Ask DJ Lyons: Ode to a deceased squirrel unearthed from under my office floor
67Ode to a deceased Squirrel
The mystery is finally solved of what caused that awful stench 2 years back
My husband and I are getting my home office renovated completely. The room had bowed to the center. We figured that was because the ground had shifted. Instead, it turns out that the logs holding up the floor were broken.
We finally decided to hire two fellows we entirely trust to tear out the floor boards and start from scratch.
Tommy and Dal worked for three days (Monday through Wednesday), took 2 days off to deal with other issues, and then returned on Saturday. A third fellow, Chuck, showed up on Saturday early. He is going to fix a rotting log and give us an estimate on replacing our windows. The three of these fellows have worked together in the past; therefore, there will not be any professional jealousy or tension.
As Chuck was walking through the rubble, he looked down and said, "Is that a squirrel?"
I looked down myself. I can't believe that Tommy, Dal, my husband, and I all missed seeing it. Poor thing!
The mystery is finally solved. When I moved into this cabin the fall of 2008, I noticed there was a horrible stench in that room, as if some critter had died underneath our house. There was no way to crawl underneath this part of the house to remove whatever it was. For weeks on end, I had to keep spraying air freshener and Lysol, trying to mask the odor. Eventually, the odor dulled or I just got used to it.
Now, I know, that somehow or other, this poor squirrel found its way to the middle of this room but could not find its way back out.
Chuck picked up the poor thing and bagged it for me. I drove it to our Convenience Center later in the day. Then I had to fumigate my car afterward for the 5 minutes or so that it was in there.
I long to unravel the further mystery of how this squirrel found its way in but could not find its way back out.
Did the squirrel squeeze in between the concrete blocks?
Did the squirrel manage to squeeze itself into the pipe that leads in from outside?
Did the squirrel crawl in underneath the fireplace and closet?
Did the squirrel crawl in underneath the door entrance?
Did the squirrel crawl in under the insulation behind the built-in corner dresser?
How and why did that poor Squirrel die?
How and why did that poor Squirrel die?
Little Squirrel, if you could find your way into the undersides of my office in our log cabin, why, oh why could you not find your way back out?
Did some other critter chase you in?
Was it your time to go anyway and you found your way in on purpose? I know that years ago, our cat purposely hid itself in the woods behind our house when it was her time to go. My Dad searched and called for hours but never did find her.
Did you die of hunger or thirst?
Were you injured by the big dogs that haunt our yard every time I put out leftovers we don't intend to eat. Were you injured and found this quiet space to lick your wounds and die in peace?
I do hope that you did indeed die in peace and that you are happily frolicking in Squirrel Heaven.
One of my favorite authors, Mary Baker Eddy, wrote the following statement: "God's creatures are harmless, useful, and indestructible."
Your spirit body, little squirrel, is indeed indestructible. May God bless you for now and always. May you rest in peace!
Squirrel Products
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Small mammals include those mammals weighing under five kilograms (approximately eleven pounds). Merritt introduces the various species that fall under this heading, then follows with chapters that cover such topics as behavior, modes of feeding, locomotion, habitat use, reproduction, and coping with heat loss.
Animals of this size face different physiological and ecological challenges than larger mammals. Merritt describes in rich detail how mammals across the globe have adapted to compensate for their small stature, showing how they contribute to and survive in diverse environments in many fascinating ways. For example, arctic foxes, weighing just 3 to 4.3 kilograms, are champion survivors in the cold. They cope with their harsh environs by decreasing activity, seeking shelter in temporary dens and snow burrows, growing a lush winter fur, and undergoing complex physiological changes to insulate themselves from chilling temperatures.
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 | Do you like collecting things and stashing them away?
You'll find a kindred spirit in this little Gray Squirrel finger puppet.
Puppets are wonderful for teaching concepts such as food chain relationships, anatomy, behavior, diversity and life cycles.
A gift of a puppet encourages imaginative, open-ended play, endearing hugs, and snuggly companionship.
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Thanks for your feedback. Yes, it haunts me ... this wondering why he couldn't get back out. Chuck, the handyman who discovered him, is haunted by this thought as well. Too bad that bat in your Grandma's house did not make it either. I like to imagine that they are now happily residing in animal heaven.
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It is Day 12 of the home office renovation adventure. This does not mean 12 consecutive days. This simply means the 12th day progress got made on the restructuring of the entire room. On this day, Sunday,... - Ask DJ Lyons: Home Office Renovations Day 11
I can see the light at the end of a very long-feeling tunnel. We are getting closer to the end of the renovations on my home office. This hub will incorporate several things that got accomplished over the... - Ask DJ Lyons: Home Office Renovations Day 10
I am thrilled to say that on Valentine's Day, 2011, the basic flooring has been completely installed. We still have the laminant to add after we get the room repainted; however, I am thrilled to walk on a very... - Ask DJ Lyons: Home Office Renovations Day 9
We are on the home stretch now of the home office renovations. On Saturday, Feb. 12, 2011, Tommy and Dal began laying down the new flooring. It is very exciting watching this day-by-day progress. It gives me... - Ask DJ Lyons: Home Office Renovations Day 8
My home office is being re-done and I am so excited. On Friday, February 11, 2011, the floor joists got laid down. This is quite a contrast to the former situation of the floor bowing in the center. In... - Ask DJ Lyons: Home Office Renovations Day 7
My home office in our log cabin is being completely re-done. On day 7 of the renovations, Tommy and Dal showed up. The day is Tuesday, February 8, 2011. Tommy was carrying a box that is holding the extender... - Ask DJ Lyons: Home Office Renovations Day 6
My home office in our log cabin is being completely re-done. On day 6 of the renovations, Chuck came in and sprayed for termites. He also will help deal with those drain pipes, get estimates on replacing the... - Ask DJ Lyons: Home Office Renovations Day 5
My home office in our log cabin is being completely re-done. On day 5 of the renovations, Ask DJ Lyons: Office Renovations Before Look Behold the before look of my home office that also doubles as my dressing... - Ask DJ Lyons: Home Office Renovations Day 4
My home office in our log cabin is being completely re-done. To back up,we are getting this room completely re-done because the floor had been bowing to the center. My husband and I figured that the ground... - Ask DJ Lyons: Home Office Renovations Day 3
My home office in our log cabin is being completely re-done. On day 3 of the renovations, the two handymen tore out the rest of the floorboards. It had rained in the night; therefore, there was a lot of... - Ask DJ Lyons: Home Office Renovations Day 2
My home office in our log cabin is being completely re-done. On day 2 of the renovations, the two handymen started to tear out the floor boards. They quickly discovered why the room bowed toward the center.... - Ask DJ Lyons: Office Renovations Day 1
My home office in our log cabin is being completely re-done. On day 1 of the renovations, my two handymen are starting to remove the built-in furniture. Once they are gone, they will probably tear out the... - Ask DJ Lyons: Home Office Renovations Completed
Phew! A job that was originally only supposed to take 3 or 4 days took nearly 4 weeks. Finally, the home office renovations in our little log cabin is completed. Thank goodness for that! Should this be the...
Iontach Level 1 Commenter 15 months ago
Oh MY, the poor little thing! Now that is very sad :( I wonder why he couldn't find his way out.
My Dad was doing work in my Grandmas house years ago and he found the tiniest, cutest bat ever in the ventilation. Unfortunately it was dead though :(
Very interesting and unusual hub, I like it! lol
Cheers,
Iontach