Bart the Mother
Bart the Mother is the third episode of The Simpsons’ tenth season. It aired on September 27, 1998. In the story, Bart accidentally shoots and kills a mother bird with a BB gun at a Family Fun Center. Feeling guilty, he decides to hatch and raise the two eggs he finds in the nest.
Marge finds out where Bart went and is upset, but she doesn’t punish him. Bart keeps the eggs in his treehouse and secretly tends to them, hoping the babies will survive. Marge forgives him when she learns what he’s doing. The eggs hatch into two Bolivian tree lizards, which Bart names Chirpy Boy and Bart Jr. The lizards grow and start killing other birds.
Principal Skinner explains that these lizards are a problem and must be killed by law. Bart tries to protect the lizards and even runs away with them, but Skinner catches him. The lizards fall from a building but somehow glide to the ground. They multiply and end up eating many pigeons in Springfield, which the town cheers for since pigeons are considered pests. Mayor Quimby even gives Bart a loganberry-scented candle as a thanks.
Lisa worries the town will be overrun by lizards, but Skinner says they’ll be dealt with. Lisa also questions Bart’s moral view: why feel bad about killing one bird but be at ease with harming many. The story ends with a typical family moment and a disagreement about who should sit in the front seat on the ride home.
Production notes: This was the last full-length Simpsons episode written by David X. Cohen. It also features the last speaking appearance of Troy McClure, voiced by Phil Hartman, who had been murdered earlier that year; the episode is dedicated to him. The episode was generally well received for its mix of heart and humor, with some critics calling it a standout in the season.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 05:35 (CET).