Taps
This was the third time that night that she heard the little tap. She has had enough, so she decided to watch the camera footage.
She heard another tap. She desperately tried to locate the porch camera. What she saw made her go wake her husband up. She was consumed by fear.
Dream Life
Kelly was your average 26-year-old. She was happily married to the love of her life, Brad Shoemaker and recently finished grad school.
They lived their dream lives. They had a beautiful home, good jobs and a relationship that most people only dreamt of. However, things did not remain that way.
Changes
Everything changed the moment their son Jeremy was born. They were unable to live in their apartment, as the space was not suitable for a baby. This was a difficult change for the young couple to accept.
The couple decided that it was for the best to move to the countryside, as the houses in the city was overpriced and still too small. They had no idea what they were getting themselves into.
The Perfect House
The family was fortunate to find a beautiful home away from the hustle and bustle from the city. Jeremy was two years old when they moved, and he instantly loved the home.
The house was surrounded by big beautiful trees which was the home for many squirrels. Jeremy loved their little neighbors, but his mother did not feel the same way.
Predators
“A scurry of squirrels can attract a predator, Brad,” Kelly shared with her husband at the dinner table. Jeremy spent hours outside, chasing the squirrels and she feared for his safety.
Brad tried to assure her that there was nothing to worry about. However, he started changing his tune one night when he heard a loud noise one night.
Rainy Evening
The first time the Shoemakers heard the noise was on a rainy Sunday night. Brad immediately grabbed his cricket bat and proceeded to investigate.
Kelly walked with him, holding her son's bat. She heard Brad open the sliding door, and what they saw sent shivers down their spines.
Injured Animal
They saw an injured squirrel with a wound on her legs. Kelly immediately tried to help the poor creature.
They cleaned the small animal and closed her wound. Their son wrapped the animal in a warm blanket. The noise was gone, but Kelly couldn't shake the feeling that something was still wrong.
Member Of The Family
After a year, the family released Lily into the wild. The family grew attached to their newest addition and it was a difficult time for them.
Lily's absence left a void in the house. Nonetheless, it didn't take long for the tapping noises on their porch door to return.
Constant
Kelly and Brad rushed to the door with hopes of seeing Lilly, however they were met with nothing but darkness.
The taps continued for a month. The taps happened every night for a year. Before they knew it, Kelly was finishing her PhD, Brad got a promotion at work and Jeremy was about to start with his fifth grade. So many things had changed for the Shoemakers but one thing remained constant...
Getting Fed Up
Nearly a decade passed and the taps returned every night like clockwork. Brad got frustrated with the state of things so he decided to install cameras in his garden. He even placed a few in the driveway.
Kelly spent the majority of her weekend staring at the cameras. She was stopped in her tracks by what she saw...
She Can’t Believe It
“Brad!” Kelly raced upstairs to wake her husband. She dashed into Jeremy’s room as well, dragging the ten-year-old from sleep.
“It’s two in the morning, Kelly,” Brad lamented as he followed her and Jeremy. “What is it?” Kelly didn’t answer. She pulled both of them to Brad’s study, pointing at the porch camera with wide eyes.
A Miracle
Brad gasped. He focused the video feed, zooming in on what he was seeing. Kelly reached out for Jeremy, hugging him as Brad wrapped himself around them.
A squirrel was tapping the porch. “Lily?” Jeremy asked, and Kelly nodded. The squirrel was grown, its coat more detailed. The family was about to race to let Lily in when the squirrel did the unexpected.
A Smart Creature
Lily climbed up the rafter and disappeared. “Change cameras,” Jeremy almost barked. Brad switched the computer’s view to one of the cameras looking at the house.
“There,” Jeremy pointed, Lily was on the roof. She climbed into a small divide between tiles. “Attic?” Kelly suggested, and they all raced upstairs. Their jaws dropped at what they found.
New Family Members
Lily was lying in her old cuddler. She nestled three kittens between her legs, peacefully feeding them.
Kelly broke into happy tears. “This is amazing,” she said. Brad and Jeremy did not speak. Kelly reached out for them, and they held each other as they watched. Jeremy sneaked away, returning a minute later with Lily’s old blanket. “We are a family again, mom,” he smiled.
We are the Shoemakers
The Shoemakers bought Lily a new cuddler, one big enough to fit Jossie, Alen, and Cliff, her kids. Brad also cleaned up the attic and made it more friendly to the animals.
They discovered that each of the nights they’d heard a knock on their porch, it was Lily. She had been living in their attic all this time. For Kelly, it was amazing watching the baby she raised raise her own babies. But that’s not all Lily did.
One Special Squirrel
The way Lily came back to her rescuers again and again took the internet by storm and changed people’s perceptions of squirrels.
The Shoemakers’s story went insanely viral and captured the hearts of millions around the world. Now, Lily has a large online following - people even come to the Shoemaker’s house to meet her.
Something More
While it’s easy to think of squirrels as bushy-tailed vermin akin to rats, Lily has proven that they are smart creatures capable of love, compassion, and dedication.
In fact, Lily acts more like a house pet than a wild animal and is clearly grateful for the help she received from a pair of humans. She has an important message for the world.
The Plight Of The Red Squirrel
In England, the red squirrel is considered a threatened species. Their populations are declining due to invasive grey squirrels, diseases, road traffic accidents, predators, and loss of habitat. But humans and their pets are also a huge threat.
Unfortunately, squirrels are often caught in rat traps or attacked by dogs and cats. And they have a bad rap.
A Lot To Offer
While squirrels are usually seen as disease-carrying “pests” and “nuisances” who raid bird feeders, chew through wood and wiring, and dart in front of cars, these “pests” actually have a lot to offer.
According to a prominent University of Florida researcher and ecologist, they are an integral part of a healthy ecosystem.
A Vital Part Of The Ecosystem
Robert McCleery, an associate professor in the department of wildlife ecology and conservation in the UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, has been studying squirrels for mist of his career.
“Squirrels are some of the most visible wildlife in our modern urban and suburban settings, and they are a vital part of the ecosystems they inhabit.” He’s dedicated his life to raising awareness about these interesting creatures.
An Important Role
“Their biggest contribution to the forest is in shaping plant composition. They have a peculiar habit of taking seeds, which are their main source of nutrients, and burying them,” McCleery explains.
“They bury them throughout the environment, and often, when they go back and look for them, they forget where they are. When that happens, they are effectively planting seeds.” This odd behavior, called caching, changes the forest landscape for the better over time.
Mysterious Animals
“They will expand forests and change the types of trees that are there,” McCleery said. For example, in Florida, squirrels play an important role in maintaining the long-leaf pine ecosystem.
McCleery also says that, although we do know a lot about squirrels, there’s so much we still don’t know about them. That’s why he loves studying these mysterious creatures. He also shared another hilarious fact.
They Are Cheeky!
“If you’re in your backyard, walking across a college campus or through a park, you might hear squirrels. They make a rolling chirping noise,” McCleery said. While they make that distinctive chirping noise, they typically flick their tails over their heads. This gesture means “back off!”
“They are scolding you because you are near a tree they’ve utilized or are near some food resource, or you’re also perceived as a predator,” McCleery explained. So, what is Lily’s message?
Lily’s Message
"If Lily can teach at least one person to have compassion for all living things, no matter how big or how small," Kelly said, "then we have done what we have set out to."
So, the next time you see an animal in need - no matter how big or small - remember that kindness goes a long way. Every creature on earth has its role to play.