A few months ago, I was walking home from one of my frequent sojourns into the village when I noticed something under a telephone pole at the intersection ahead. As I got closer, I realized that it was a tiny, baby squirrel and it was very much alive! I was amazed to find it there because it was such a barren corner.
It was in front of one of the old black churches in town but there were absolutely no
trees anywhere to be found nearby. And it was too far away from the church itself to
have come from somewhere there. At first, fearing the mother might be near by and
would be looking to reclaim it, I didn’t want to touch it. However, the more I looked
around the more I realized that wasn’t going to happen.
Well, I certainly couldn’t leave the poor thing there and my house was just a block away, so I scooped it up not really knowing what the hell one does with a baby squirrel. I thought to myself, “do I REALLY want to do this? What the hell am I going to do with a baby squirrel on my hands, especially since I have a cat in the house?” But I couldn’t just leave it there to die, which it certainly would have done in short order. Besides, once I got her in my hand, she didn’t resist at all. In fact, she seemed comforted by it, fitting snuggly in my palm.
When I got to my house, I immediately looked for some kind of box or container that I could keep it in safely until I figured out what the heck to do with it. Luckily, the recycling had not been put out and I found the perfect cardboard box. I fluffed a towel in the bottom and placed the squirrel in, closing the top so that the cat couldn’t get to it.
Then I looked for help. One of the positive things about social media is that when used properly it can put you in contact with all types of people with all kinds of skills. So, I made a photo of the little critter and put it at on Facebook while asking for help. In a matter of minutes, I received several responses from wildlife rehabbers all over the area. In fact, there were more than I could use! Since they all seemed caring and interested, I decided to choose the first one that responded. Her name is Taryn Dow. She gave me some basic instructions to keep the little one safe until she could get there to take possession of her.
She also explained that, believe it or not, squirrels are considered wild and can only be cared for by a licensed animal rehabilitator, of which she was. I was much relieved! Taryn drove immediately from Montvale, NJ to my place in Nyack, a trip of about a half hour. She thanked me for making the effort and transferred her from the box to a proper cage.
She determined that it was a female and asked if I would like to give her a name. I
thought for a second and said, “Chance. I’d like to call her Chance because that’s all I
could give her”. The rest would be up to her and Taryn. Taryn further explained that she would do her best to raise Chance through the winter and then release her back to her natural habitat in the Spring when she would have the best chance of surviving.
Over the next 6 months or so, Taryn would post videos and stories of how Chance was not only surviving but thriving! She got bigger, stronger and healthier until she got to the point when it was time for her to be released. From Taryn’s correspondence it was obvious that the two had bonded and that letting her go would be very difficult. But she also knew that it was the RIGHT thing to do. Chance was born free and deserved the best life possible. Taryn just posted that the day had come and with mixed feelings let her go to lead the life she was destined for.
Now, this story about an orphaned squirrel might leave my readers thinking what the
heck is this doing in an opinion column. Well, it’s in the message.
I could have looked away when I first spotted that little thing. That would have been the easiest thing to do. After all, does the world REALLY need another squirrel? Probably not. There are plenty of them. But that’s not the point. It’s not about a squirrel. It’s all about compassion, doing the right thing at the right time and for the right reasons.
Compassion doesn’t judge – it ACTS and in a way that often defies logic or reason. In fact, acting this way can come in conflict with our own best self-interests. Yet, there are times that it is an irresistible force.
Unfortunately, we seem to be entering an era where compassion and kindness are
being associated with weakness. The MAGA crowd seems hell bent on forcing an
agenda where cruelty IS the point. Mass deportations, often of innocent people
including sick children, are now expected AND accepted. Due Process has been
ignored. Funding has been cut in education, health, the environment, and the arts. The LGBTQ+ community and women’s rights are under constant attack. All under the guise of Making America Great Again.
It’s maddening because when we lose our compassion, we also lose our humanity. We resort to “The Lord of the Flies” mentality where only the strong survive. Well, I refuse to accept that. I know that TRUE strength comes from our ability to protect the weak and innocent, i.e. our compassion. And, in the ultimate paradox, I’m willing to fight to keep it that way.
THIS is what made America great and will again.
Editor’s note: The views expressed in this article are those of this independent writer and not the Nyack News & Views editorial staff. We welcome submissions from anybody who is interested in publishing their thoughts, ideas and perspectives about issues facing our community, both large and small. Please send to info@nyacknewsandviews.com with detailed contact information.
Photo credit: Frank LoBuono