I've been photographing Ezo squirrels for nearly 10 years,
but this was the first time I was able to witness the moment a mother moves her baby in her mouth.
I was so moved.

Photo courtesy of @_emiriku_

It's a mother squirrel carrying her baby in her mouth! The sight of the determined pair has garnered over 30,000 likes and a flood of comments like, "Go, momma, go!" and "Wow, her mouth is so full!"

A Precious Moment! A Mother Squirrel Carrying Her Baby

The photo was posted by Eiji, who enjoys photographing Hokkaido's wildlife and landscapes as a hobby. The picture shows a baby Ezo squirrel born this year (photographed in late April). This "moving day" scene is such a rare moment that even Eiji, who has been photographing Ezo squirrels for 10 years, encountered it for the first time.

A Life-Risking Move and Its Surprising Reasons

Ezo squirrels "move house" several times each year between April and July. There are important reasons for this, such as protecting themselves from predators like crows and foxes, and safeguarding their children's health from fleas and mites that infest old nests.

To raise her young in a safe environment, the mother squirrel carries her baby in her mouth and dashes to the new nest at full speed. Male Ezo squirrels do not participate in raising the young, so the mother undertakes this life-risking move all by herself.

A grown-up baby squirrel

"I was deeply moved by the strong and love-filled mother," says Eiji. It was a single photo that conveyed the profound love of a mother packed into her tiny body.