Living with Anteaters

Getting a bit tired


Heading into a hallow stump

Translucent worm

Digging in a hallow stump

in hallow stump

As you can see I never let go of her tail. Well, I don't but I did. She popped her front half out and I grabbed her and was hauling her out by her harness. All of a sudden I had a harness with no anteater. I grabbed for her but she was gone down the hallow root in a flash. She's never pulled out of that one before. I reached in for her but she was gone. Wormed my arm in as far as I could and felt her but then she was gone. I was sure she went off down a long tunnel and I'd never find her and would die of grief. I then went all mama bear crazed ninja on the stump. You know when a mom tosses a car off the kid, deal.

I ripped off the side of the stump with my bear hands. I've tried before and even kicking it didn't budge but to save my baby it was nothing. Broke right off. I then could reach in farther and at my max reach could just feel her ear. Hope! I kept trying but could only touch her ear and she finally got annoyed and pulled just out of reach again.  Figured maybe I got lucky and she hit a dead end.

I then ripped off the back side of the stump and gave it another shot. I felt her and could feel her shoulder just a bit. I couldn't get hold of anything and it felt like she pulled away around a corner. Back to my first thought but then I turned into a contortionist and went head first into the stump wiggled around and got my arm deep into the hole. Could feel her arm but not quite grab hold then suddenly I had hold of it. Maybe she felt sorry for me and moved closer.

Started slowly hauling her from the hole. It's a slow game of tug of war. Tamandua are strong and it's a matter of being more stubborn than they are. Felt my grip failing but had her out far enough I was able to get her other hand in my other hand and that claw was long enough she couldn't pull it from my grip.

I hauled her out and she was surprisingly POed. She wasn't cooperating with the re-harnessing even with grandma helping by holding her tail and there was no forcing her into her bag. Finally I just knelt on her tail(they can take it) and got her harness on. After running along the trail a bit she was fine again. Back to her old self. I think mostly she had just sensed my upset.

I had her part way out and thought it was far enough. It wasn't. I will never ever let go of that lifeline of a tail again till she is fully clear.

I have always made it a policy to share all the good and bad. One bad snap decision and chaos. Some would say letting her in hallow trees at all is a bad decision. There is certainly no other tamandua I would or have ever trusted to do it. It has always gone smoothly long as I hold that tail. It's just that after a bit she wants to curl up and sleep so need to be able to pull her out as well as just in case of a hole or burrow that is unseen. We all have our risk limits we choose to take or not take. Pua is going on 7 and I haven't lost her yet.

It is a risk though and I think that is the main reason for this disclosure. Sometimes we may make keeping a tamandua seem easier or less risky than it really is. Your dog gets loose you might have to pay a small fine. Your exotic gets loose it could potentially lead to personal, financial and public ruin(major fines/news stories). No risk can be taken lightly.

Ready for a nap

Sitting up

Curled up

So sleepy

All a girl needs is s soft blankie and a place to rest her chin

Pua napping on the ride home -

Sleeping