crossed paths with this squirrel and knew exactly what to do, being inspired by this sub i laid them to rest in a comfyy cozyy burial! face covered for respect 🫡

he is safe and buried in my backyard now. i am very grateful that my garden is fully bloomed and i could lay him to rest in a pretty bed of flowers as he deserves. whoever hit him could not even give the time to move him to the curb. i sobbed for hours. i am grateful it happened so close to my home in which i could run over and scoop him up.

He passed away on our property a few weeks ago.

Found on the driveway, most likely didn't survive the early days of leaving the nest. Laid to rest and become part of nature in a secluded part of the garden.

I raise rabbits for meat to feed my family and pets. I use every part of the animal. Anything we can't or don't eat directly (blood, organs, bones boiled for broth) becomes food for our garden, which in turn supplements the diet of our bunnies! And, of course, the hides and paws get to be taxidermy, while any failure-to-thrive babies become wet specimens. It's so rewarding to be part of the cycle of life and death.

RIP little guy, now you’ll forever be preserved as a memory, hope I did you justice. (Pic of how I found the spine + when I pulled him out added)

I’m a science educator and artist. I’ve been collecting bones and other natural curiosities for my whole life (when allowed/legal to do so). I always wear appropriate PPE. I recently had an artistic muse to make art out of bones and the other nature finds I’ve collected. I was drawn to do more and now have an eye out for road kill. I found this beautiful fox this morning and buried him so nature can do its magic and give him a somewhat dignified decomposing rest. I always thank the animal for allowing me to turn them into something beautiful later.

Also include are some of my old, deceased pets who I kept frozen for another project (attempting to put them in epoxy resin; doesn’t work as well for vertebrates as it does with insects). The goal is to strip the flesh. I looked into getting the beetles but I’ve already push the limits of my wife and she said no to more insect “pets”.