, because I expected to see the cute little guy in there and was anticipating calling my husband to tell him we had to drive the squirrel to the park after work.  As I got closer, I saw there was indeed a squirrel in the trap.  I could see his rain-soaked fur, and his little paws through the wires.  I expected him to be startled as I got close, but he didn't move.  I kneeled down to get a closer look..and then I knew....he was dead!

I couldn't believe it!  Our intent was to capture the squirrels in our attic...alive...and relocate them to a wonderful new home (we had the perfect placed picked out for them).  My heart sank, and as silly as it may sound, I just felt so sad and so guilty that I cried.

I tried to figure out what killed him.  He wasn't squished in the door.  I know he didn't starve.  I couldn't figure it out.  I blamed the "Havahart Humane Squirrel Trap".  Maybe the door clonked him on the head when it came down and gave him a concussion.

I called Eric who was carpooling with some fellow business people from Vancouver to Olympia to meet with the governor.  I told him (through tears) that we had killed the squirrel.  He told me he was sorry...that he never intended that to happen.  I know, I know....but I still felt terrible.

So, on my way to work I kept thinking about what killed him.  My speculation is that he was caught in the trap when we were at work yesterday and it was pouring rain all day long.  Eric and I had meetings after work, so we got home late and went right to bed, not checking the trap before we turned in.  It got a little cold last night, so I'm thinking he died of hypothermia.

Heavy sigh.  If only we'd checked the trap last night, he might have lived.  I'm a guilty squirrel killer through neglect!  The rational side of me realizes how silly it is to be so upset over a squirrel of all things.  And, I own a few furs...so how hypocritical am I?  I'm thinking I won't be buying fur anymore.  I just can't help but feel sad that I contributed to this cute, furry guy's demise.

We still have one more squirrel living in the attic (probably wondering why her mate didn't come home for dinner last night).  I haven't decided if we'll try to capture that one or not.  We would have to make sure the trap was in a sheltered location and that we checked it religiously every day.  I guess we'll have to think about it.  For now, I'm putting out the welcome mat in the attic.

Comments

[Casey Stephens]

Nancy, don't worry, in Wilsonville we have a squiral hunting season on Miami Street. It only happens on summer afternoons and we even BBQ them for family events. Have you ever been to our house for a BBQ. Squiral taste a lot like chicken.

[Ashley]

DAD! That's not funny! This post made me cry.

[Brianna]

Oh my goodness! It's like you killed Freckle! POOR SQUIRREL!

(But at least it's an accident. Better than killing him intentionally with chemicals.)

[karen stephens]

now you know where jack gets his sick sense of humor