Saving. Being saved.

The other night Joey and I were sitting, watching the kiddos play when we heard the whining of this little guy. For a bit we didn't know where it was coming from. After a few minutes I noticed Tesla was playing with something and I went over to check. I found this little guy, scared and trying to escape. I scooped him up to watch over him. Putting his picture on Instagram I was convinced he was a baby squirrel from comments people left after asking if it was a mouse or a rat. I took him inside and made him a little warm bed in a shoe box and set off to put the kids to bed.

After they were all asleep, I found some information on emergency care for a baby squirrel and the number to a local wild life rehabilitation center. I called her and set it up to bring him in in the morning because the really sad part about cats catching wildlife is they have a very toxic bacteria in their mouths for other animals. So it was a wait and see if he makes it through the night kind of deal. In the morning he was still very much alive but a bit chilled. I put a jar of hot water, wrapped in a rag into his box and he went and snuggled right up to it.

We headed off to the center and the owner chuckled a bit and told me he was indeed not a squirrel but a rat. But no matter what he would be cared for and released back into the wild. I have a special place in my heart for rats. After dropping him off, and being gifted with a gorgeous feather we found in the road of the rehab center, we set off to Petco to fill our morning with more cute little rodents.

This experience reminded me that I have a very deep, soul-stirring connection with wildlife. I've had dreams here and there of owning a rehabilitation center for all types of animals. This has fueled me to really look into becoming a wildlife rehabilitator. 

When looking at rat medicine the end paragraph in Animal Speak by Ted Andrews reads: "If the rat has shown up as a totem, you may find yourself getting more restless. It may indicate a time to be more shrewd in all of your dealings. Are you not handling the pests in your life properly? Do you need to become more adaptable? It may even reflect a time to more aggressively pursue endeavors for success. The behavior of the rat when you see it will help you to determine the kind of energy it specifically brings to you. 

I believe you were telling me, little one, it's time to thrive. Noted. 

Katelyn