I stopped by Peanut’s house yesterday to see what was going on and it’s all good. His little hideout is still intact – he seems to have added a back door – always a nice addition to any home:) I dropped off some peanuts, bananas and bird food. I think he’ll be fine.
Found this turtle in the middle of the road. At first I was just going to put him in woods by the road, but there wasn’t any water anywhere close by so I figured I’d take him to the river.
He seemed fine in the back of the truck and happy to get to the river.
Not sure if I helped him or interrupted his journey but at least he’s out of the road!
Oh Peanut – how wonderful your life must be! As for Turtle, better to be at a river you had no intention of going to than be an imprint on the road
I just hope Peanut is stocking up some of that food for the Winter.
That’s exactly what I was what I was thinking about the turtle
You’re the best!
Good grief! (just went back and caught up) I totally missed the crux of the story here. I never realized there was life after sticky trap! In most instances the rodents expire fairly quickly because of distress. You are a *heroine, and now you will be famous in the world of Rodentia as the lady who took pity on, and saved a little mouse from certain death! Hm, perhaps even the turtle will have a tale to tell as well.
~ Lynda
*I know the word has lost favor in more modern times, but I happen to think it has romantic qualities that make it appropriate in the telling of your story.
Peanut wasn’t giving up – he almost broke his arm trying to get himself unstuck.
Thanks but I am not a “heroine”. I started posting Peanut’s story because I wanted people to stop using glue traps and realize that even if you’re a little bit of a thing, you can feel pain and fear too. It’s so easy to say “Oh, it’s just an animal”, but they FEEL too. All the nice things people post are a little embarrassing, it’s great but it should be our “standard operating procedure” – I think the world will be a better place when it’s not a big deal to take five minutes and help out a little creature that’s gotten himself into trouble.
And I think the turtle is probably irritated. LOL
Oh, I didn’t mean to embarrass you! I think some context is in order from my end… (I tend to imagine on the internet that everyone already knows how I think, and my background. OOPSIE! LOL!) As a teacher (retired) I read A LOT of children’s literature to my classes. I also write children’s stories (not published yet).
In all the great animal stories there is always a hero or heroine that steps in to save the day, unless the animal is clever enough to get out of the bind themselves, of course.
I admire what you did, and liked the thought that the little Peanut was beholden to you for saving it’s life. Not knowing if it had a family or not, I am sure it will have many more adventures as it travels to meet up with them. What an adventure! (Storyteller’s POV)
There is a wonderful children’s tale called “The Lady and the Spider” which is very like your heart and mind in the telling. Perhaps someday you will take a moment to read it. The Lady thinks much the same as you, and it was a favorite of mine to read to all of my classes in the years that I taught. And always in our insect theme we learned to recite the little poem: “Hurt No Living Thing”
Hurt No Living Thing
Ladybird, nor butterfly,
Nor moth with dusty wing,
Nor cricket chirping cheerily,
Nor grasshopper so light of leap,
Nor dancing gnat, nor beetle fat,
Nor harmless worms that creep.
Christina G. Rossetti
So, in the context of a little mousie called Peanut, who has been rescued from a most horrible and certain death, I quite imagined that the little Peanut saw you as a heroine and was very grateful for what you did. Even if terrified of your size and unsure, at first, of your intentions.
xo
I have just been ignoring the “you’re wonderful” comments and was really responding to all of them – nothing you said bothered me really, I just felt like I need to say something about. And I suppose Peanut might think differently than I do. I should make a story of it, maybe it will make people stop using glue traps!
I will read the Lady and the Spider and I love that poem! “Hurt no living thing” – yes, words to live by
And you know, it was odd but Peanut seemed to trust me straight away. I fully expected him to bite me but he didn’t even try.
Good for Peanut and good for you saving the turtle. You did the correct thing.
Sounds like life is in balance. Good work
Thanks for the Peanut update … and yes the Turtle is much, much better off. I rescue at least 2-3 a month, they get in the road and can not get up the curb even if they make it across safely. I always put them back in the ditch or pond and pray they have better sense the next time they get the urge to travel!! Tom
2-3 a month, wow. We need turtle crossings!
What a simple problem to solve – we just need “reverse curbs” so they can’t get onto the road in the first place.
Your turtle was quite a find! I hope we wasn’t too disgruntled and his new surroundings were to his taste.