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Post by Arrianna on Oct 28, 2006 16:46:56 GMT -5
I have to say you have gotten me interested. I wait for each update with anticipation.
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Post by mickster on Oct 28, 2006 18:24:21 GMT -5
And aren't they just the cutiest things?
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Post by mickster on Nov 4, 2006 12:39:11 GMT -5
The Whiskers gang left the safety of the burrows to performed their usual morning ritutual of foraging for food while Youssarian, older brother in the gang, babysat his one month old brothers and sisters (Blossom, Apollo, Athena, Pepper and Nutmeg). Blossom, being quite the adventerous pup, strayed from the small group while he wasn't looking, and went exploring the area around the nursery burrow, but when she couldn't find her way back she began crying. Youssarian heard her cries and went in search of Blossom, leaving the rest of the pups unattended in the nursery. He returned with Blossom shortly after. All the pups were safely hidden in the nursery burrow and all was well. Later in the morning the band of Whiskers returned home. Daisy, younger sister of Mozart, daughter of Flower, arrived home after the rest of the gang, and she was suddenly attacked by Mozart and a few other Meerkats, for no apparent reason, other than with Mozart being pregnant again, her hormones were running amuck. Daisy was then run off by Mozart as Flower watched with distain. Flower knew she had to put a stop to Mozart's agression before Mozart became too bosy and tried to take over the gang as dominate female. But right now Flower only wanted to be with her pups. She would handle Mozart tomorrow. As the gang rested from the morning activities of eating the banquet of bugs, etc., which the heavy summer rains had provided, Flower nursed her pups, all but one that is. Blossom, being so curious, only wanted to continue exploring the neighborhood on her own. She sneaked away from the group again and wandered through the tall grass, digging for the lucious fruits in the ground that the rains of summer had brought to life. After their nap, the Whiskers gang was ready to go out again, to forage. The gang was unaware that Blossom was gone as they headed out across the meadow. Flower took this opportunity to punish Mozart for her previous attack on Dizzy Daisy, who was watching from the edge of the group and realized this was the opportunity she needed to rejoin the group. Mozart realized she was still submissive to Flower and ajusted her attitude. With the grass being so tall, the gang had a problem keeping track of each other. Mitch, brother-in-law of Flower, perched himself high on the trunk of a tall tree so he could look over the grass and try to keep track of everyone, but with each twitch of grass brought on by even the smallest breeze, he became more nervous. After a while the Meerkats had eaten their fill again and were gathering to head home when suddenly they spotted a large hawk high up on a tree branch. They stopped dead in their tracks. It was obvious to the group that the hawk had spotted somthing on the other side of the meadow and was about the grab a quick meal. Little did the gang realize the target lunch was Blossom as they ran for cover. That evening when the group was resting safely in their burrow, they mourned the loss of little Blossom. Flower will deliver her next litter in a month, and Mozart will deliver hers about three weeks after.
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Post by Arrianna on Nov 4, 2006 13:13:38 GMT -5
Poor Blossom.
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Post by herringchoker on Nov 4, 2006 15:47:44 GMT -5
^ Agreed.........
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Post by Man Alive! on Nov 4, 2006 16:33:40 GMT -5
Ohh, poor Blossom. Caught by an eagle. The animal kingdom sure can be cruel, but that's nature's way!
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Post by allezcuisine on Nov 5, 2006 18:47:05 GMT -5
Aww. Thank goodness the animals don't care for their children like humans. They'd all be wrecks....
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Post by mickster on Nov 5, 2006 21:49:13 GMT -5
I got my revenge today. I was working out, in the solarium today, and saw a big hawk circling above so I figured it had it's eye on something in the yard. I looked outside to see the last of my three young rabbits eating apples that had fallen out of the tree. Sure enough, the hawk began to swoop down on the bunny so, I grabbed my police whistle, went outside, blowing the whistle, and scared the bunny off, and the hawk took off toward the west. It didn't even stop to look around. YAY! I'm sure it has that bunny on a future menu, but for today, all's well that ends well.
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Post by allezcuisine on Nov 7, 2006 16:32:30 GMT -5
Good job, Mick. It's nice to know that there are people who do care about the wildlife.
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Post by Man Alive! on Nov 8, 2006 17:20:31 GMT -5
Awesome, Mick! That's a great story. Sounds like you were just in time!
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Post by mickster on Nov 11, 2006 12:07:37 GMT -5
A month had passed now, and Flower had a litter of three pups; [glow=red,2,300]Millie, Shelly and Bing. [/glow] For the four weeks following their birth the Whiskers pampered them and Flower, grooming her and bringing her food so she could stay with her pups. At four weeks the pups were old enough to go out foraging for food with the group. This would be their first time. Ironically, it was also the morning that Mozart delivered her pups, which were not shown, and how many she had was not mentioned. Mozart did not join the group this morning as they left with Flower leading the way to the mount, the highest point in the two mile square Meerkat manor. Once there, Flower led the way to the last remaining green pasture. Now that summer was over and the rains have ended for another six months, finding food would be harder. The Whiskers spent the day digging for food, unaware that a rival gang (the Commandos) had penetrated the Whiskers boundry on the other side of the dry river bed and were spreading their scent to cover up the Whiskers' scent in order to extend their own area. That evening after foraging, Flower led her pack to a new area, away from the burrow where Mozart and her new pups were, leaving Mozart to fend for herself. Mozart had not eaten all day and dared not leave her pups unattended, without help from the group the pups would not survive. The next day, Mozart was up bright and early and outside looking for evidence of the rest of the group, but in vain. She now realized they were not coming back. Mozart could not go without food for herself if she wanted to nurse her pups but she also couldn't leave the pups alone. Meanwhile, the rest of the group had woke and were performing their morning housecleaning duties before foraging. The new pups were busy playing. The group then went out foraging, providing the pups with all the food they could eat. Suddenly a big eagle was spotted overhead, circling the group who quickly headed for the nearest cover, a small tree, where they stayed for several hours until the danger passed. In the meantime Mozart kept a constant lookout for the group. But she had to find food for herself or she would die. Finally, she decided to leave her pups in search of food and left the burrow heading in the direction of the clan. From the opposite direction, the Commandos were closing in. It didn't take long before they discovered the abandoned burrow where Mozart's pups were stashed. The Commandos didn't realize the pups were there until the pups began crying for mama. The Commandos quickly invaded the burrow and found Mozart's (three)pups. Instinctively, they killed the pups, simply to lessen the growing competition from a rival group. The Commandos continued to mark the territory with their own scent, covering up and burying the Whiskers' scent. As Mozart continued closing in on Flowers band of Meerkats, she knew she needed to approach slowly, but that she would once again be welcome to the group since she was now absent of any babies and not a threat to Flower. Next week, winter sets in as does a new season of Meerkat Manor. I[glow=red,2,300] don't know if I can stand watching these babies die all the time.[/glow]
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Post by Man Alive! on Nov 11, 2006 18:43:38 GMT -5
It's natures way, Mick. Survival of the fittest. Too bad they have to be so cute, though, lol.
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Post by allezcuisine on Nov 11, 2006 19:14:22 GMT -5
MA is right. It's a sad thing, especially to us humans, who don't understand the death like they do. My parakeet died yesterday, too. I knew something was wrong with him. Poor guy. I think his heart just couldn't go on any longer. He seemed sick, too.
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Post by herringchoker on Nov 11, 2006 21:10:21 GMT -5
Sorry to hear about your parakeet, AC. It's a real bummer when a pet dies.
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Post by mickster on Nov 12, 2006 11:20:59 GMT -5
Problem is we do forget that, for the most part, animals we make pets of come from a wild ancestory and live on instinct. With the Meerkats, like other clans that live in close proximity, i.e., wolves, etc., they don't allow the underlings to reproduce, only the "alpha" females may do that. Baby anythings are just too cute, also. I must learn to ignore my human compassion for these animals if I am going to continue to watch them. AC, I'm sorry your parakeet died (sigh).
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