ROSEVILLE, Minnesota – It wasn’t just trees that fell during the heavy storms earlier this week; nests fell, too. The Wildlife Rehabilitation Center took in 245 new animals on Tuesday and Wednesday alone. Many of them were baby squirrels and birds.
“Storms certainly increase our patient load for a number of reasons, but this time of year we are in peak season for second nesting squirrels. So the storms knocked a lot of baby squirrels out of the trees and a lot of our young songbirds out of the trees,” said Medical Director Dr. Renee Schott.
Schott said all hands are on deck to care for the animals affected by this week’s first storm, while also preparing for another storm that could bring another larger influx of animals.
“If it’s injured, definitely bring it to us. If it’s unharmed and looks okay, you can wait a couple hours and see if mommy comes to get it. Mommy squirrels are very smart,” Schott said.
She said mothers are sometimes able to find their young after the nests have fallen, but if they can’t, the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center can care for them until they are old enough to live on their own.
“We doubled our squirrel farm in one day,” she said.
Volunteers like Beth Bronski feed the baby squirrels, sometimes as many as five times a day. She said she had storm damage to her own home, but after 12 years as a volunteer at the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, she knew she had to help.
“I’m in love with this place. I love the squirrels. I love the intake. I love the people that work here,” Bronski said.
If you find injured wildlife, the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center recommends wearing gloves and using a blanket to carry the animal into a container. A shovel may also work. Make sure to secure the container so the animal can’t escape, and bring it to the center in Roseville during business hours.
“I’m just so happy that we have this opportunity to take in animals and that they care about them and take care of them,” Sarah Miner said after dropping off an injured squirrel.
The Wildlife Rehabilitation Center did not lose power during the storm, but unfortunately their surgical light broke. They are now trying to raise money to replace it so they can continue to care for all of these patients.
For more information on what to do if you find injured or orphaned wildlife, click here.
