In honor of Mother's Day arriving on May 12, 2017, I started to wonder how baby animals might be celebrating the occasion with their own moms.
OK, obviously I know that the precious critters shown below can't really read a calendar or understand what a special day it is.
But you have to admit: It's still fun to think about a bear cub making an adorable DIY gift for her mama, or perhaps a small duckling presenting his mom with a bouquet of freshly picked flowers!
And at any rate, you just can't help but feel all warm and fuzzy inside when you see the baby animals loving their moms just as much as we humans appreciate our own.
Take a look to see baby animals from all walks of life showing their mama some love and be sure to SHARE the super-sweet snapshots with all the amazing moms you know!
1.
This mama goat is definitely cherishing her sweet kid's affectionate smooches before the little one goes through "puberty" at anywhere between 3 to 15 months old.
2.
Like most horse moms, this majestic mare probably gave birth to her baby animal in the dead of night. Luckily, they tend to be pretty speedy labors.
3.
As we all learned while watching mama April prepare for her baby, these long-necked tykes like to take their time — up to 15 months — before making their way into the world.
4.
Beagles are often described as one of the smartest breeds, but also single-minded — as you can see with this playful mom who won't even share her toy with her own pup!
5.
It's crazy to think anyone could be superstitious or afraid of this mama cat's fluffy, little black beauty.
6.
How precious is this sow with her piglets in their nest? I think she might be dreaming of actually having an uninterrupted nap!
7.
This mother duck clearly shows how protective they tend to be when it comes to taking care of their tiny ducklings.
8.
This joey looks pretty happy to finally be out of his mama's pouch, but he still won't wander too far away from her, until he's gradually weaned himself — over about 8 to 10 months.
9.
By closely imitating her mom, this little bear will quickly learn all the best food and hunting tricks before becoming more independent after a couple of years.
10.
I'm sure this calf and his mom were making quite a ruckus when this photo was snapped, but primarily they communicate with each other more quietly, through touch.
11.
This pair of baby lemurs reminds me of fighting over the front seat of the car with my brother — luckily, their mom has plenty of room for both!
12.
This mama lion definitely takes pride in making sure her cub has the cleanest fur in the pack. Those tend to consist of about 30 big cats.
13.
Does this remind anyone of bedtime in their house? These playful otters will only stay close to their mom for about a year before branching off into independence.
14.
This joey has come a long way since being the size of a lima bean — when his mama first put him inside her pouch to finish developing, for about nine months.
15.
Studies have shown that this little calf can recognize her mom simply by hearing her distinct voice.
Which adorable mommy and baby animal pair was your favorite on the list? Be sure to SHARE with your friends!
