 You might remember that in our family, we have one Sir Flying Ace who lives in Northwestern Oklahoma in the town of Alva. Sir Flying Ace is a man now…strong, mustached and goateed. He flies, repairs aircraft and works for a company that makes aircraft interiors. He combines wheat for the fun of it and hunts with his buddies in season. So you get the picture. He’s a man! Well, Sir Flying Ace has a dog. His dog’s name is Belle, as in Blue Belle. She is a blue heeler and Tenacious is her middle name. This past week, as she romped through the back yard of her western Oklahoma digs, she did exactly that…she dug. And she dug. And she carried a present to Sir Flying Ace to deposit at his feet…a little brown, furry thing. Now Sir Flying Ace, not having encountered too many little, brown furry things except a raccoon or two, called me to inform me that he was trying to warm up what he thought was a baby ground squirrel. It’s eyes were still closed and Sir Flying Ace had run to the local WalMart to grab some puppy formula to attempt to feed this tiny animal. He took a picture with his cell phone and sent me the photo of the critter. It was not a ground squirrel. It was a teeny tiny bunny rabbit.  I received a text message shortly thereafter that Belle had produced another bunny rabbit and by the evening, Mr. Sir Flying Ace was playing mommy to six little rabbits, all with their eyes closed. Belle had discovered the nest under the apricot tree and had ruined everything for Mama Rabbit.  For three days now, my son has been feeding baby bunnies. Unfortunately, one of them did not survive, but the rest are thriving. Using a syringe, without the needle and with a tiny tip, he pushes just a little bit of milk into their mouths until they start sucking it out. He is pretty smart, I have to admit. He knew that if he took the box of rabbits to work, all of the young ladies in the office would go crazy and beg to get to feed them. He was right. In fact, one woman took the thumpers home overnight to feed every hour, so that her children could see them. But of course, she brought them back.  Today, the cottontails’ eyes opened.  And they started cleaning each other with little tongues. And they are semi-hopping on the floor. It won’t be long until Sir Flying Ace will have to let his babies leave the nest. But I am very proud of him for taking such a serious and gentle interest in the little orphans. He’ll make a good mama someday…I mean, husband! 🙂 And yes, now he is going to kill me. Love you son!  UPDATE: Just got back from visiting Sir Flying Ace and I got to feed the bunnies! They are sooo cute! Here are a few pictures that I took to share. They are growing up!  After feeding, the bunnies pile up together to sleep. They are eating grass clippings and pieces of apricot from the tree.  They are getting bigger!  Sir Flying Ace is giving the rabbits time in the grass each day to get them used to being out on their own.  But they are all still pretty small! Still too young to be turned loose.  |
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Tags: blue heeler, cottontail, orphaned, rabbit
And don’t they just surprise you sometimes? You think you know them and then you find out they really do have marshmellows for innards (lol). Just shows you raised him right, taught him to value life and to help those less fortunate than him (even if it is not human). Both he and his mama are to complimented!
you are right, awwwww! how cute! please before releasing them, check with a wildlife rehabilitator. they are wild animals and as such their momma isn’t giving them the “training” they will need to survive. a wildlife rehab is a person that is able to do this..at least here in the east we have them…do they have them in ok?
Thank you, Judy!! Our sons really are special, aren’t they? 🙂
You know, Frankie, I believe that a friend of mine’s sister is a wildlife rehabilitator. Good point! Will call her and ask!!
We did that with a tiny baby squirrel two years ago, up every hour or so to feed her – we turned her over to a Wildlife Rehabilitator to get her ready to face real life challanges in the wild. How sweet it was to take care of her! Our daugher-in-love is a wildlife rehabilitator in NC. She might be able to help locate someone in OK. Your son is a great example of great parents raising him with values. Everyone is to be congratulated! Whoever the Lord chooses to be his wife will be blessed 🙂
Amen, Ruth on my son!! 🙂 Actually, I have a friend whose sister is wildlife rehabilitator here. However, these bunnies are so young when they go out into the wild, we have found out, that they are already out foraging on the lawn and feeling their oats. I think they will be on their own by next week.
OMG!! They are sooo cute, espcially love that last picture! Your son did a wonderful thing taking them in! 🙂
They are cute, aren’t they, Candy!!
Oh they are so stinkin’ cute. You did good bringin’ that man up. I use to raise rabbits and seeing those little faces bring back so many memories. Love that last pic. It’s award winning!
I get to meet them this afternoon, Herdog! I can guarantee that I will be taking pictures of my own too! 🙂
These are the cutest, sweetest baby animals I have ever seen in my lift, truly! What a wonderful experience for your Son to raise those bunnies until they are ready to be on their own. AWESOME!
Thank you so much for sharing.
And guess what, Debbie, I have been holding one just now!! They are so tiny!! But they are already eating grass and drinking water. My son is putting them in the back yard in a little wire cage to allow the grass to come up through the bottom so that they can learn to forage for themselves. He is also giving them little pieces of apricot off his tree. They are adorable