Horrible thing just happened

[Abitsickandshakey]

Somehow, a little bird managed to get inside our flat today. Possibly through a vent or something.

It had been chirping for a while and I'd thought it was outside. Then saw it on the floor. Seemed like maybe it had hurt a wing because it wasn't fluttering in the air at all (growing up in our house, birds sometimes came into our conservatory and would flap about like mad) just hopping around.

Anyway, we closed the doors into the sitting room where it was to put on jeans to deal with it and i was looking up a local bird rescue place because I thought it was hurt - and we heard the snap of one of the mousetraps.

Obviously, it was dead.

We are kicking ourselves for not triggering the mousetrap in the room. Why the fuck didn't we do that before going in the next room???

I'd rather we didn't have the mousetraps at all, but we have a problem with mice getting into our food etc so we do need them. I don't like killing the mice either but not sure what else we can do there.

Honestly, I feel a little sick and upset. We were going to catch it, and bring it to the bird sanctuary. I was trying to talk to it and explain not to be afraid and we were going to try to help it and then it died because of our fucking mousetrap.

My mum is very seriously ill and getting results of a crucial scan tomorrow and my FIL died last week and I'm worried about MIL being alone now and if she'll be ok, and honestly this pointless death of a little living thing who was hurt is like salt in the wound.

I don't know, it underlines a feeling of complete helplessness perhaps. We had good intentions to help it, but we didn't act quickly enough and then it was too late.

Can I get a grip or a handhold please?

Ah op this is very sad. But honestly if it was hurt anyway, it may not have made it. You'd have had to catch it and transport it, which would have been extremely stressful for the poor thing. I understand why you feel upset. Sending hugs.

I'm so sorry OP

Wish I had some words of wisdom, sending good vibes and virtual hugs

It's very sad - but it would have been instantaneous. The bird didn't suffer, and it was possibly suffering when it was hurt and in your house.

Could you buy a bird table or feeder to support the other birds in your garden? Might help to turn it into something positive.

I work in animal rescue (although not birds). The fact it wasn’t attempting to fly wasn’t a good sign and it’s likely it would have been euthanised if you’d taken it to a rescue. Its death would have been instantaneous in the trap. Please try not to worry… you didn’t cause it pain.

It was an accident, you didn’t do it deliberately. Say a few words for the bird and then move on.

Sorry to hear that it's upset you but it was probably the kindest thing for the bird. It would have been terrifying for it to be picked up and taken somewhere. It is in no pain now.

I get why you're upset. I expect I would be too in your shoes.

It didn't occur to you that the mouse traps posed a risk because you were so focused on formulating a plan to help and care for the bird. Yes, it's a really upsetting oversight but it was an honest mistake in a moment of shock when your thoughts were dominated by thoughts of how best to help.

You did your best. Sometimes the universe is a bastard. At least it happened quickly so there was no time to suffer.

you made an innocent, human mistake whilst trying to do a kind, caring thing. Try not to be so hard on yourself.

OP I understand why you feel so upset but it is one of those things and a hurt bird outside wouldn't last for long either sadly.

Do you feed the birds? If not get some bird feeders and look after the ones outside and you'll feel better. It's also very therapeutic

Honestly OP if you though the bird was injured, a quick end was probably the best outcome. I think sometimes (not all the time) things happen for a reason and that mousetrap may have saved the poor thing from anymore suffering.

You poor soul

Injured birds have very poor recovery prospects. An instantaneous, painless death was almost certainly the best thing in the circumstances.

Hope you’re ok

I once watched a blackbird attack a tiny little bird in the road outside my house.

I didn’t know what to do, I ran outside clapping my hands and the blackbird did fuck off. That little bird hopped about a tiny little bit and promptly fell down the drain and drowned. DD was a baby and she is 19 now, never forgot it.

op

Bless you OP. Here's a handhold.

It wasn't your fault.

It's okay to cry and let it out.

I hope your mum is okay.

I have twice rescued injured birds and driven them to the wildlife sanctuary an hour away. I expect they were terrified in a cardboard box in my car for the whole journey. Once we arrived I was told they had a broken wing and so had to be put to sleep.

Your little bird died instantly and didn’t have to endure a frightening journey first.

It is upsetting - I had to actually put a bird out of its misery once when my cat had wounded it badly, it was horrible! DH was too squeamish to do it, and I almost was but I knew it was the kindest thing in the circumstances.

Hope your mum and MIL are OK

Oh you poor love. All the horrible stuff going on in your life and then this happens. It wasn't your fault, the bird would have probably died regardless.

Condolences on the loss of your FIL and sending healthy vibes to your mum, I hope she will be reassured by the scan results tomorrow.

Handhold from me. It wasn’t your fault but I understand why you’re upset. Try not to dwell on it - have a wee cry, for the bird and your other sorrows and worries. Take care of yourself.

Be kind to yourself OP. We are all human, you didn't purposefully cause harm to it.

@Abitsickandshakey Don't feel bad. The wee bird was probably too injured to survive in the wild, and it being killed (instantly) by the mouse trap is for the best.

@Abitsickandshakey (((HUGS))) for your mom and MIL!

I think sometimes stuff like this can be the straw that breaks the camel’s back. If it’s any comfort, it probably would have been put down, so really this was quite a quick and merciful death for it.

Honestly don’t worry yourself, the bird won’t have suffered (probably gone into shock). But handhold here too because of all the other sadness in your life. I hope you have sunnier days soon 💐

Oh OP I’m sorry you’re going through so much at the moment - no wonder you feel so upset about this. Take care of yourself if you can.

Aw. It was an accident don’t beat yourself up. As others have said if it was injured or ill it may not have survived, could have been in shock and in pain etc. Plus if it hadn’t have been inside it could have been eaten by a wild animal or even flowin into your window and died that way.

Don’t stress over it

I work in a vets and we get a lot of injured birds. Invariably they are put to sleep as broken wings are generally not survivalable for a few different reasons. Although it feels awful the end result would likely have been the same and it was likely to have been quick.

Oh that does sound sad, but as others have said the bird may not have survived anyway.

I take from it a reminder of how we are connected to all sentient beings and how we feel for the tiniest of them when misfortune occurs. How much more do we feel for our own family and friends?

Sometimes when there are 'big' things going on we put a brave face on it all, we cope by minimising our feelings and by being practical. This little bird reminds us all of reality of life and death, and how vulnerable and emotional we can feel in the face of it.