Chipmunk Tails in the Dog Days of Summer by Karen Rock



It’s funny how the smallest things can turn your entire life upside down. It doesn’t take much. Just a teeny baby chipmunk, lost, alone, and melt-your-heart cute.

I was writing on my front porch swing, my dog Zoey by my side, when a slight movement caught my eye. My fingers froze over the keyboard. My breath caught. Had a mouse just crept up the top step? It seemed like a bold move considering Zoey’s presence. She’s a friendly dog. Don’t get me wrong. But if you’re a rodent, and after our bird feeder, she’s one fierce guard dog.

Luckily, Zoey hadn’t noticed the critter, so I took a closer look and realized it was a baby chipmunk, my “ewww” turning into “awww”. It had all the markings of a chipmunk, the brown fur, white stripe, black nose… but in such miniature proportions that I couldn’t believe it was out of its burrow. Another surprise? It didn’t run away as I eased closer, Zoey now by my side. In fact, when we reached it, the poor thing collapsed flat on the step, legs and arms splayed.

Having worked on my hospital’s code team, I knew an emergency when I saw one. I hustled Zoey inside, grabbed some trail mix and water and stopped at the window overlooking the step. I was hoping an adult chipmunk would arrive and usher the little one safely back home. Where was its mother? A baby this little clearly could not fend for itself… After a couple of minutes, I decided it was go time and raced back to my patient. He leveraged himself upright and sniffed at the feast of pecan bits, craisins and sunflower seeds I placed before him. I held my breath, waiting, wondering if he was too young to eat solid food. I’d just about made up my mind to get a dropper and some milk when he grabbed the craisin (which I quickly learn was his favorite, second to freshly chopped strawberries) and began nibbling.

He was so stinking cute. No bigger than the length of my ring finger, the little guy plowed through two craisins and a pecan half in under a minute. Things were looking up. Was he thirsty? We’d had a cool summer, but the last few days had been up in the high eighties. I filled a saucer and placed a craisin on its rim to tempt him over. The trick worked, and I took my first easy breath when he splashed into the water then lowered his head for a couple of quick sips.


Finally, he was perking up and mobile, but still not budging from my side. I figured he must have been desperate for help to have braved getting so near. Usually the minute a chipmunk catches sight of me or Zoey, it’ll sprint for the nearest bolt hole or drain pipe. This little guy, though, didn’t seem to be old enough to have any natural fear, which, contrarily, made me VERY fearful for him.  Luckily, he’d found me, but what if he’d gone next door where a couple of cats live? Yikes. 

With one eye on him, I returned to my computer, messaged my Facebook friends with my dilemma and received lots of helpful feedback. Armed with their advice, I called my local animal control officer, who said she doesn’t go out on calls like this, my vet, and our local wildlife rehabilitation center who said once the chipmunks have their coloring, they release them into the wild—even this young. They also advised me to try not to domesticate it so it would get to live its wonderful life outdoors.

But, oh, how I wanted to make him my pet!!! The temptation was real, I tell you…

When it finished eating, the chipmunk edged back down the porch stairs and laid on my walkway, soaking up the sun, napping. Human babies sleep a lot and that seems to extend to chipmunks, too. He blissfully slept the afternoon away while Zoey and I watched and fretted. Animals really are amazing. Zoey lives to chase squirrels and chipmunks and the occasional rabbit that ventures on our property. Yet she instantly sensed this baby needed help, and she became very protective, sitting just feet away while it slept on, oblivious. As night fell, I began to panic. I couldn’t just leave the chipmunk out here. It’d get eaten for sure. I made a trail of craisins and nuts to the garage, tempted the chipmunk inside, then closed the automatic door, keeping him indoors with fresh water and food. 

The next morning, I discovered my neighbor’s huge tom cat sitting in front of my closed garage door. Grrrrrr… those cats are the fiercest hunters on the block. How did it know I had a baby chipmunk in there? Crazy. Once Zoey chased off the cat, I opened the door and waited. And waited. And waited. My heart raced. Zoey whined. Had the chipmunk died? Then I heard a scratching noise and poked my head in to see it playing jungle gym on our tools. Phew! Minutes later the baby chipmunk emerged for the fresh fruit breakfast I’d prepared. And thus, our day began as it would for the next couple of weeks, the baby chipmunk sleeping in the garage at night, playing in my flower garden during the day, eating and drinking whatever I gave him. 
 
Then one evening, before sunset, I heard rustling beneath my porch and saw him going in and out of the lattice work. It sounded like he was digging! Best of all, he’d been getting bigger and faster and stopped napping out in the open. His natural instincts were kicking in which was good for him, but a little sad for me and especially Zoey. She loved playing hide and seek with the chipmunk in the garden, or just generally watching over it. Now the chipmunk was starting to take cover, snoozing under leaves or even inside of foliage, and now, it appeared, beneath the porch. I tried to tempt it into the garage but this time, he wouldn’t come out. He’d made a home for himself, and I had to keep reminding myself that the lattice would keep the cats out and the chipmunk would be safe sleeping there. 

Best of all, a few days ago, I saw a bigger chipmunk, not quite an adult, with the baby. They were under the bird feeder, eating the castoffs. As soon as the older one saw me, it bolted under my porch and the baby followed. I was a little teary to have lost my little friend, but happy that he’d found a new one more his size. I had no idea how much that baby chipmunk would occupy my heart and thoughts during those hectic couple of weeks of keeping him safe, but it was worth every moment. I’m a sucker for animals and can’t even bring myself to kill a spider—(I have a catch and release program involving an ingenious paper plate and Solo cup system—lol) God has given us a beautiful planet to shepherd, and I (along with trusty, Zoey) will always tend it for him in my own, small ways 😊  

What's the craziest thing you've ever done for the love of an animal? I'd love to here! Share your experience in the comments section below and add your email address if you'd like to enter to win a print copy of UNDER AN ADIRONDACK SKY, HIS KIND OF COWGIRL or A COWBOY TO KEEP  (your choice) Shipping to U.S. or C.A. addresses. I'll announce the reader here on Sunday, 8/10. Good luck and happy reading <3

Comments

  1. What a wonderful story, Karen. I'm so happy the baby Chipmunk found a friend. What a cutie! Once, we had a baby hummingbird fly into our garage. He was up high at one of the windows trying to get out. We got a ladder and captured it. Outside, we sat him in the grass and his tiny chest fluttered. A few minutes later, he zipped off and went toward one of our feeders. Another happy ending. :)

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    1. Phew! What a great rescue, Jill :) Hummingbirds are so small and a baby one... that must have been so tricky. A very happy ending!Thanks for sharing it.

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  2. Oh, Karen, I love this story, and I love that Zoey knew her job, too.

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    1. Thank you, Liz :) Zoey was the real hero because the local cats were circling, trying to sneak on the property and Zoey stayed vigilant. I have another picture of Zoey hovering over the Chipmunk but couldn't fit it in the post- So cute :)

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  3. I have never done anything quite as heroic as you, but I am a firm believer in catch and release.

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    1. Amen! If only my daughter and husband were on board with it... they're usually yelling "kill it!" like Romans at the Forum- lol.

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  4. I loved this story Karen and read it with some trepidation that it might not have a happy ending! We have a lot of,chipmunks at our cottage and also have a lot of chippie stories, though none as cute as yours. Love the pictures! Zoey's instincts were right on too.

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    1. I'm so glad he has a happily-ever-after with his new friend. I think they'll be snug under the porch and I keep dropping acorns that are probably too big for them by the lattice-work to make sure they have provisions for the winter- lol. And Zoey was amazing. She knew the baby needed her and was a good temporary big sister :)

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  5. Wonderful story! My dad once found a fawn whose mother had been hit by a car on the side of the road. He brought it home and we bottle fed it along with some of our lambs. That little deer grew up thinking it was a sheep and followed us every where, including school (we just lived a couple of blocks from the school). I don't know how many times the principal at school had to call my grandmother to please come get our deer off the playground.

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    1. Thanks, LeAnne and I LOVE your, story! Since I used to work in a school, I can already hear the principal over the loud speaker. "Custodial to the playground please. Custodial to the playground. Code Rudolf." lol. How adorable that it loved you so much it followed you everywhere. Such a heartwarming tale :)

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  6. I so loved hearing about Chip's adventures on Facebook! What a sweet experience you and Zoe got to have saving that baby when he needed you most! :) One day when you see a chipmunk stop and almost look like he's smiling at you before hustling off to enjoy his day, you'll know in your heart that it was Chip.

    The craziest thing I ever did for an animal ...

    http://thoughtsofablonde.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/BirdPic.jpg

    Here's a pic of my rescue. One afternoon a few years ago, I was downstairs hanging out, cruising the web, probably watching TV ... when all of a sudden I heard a loud bang against the sliding glass deck door upstairs. I ran up to see what in the world that was, and to my surprise there was a much bigger bird than I was expecting to see. I'm certainly no expert, but it was obviously a hawk of some sort.

    I went outside to see if I could do anything for it, and as soon as it saw me, it hustled as fast as it could down off of my deck and across my backyard. That's when I knew something was really wrong, because it didn't fly away. I slowly walked back to the shed in the back corner of my fenced in yard and found the bird huddled in the corner, with an obvious broken wing. I started to panic ... what was I supposed to do to help it?? It was a holiday weekend, and tons of places were closed. I did manage to get the secretary at my vets office and she referred me to a wildlife rehabilitator in the area, but they didn't answer the phone. I started scouring the internet for other wildlife experts in the area. Many phone calls, no answers, not taking that type of wildlife anymore, etc., etc. No one was willing to help this bird. I must have called 50 different places. FINALLY, I stumbled across someone to help. I had left a message at one of the places not answering the phone, and low and behold a woman called me back willing to help. She was out of town at an event, but went out of her way to check in for messages, call me back AND find out a way to help me. She called her contact at my county's Animal Control and got them to send a guy over to catch the bird and take it back to their facility to hold it for her until she returned later that evening. What a wonderful woman!! Needless to say, hubby and I still support her Wildlife Rehab to this day.

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    1. WOW! What a magnificent bird- He definitely looks terrified in the picture and what a heroic rescuer you were to persistently track down medical care for his broken wing. Without you, he'd have surely died. It's definitely a good feeling to help wild animals in need and I know you're like me- there's nothing you wouldn't do to help :) Thanks for sharing your amazing story, Lynn!

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  7. The most amazing and crazy animal experience I had happened several years ago when I was much younger but I still treasure the memory.

    I was exploring the woods and had taken my nap sack full of supplies I thought I might need like snacks, snippers, etc. I had been way back in the woods for a couple hours when I saw some deer off in a distance run through. I was excited to have seen them even if ever so briefly. About 30 minutes after moving further back I see a movement off to the side. When I went to investigate I saw a horrible sight. There was a doe that had evidently ran across a partially downed barbed wire fence and had managed to get her hind leg tangled in the wire. There she was with one hind foot dangling in the are attached to the wire and part of a half rotten fence post and the rest of her thrashing about trying to get free which just made it tangle all the more. At first when she saw me, she got excited trying to escape and she thrashed even more. I stopped and made my movements very slow and began to talk to her in a low soothing voice. I honestly think she knew I was there to help her and she calmed down stopping her moving around. After what seemed like ages to me, I was able to move close enough to see that the wire had tore some of the hide off her ankle and the wire was not only wrapped around the hoof but in between the “toes” as well. I know that to get kicked by a deer is extremely dangerous so I was smart enough to stay on my side of the what was left fencing. Still talking to her and moving extremely slow, I got right up to her to where I could touch her foot. At that point, she actually laid down on the ground other than the foot that was in the air attached to the fence. I took out what supplies I had and begin to unwrap and snip the wire when I could until the foot was free of the fence and held in my hand. I gently laid the loose hide back to where it was suppose to be and let her foot go. She slowly stood and tested the leg/foot standing there for a little bit looking at me with the most “thank you” look and then slowly walked off. I just stood there for a while thinking about what had just happened, how it could have ended so differently and loving the feeling I had that I was actually there and able to help that doe. It’s an experience that I will always remember and cherish. Not many folks can say they held a wild deer’s hoof in their hand.

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    1. What a touching story! Amazing you actually had snippers with you!

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    2. Not many folks can say they've held a wild deer's hoof for sure! What an incredible rescue, Kay. My eyes flew through your story, hoping for a happy ending. You saved that foe's life which makes you a hero :) Thank you so much for sharing it on the blog!

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  8. Karen, what a beautiful story! Zoey's relationship with the little chipmunk is so wonderful. I have more incidents to tell than stories. My 85-year-old mother (at the time) shooing a black bear away from her apple tree, my dad telling about how a coyote companionably sat and watched him work a field all afternoon long, my brother picking up a mother skunk and her babies (no, she didn't spray him) and transporting them to a place not on the farm...you know, the everyday stuff. :)

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    1. Hah! The everyday stuff for people who live out in the country like us... ;) And your mother is one tough lady. 85 and still able to scare off a bear is amazing. I had a coyote in my backyard late spring and it raced back and forth along my fence. I was trying to work up the nerve to go out and show it how to escape when it figure out how to get back to the road. You're dad has nerves of steel to calmly keep working while a coyote lingered... and your brother's mama and baby skunk rescue is definitely heroic. He could have gotten sprayed for sure... I think your family is super tough and super caring like you :)

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  9. We adopted a cat from the Humane Society & a few weeks later we saw a kitten that was shivering on our porch, we took it in & kept it. At first the first catwhose name was Tab would hiss at the other one & raise her back t the other one named Katie. Later non they got along great. Thanks for your generosity. Linda May

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    1. Hi, Linda! What a lovely rescue :-) I'm glad they both got a wonderful home, family and each other! Thanks so much for sharing this heartwarming story.

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  10. Karen this was such a heartwarming story. I watch chipmunks scurry around my window well while sitting at my computer every day. But they are not the only critters I get. In the early spring, I get baby bunnies in the window well. I live in the basement apartment of a house and there mommies burrow them down inside all the foliage in the window well. We have to get them out of there for fear they will not get any food. But this year no bunnies because my landlord built up the window well and there is not foliage around for them to burrow under. I will miss those furry little bunnies..

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    1. How adorable! Baby bunnies in your window well is my idea of a window with a view :) I'm kind of sad your landlord boarded it up. I imagine you spent lots of time enjoying the bunnies comings and goings ;) Thanks so much for sharing your experience

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  11. Loved reading about the chipmunk adventures. After seeing the pictures, I can see why you would have wanted to keep it. So cute!

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    1. He was very hard to resist! I did pet him once and he was super soft with that baby fur. But I forced myself to protect rather than keep him and now he's wild as he should be... though I miss seeing him everyday:)

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  12. That is just so adorable! You are going to have to fit that into one of your books! I know cats find everything!! We've got 3 semi-ferals that we rescued when renters abandoned them. We just feed them and got them TNR last year when they were kittens. I wish we could bring them in but I just can't afford to vet 3 more cats! I've got 3 inside already. I've never really rescued a wild creature, but I did get a bird out of the house before lol!
    ineedadietcoke at aol dot com

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    1. How kind of you to take care of those abandoned kitties! I always wonder how people can leave pets behind and I'm glad you're there to give the care they deserve! Thanks for stopping by the blog and sharing this heartwarming story <3

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  13. Aww what a cute story. Thanks for sharing!

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    1. You're so welcome and thanks for stopping by the blog today :)

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  14. awww what a wonderful few weeks you both had. One year we had a bunny lay her nest under our swingset. The kids were so excited to know that baby bunnies were there. We had to put a fence around the area, mama bunny could still get out but the dog could not get in. One day while my husband and I were working outside, the dog was able to get ahold of one of the babies that wandered outside the fence area and brought it to my husband all proud giving dad a gift. She was so pleased with her self. Unfornately in doing so she broke the babies back. We did not tell the children. Come to think of it they still do not know. They are now 31 and 29.
    quilting dash lady at Comcast dot net
    Oh so I don't forget, I am good at that, if I win I would love to try your book "A Cowboy to Keep" Thanks and have a great fall

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    1. Hi, Lori! What a sweet and sad story. I'm glad your fence saved most of the bunnies and honestly, that's probably more that were saved than if they'd been out in the wild. Your dog sounds like a cat I had once. She loved me fiercely and was determined to prove it by killing anything that moved on our property and laying it on my doorstep for a nice morning surprise when I went to get the paper. Yikes. Terrifying. It was out of love but, honestly, a card would have sufficed... lol. Thanks so much for sharing your story, Lori!

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  15. Just taking in animals that someone else doesn't want. I have a hard time saying no. Especially if my daughter begs and it is a kitty. A few years ago we took on a Pitbull. He is the best dog ever.
    Best pictures ever. My daughter loved them.
    christinebails at yahoo dot com

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    1. Pitbulls are thought to be scary, and they do have those terrifying jaws, but everyone I know that's owned one has said the same thing you have--that they are so loving and protective. You're daughter if very lucky to have such a loving parent who's teaching her the value of helping those in need :) Thank you so much for stopping by the blog today!

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  16. What a wonderful story about the baby chipmunk!
    Other than righting flipped turtles, placing a board in a deep well so that a baby rabbit could climb out or moving toads from the roadway, no heroics like you with your chipmunk. However, we have rabbits in our yard that come to the edge of our patio in the evening. If we take out bits of carrots or celery, they don't run off. They just start eating, even as we are scattering the food. And we have robins that fly in and out of their nest every year right above our heads as we sit on our deck!

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    1. I want to hang out on your deck! It's the place to be for some wildlife sightings :) And no wonder they come with such generous humans to feed them carrots and celery. That's so kind. I'm glad you move toads out of the road. They are just sitting ducks out there. We have a number on my property and I have to do a quick sweep of the walkway and driveway before I let out Zoey as she's way to curious about them for my liking. Thanks so much for sharing your experiences, Lisa :)

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  17. Such great stories--thanks for all the entertainment this morning. Other than sailing with some frolicking dolphins alongside the boat, keeping the bird-feeder filled for the neighborhood gang years ago when I lived in NC, I haven't had all that much interaction with companions of other species. Well, I did make a deal with spiders--when they were little my kids were convinced that every spider was one of Charlotte's grandchildren, so that was that. If they stay out of the way, I give them a place to hang out! Love the photos of your little friend and your dog!

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    1. Charlotte's Web is one of my all-time favorite books. What a lovely grandmother you are to indulge your grandchildren's imaginations and protect "Charlotte's Grandchildren". That really is special of you and they'll always remember you for it :) Thanks so much for sharing such a touching experience.

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  18. Karen, so happy you and Zoey saved the chipmunk. I'm not quite as accommodating when it comes to spiders as you are. My daughter does the same thing to get "creatures" out of the house with a cup and paper plate. She did that with a cricket while here a few weeks ago. I try to chase them out of my house. I do catch the gekos that come in and I take them to the back yard. The pictures you took are really special.

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    1. Gekos in the house?! Now dealing with them is a true act of love and courage. I hope I'd be that brave if I ever had one in my house! I'm impressed your daughter found the cricket, btw. It's always a nightmare when one gets in because I think I hear it over there but then I think it's coming from somewhere else and of course that's because it's moving and making me dizzy- lol

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  19. hummingbird got into out enclosed back porch area and fell to the ground exhausted - got it into a paper towel lined bowl inside and made up some sugar water and fed it with a syringe and needle - needless to say when it felt better and started moving around it was get it outside quick, not sure how I would have caught it going full speed inside the house

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    1. WOW! You are a hero, Teresa. What a tough rescue that required quick thinking and fast action. So glad the little guy got to spread his wings and take to the skies after your help :) I love hummingbirds and agree--if he'd been at full capacity in your house, you might not have caught him. I just love a happy ending :) Thanks for sharing this great story!

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  20. Just saving dogs from being at the Humane Society. We always get our pets there. And putting green scraps out for deer, rabbits or whoever wants them. Also not mowing when we find rabbit nests in the yard until they move.
    😻
    iamabho at gmaildotcom

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    1. No "just" about that list of wonderful things you do for your local animal, Linda! There are so many dogs in need of good homes and they are lucky to find owners like you. I never knew to look for bunny nests in the yard before. Next spring, I'm going to keep an eye out. Thanks for sharing and stopping by the blog :)

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  21. We had a sick rabbit that had to be given medicine 3x a day for months! It hated the medicine too, so it was always a struggle to get the bunny to take it!

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    1. Poor baby bunny! If only they could understand that the bad tasting stuff is supposed to help them... I'm sure he appreciated feeling better in time, but three months- Wow- that is dedication :) Thanks for sharing!

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  22. A dog chased a gosling into my garage, and the neighbor girls came over, hysterically upset, to tell me. Since I couldn't move my vehicles, I chased it as best as I could to catch it. Finally, I used a baby blanket to toss over it long enough to grab it and release it outdoors. Whew!

    denise

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    1. Thank goodness! Poor baby goose. Dogs. They live to chase that's for sure. Good thing they have us to keep them from their worst instincts- lol. You were definitely a hero :) Thanks for stopping by the blog to share this great story!

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  23. We were in Frisco , Colorado, this summer and there's a place where you go and feed the chipmunks. I'll post a picture later :) It was cool. I had chipmunks sitting on my lap eating out of my hand. No, I didn't domesticate them. The thousands who'd come before me had. Believe me, these chipmunks knew the score.

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    1. They definitely knew how to work it! How awesome to get to hold and feed them. I love a trip that involves animals. There's an island where you can spend a day on the beach with a puppy available for adoption and they'll arrange the papers and flight so it can go home with you if you chose to adopt it- I know I'd be coming home with a new fur baby :-)

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  24. All of our dogs are what I consider Rescue because we rescue them from going to the local humane society. Our current dog was living outside under someone'ss trampoline and if we didn't take her she was going to the shelter. It was too early for her to leave her Mom but she did great under our care.

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    1. She was living under a trampoline? Oh that poor baby! I'm so glad she had you as her hero to rescue her!

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  25. Chiming in late here, Karen. What a sweet post. I'm so glad your baby chipmunk survived!

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    1. Thanks, Leigh! I saw him running across my back deck today with the older chipmunk so I guess they've taken over the whole property now- lol.

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  27. I suppose the craziest thing I ever did for love of an animal was adopt the big black cat that someone abandoned at our apartment complex. ("You've got a panther up there!" my boss declared when she saw him.) I ended up moving him from Texas to Colorado with me when my employer moved its headquarters.
    rsbrandt44 (at) hotmail (dot) com

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    1. The panther! I love it :-) I'm glad he found a dad with an equally big heart. Thanks so much for sharing your story with us :)

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  28. OMG I LOVED that sweet story, Karen!! I read it to my husband while we were driving. I remember when you posted about it on FB, when you initially spotted it. It is so sweet how Zoey was looking after it, and how cute he looked In your garage. The pictures were adorable!! I couldn't stop saying awww. I've never seen a baby chipmunk. My heart sank thinking about him splayed out on that step. You're a SHEro!!

    One night many years ago in NY some baby kittens got out of someone's yard and were in the middle of the street. A car in front of us narrowly escaped smashing one. He didn't even see it because it was dark outside. We stopped and my husband put them in a box we had in the trunk. We put some cloth in it and took it back to the yard where we saw they got out. If I remember correctly we also put water in the box. They were safe and warm.

    Lauigl(at)carolina(dot)rr(dot)com

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    1. You're a SHEro, too, Laurie! Thank goodness you spotted those kitties and got them to safety. What a rescue! I'm so glad you stopped by to share your story :-)

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    2. Congratulations, Laurie I! You're the winner of my giveaway :) I'm going to email you shortly to ask for your preference and mailing address and send your prize to you right away!

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    3. Me??!! I'm honored Karen. Thank you so much. I look forward to hearing from you.

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  29. You truly are a friend to the animals, Karen! I admire your persistence to look after the chipmunk, and it sounds like you did an excellent job. It doesn't compare with your heroism, but I did save a chipmunk in a cuba bush from our cat one day. Annabelle was pushing the branch downward, with the chipmunk clinging to the top, and when I released it, the branch sprang up, leaving me face to face with the beady-eyed creature! It was all like something out of a cartoon! I went inside with Annabelle and watched the chipmunk on the branch through the kitchen window while I washed dishes. He was shaking like a leaf! He was still there an hour later, but gone shortly thereafter. Annabelle might have been disappointed, but I've always felt good that I was able to save the little chipmunk.

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    1. You saved that chipmunks life, Dale! It probably thought it was a goner until you arrived and whisked Annabelle away. I hope kitty got some extra treats to make up for the disappointment- lol. I loved hearing this story; thanks so much for sharing it :-)

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  30. I have enjoyed following along on your facebook page with all the posts of your adventures with the baby chipmunk!! I live out in the country so I am always finding little critters that need help. The latest was the hummingbirds that chase each other around the feeder on my porch. One of them somehow got her head stuck in the side of the feeder when they were zipping around and she was just flapping away. I very carefully got her unstuck and she is still zipping around with her friends everyday. The only critter that I can't find myself helping out is the black widows that like to hang out in my wood pile.

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    1. Oh that poor little hummingbird! He must have been so scared to be stuck and he could have only kept his wings beating for so long... you save his life! My conclusion after reading your post and others? Heartwarming writers are animal lovers and protectors :-)

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  31. At work I get to see chipmunks and bunnies all day. They are so much fun to watch. nancyannjones at hotmail dot com

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    1. Now that's a job with perks! My boss: Where are those files?! Me: But, sir... (pointing at the window) the bunnies... My Boss: (Sighing) Just bring them when the bunnies stop playing... lol

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  32. Loved this story and so glad you were able to make a difference.

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  33. Karen, chiming in late here. I'm so glad you posted this! I was following on FB too and it was fun to see the whole saga laid out here. You are such a kind soul. I'm the same with spiders (and most other critters no matter how small)! I often joke that I was a Buddhist in another life.

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    1. Lol- yes!!! We must both be Buddhists and we are definitely kindred spirits 😊💗

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  34. So when I was a kid, I found a baby bird that had fallen out of the nest. I took it home and raised it and it was as friendly and smart as any pet could be. It was a little robin and I trained it to knock on the kitchen window with it's beak when she wanted to be fed. she would come back each spring and build a nest in our trees and then when the young birds were old enough to leave the nest she brought them to the kitchen window. It was amazing. Loved my little robins. Later on the mosquito abatement trucks came by and the birds in the trees that they were spraying all died. It was sooo sad. That was back in the 50's. Glad they don't do that anymore. sonja dot nishimoto at gmail dot com

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    1. What an amazing story- so touching but very sad. I read a book called The Silent Spring written by a Rachel Carson in the 1950s. She'd began noticing the lack of bird calls in the spring after indiscriminate spraying and her book spurred a reversal in national pesticide policy, led to a nationwide ban on DDT for agricultural uses and inspired an environmental movement that led to the creation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

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    2. That's just so sad and frustrating. Pesticides do so much harm. Look at what's happening with bees and other beneficial insects...and then of course the effects on other wildlife and people. I'll get off of my soap box...

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    3. Very interesting, Karen. Thanks for sharing. I don't know how indiscriminate spraying can be legal. Especially since it destroys animals, not to mention how it must affect individuals with respiratory issues. SMH.

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    4. That's such a good point (the respiratory issues) I didn't even consider that, but it's true! We can thank Rachel Carson for writing that book and creating the movement that created the EPA. Women can make a difference :)

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  35. Karen, I've been seeing your chipmunk's progress on FB too and must say that he/she's the most adorable little one ever! You're so wonderful for being the chipmunk's surrogate mama and guide until he/she found a new mentor to follow :).

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    1. Such mixed feelings when I saw the two of them together... mostly relief and happiness. Seeing the baby follow the bigger one gave me comfort because he can learn things that I can't teach him and he gets to stay wild :)

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  36. Congratulations to Laurie I! She's the winner of my giveaway. I also want to thank everyone who stopped by to share your wonderful stories. With so much to worry about right now in FL and Texas (we haven't forgotten you!) it was nice to smile and even laugh as I read your responses :)

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  37. epfo claim status
    EPFO refers to Employees Provident Fund Organization which is defined as the retirement scheme available to all the employees

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