You Need to See This! So Sweet!

[Adventurista]

I don't know if this has been posted before, but one of my friends sent me this pic and I just melted. It's the sweetest thing ever.

[Nancy in New York]

:Love_Icon :Love_Icon :Love_Icon Awe......Thanks for sharing....:Love_Icon

[astra]

no, i have not seen it before - but thank you so much for sharing! I am going to save a copy!:thankyou :grouphug

[SammysMom]

Oh too sweet!!!:thankyou

[UDoWhat]

I love it. !! Thanks for sharing .

Marty

[Scooterzmom]

Awwww ... melts your heart :Love_Icon :Love_Icon :Love_Icon

[MiriamS]

Squeeeeeee! KLUNK.

It gets WAAAAYYYYY cuter. The photo is from this website:

http://eideard.wordpress.com/2010/06/03/north-american-red-squirrels-adopt-orphans/ (http://eideard.wordpress.com/2010/06/03/north-american-red-squirrels-adopt-orphans/)

North American red squirrels sometimes adopt orphans
The study by [University of] Guelph Prof. Andrew McAdam, along with researchers from the University of Alberta and McGill University, revealed that red squirrels will adopt pups that have lost their mother.

It’s a significant finding because while such adoptions are typical among species that live in extended family groups, it’s much less common among asocial animals, such as squirrels…

In all five adoption scenarios, the pups were nieces, nephews, siblings or grandchildren to the adoptive mother.

“From an evolutionary perspective, the phenomenon of adoption raises the question of why an animal would adopt in the first place given that it jeopardizes the survival of their own offspring,” said McAdam. “Under the right conditions, an animal can propagate more copies of its genes by helping relatives to raise their offspring than by producing offspring of their own. So in some cases it might be a good bet to adopt and accept these costs.”…

The study was part of a long-term field experiment in Yukon aimed at investigating the importance of food abundance to the ecology and evolution of red squirrels. Under the Kluane Red Squirrel Project (http://www.redsquirrel.ca) begun in 1987, scientists have monitored behaviour and reproduction of about 7,000 squirrels.

[Adventurista]

Oh, wow! That is just amazing!

[MiriamS]

OMG, there's another photo! Look at the little tracking collar. Eeeee

http://www.kennislink.nl/publicaties/asociale-eekhoorn-adopteert-weesjes

Who speaks Netherlands? I would love to know what the captions say.

153971

[mpetys]

Squeeeeeee! KLUNK.

It gets WAAAAYYYYY cuter. The photo is from this website:

http://eideard.wordpress.com/2010/06/03/north-american-red-squirrels-adopt-orphans/ (http://eideard.wordpress.com/2010/06/03/north-american-red-squirrels-adopt-orphans/)

North American red squirrels sometimes adopt orphans
The study by [University of] Guelph Prof. Andrew McAdam, along with researchers from the University of Alberta and McGill University, revealed that red squirrels will adopt pups that have lost their mother.

It’s a significant finding because while such adoptions are typical among species that live in extended family groups, it’s much less common among asocial animals, such as squirrels…

In all five adoption scenarios, the pups were nieces, nephews, siblings or grandchildren to the adoptive mother.

“From an evolutionary perspective, the phenomenon of adoption raises the question of why an animal would adopt in the first place given that it jeopardizes the survival of their own offspring,” said McAdam. “Under the right conditions, an animal can propagate more copies of its genes by helping relatives to raise their offspring than by producing offspring of their own. So in some cases it might be a good bet to adopt and accept these costs.”…

The study was part of a long-term field experiment in Yukon aimed at investigating the importance of food abundance to the ecology and evolution of red squirrels. Under the Kluane Red Squirrel Project (http://www.redsquirrel.ca) begun in 1987, scientists have monitored behaviour and reproduction of about 7,000 squirrels.

I remember reading this article but don't remember seeing that photo. I think i would have remembered that! When I saw the photo, I immediately thought of Kelly Brady and her Paco and the pictures Kelly has taken of Paco and her babies.

[MiriamS]

The cute keeps coming.

153975

[mpetys]

OMG, there's another photo! Look at the little tracking collar. Eeeee

http://www.kennislink.nl/publicaties/asociale-eekhoorn-adopteert-weesjes

Who speaks Netherlands? I would love to know what the captions say.

153971

This one is: Female red squirrel brings a orphaned baby to its own nest. Image: © Ryan W. Taylor

[mpetys]

Female red squirrel helps an orphaned baby. Image: © Jamieson Gorrell and others,

[chickenmom]

Wow..that is so amazing and sweet! Can't say it doesn't surprise me. Squirrels are so intelligent! Awwwww!!!!:D

[mpetys]

Wow..that is so amazing and sweet! Can't say it doesn't surprise me. Squirrels are so intelligent! Awwwww!!!!:D

Hey Chickenmom - have you seen Kelly Brady's thread, "Paco is in heat and love is in the air". It is about her released squirrel Paco, who has stayed around and has had three litters so far this year. Paco is very trusting of Kelly and Kelly has been able to get some wonderful pictures of mom and pinkie babies. Here is the link, I consider her thread one of the must reads! http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25841&highlight=paco

[MiriamS]

Interestingly, I found the photographer on Flickr and the pup is supposedly her own, rather than an orphan. Who cares, it's still precious.

[chickenmom]

Hey Chickenmom - have you seen Kelly Brady's thread, "Paco is in heat and love is in the air". It is about her released squirrel Paco, who has stayed around and has had three litters so far this year. Paco is very trusting of Kelly and Kelly has been able to get some wonderful pictures of mom and pinkie babies. Here is the link, I consider her thread one of the must reads! http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25841&highlight=paco

Wow...I just got through the first 2 pages and MUST read it post for post! So incredible!! Its almost 9 and I have to get Spock to bed and myself settled in as well. Thanks for sharing!

[mpetys]

Interestingly, I found the photographer on Flickr and the pup is supposedly her own, rather than an orphan. Who cares, it's still precious.

I wondered about that. I mean, I was amazed that they were able to be at the right time to get the picture. Babies are orphaned, new mom comes by to pick them up and . . . . photographer is right there. :D