Two months ago I had an amazing wildlife encounter with a newborn squirrel. How the events unfolded are detailed in my post Backyard Miracle. The pinkie squirrel I discovered that day, now the “Little Guy”, is being cared for 24/7 by a true Angel to wildlife orphans around this area, Anita. She is one of many in a network of professional wildlife rehabilitators, and is part of Wildlifewelfare.org. Through my new found friend who is completely devoted to caring for dozens of creatures around the clock, I’ve learned a bit more about the incredible committment it takes to properly raise these little ones to the point of successful return to the wild.
While the largest requirement for Anita and her volunteers is TIME, perhaps the most important tangible thing required to care for dozens of squirrels and possums is FOOD. Whether it be the “milk” made from puppy formula with other additives, to fruit and vegetables as they transition to solids, a large about of food is required for the little ones as they grow strong enough to have a chance at survival in the wild.
It is now autumn, and on a recent walk in my neighborhood, I discovered an area in the street where many huge acorns had fallen. My thoughts turned back to these tree nuts when I read an urgent post from Anita seeking acorns to store for the over wintering of all her little squirrels. Unfortunately, Mother Nature did not time the birth of many of these little squirrel kittens such that they, under the best of circumstances, would have the time to grow strong and learn how to fend for themselves in the wild. Perhaps the most important skill they need to master is the gathering and storing food for the winter. Therefore, Anita will serve as their food bank, and many volunteers are needed to stock the shelves!
Last Saturday morning was sunny and warm, so I grabbed a paper bag and walked to the house where an old white oak showered its leaves and acorns on the ground below. Out of courtesy, I rang the doorbell, and I asked the owner of the house if I could pick up acorns from their front lawn. He was thrilled to have someone removing the acorns, and shared how his grandfather used to invite neighbors to collect fallen nuts from his yard to feed the wildlife through the winter. I filled a small paper bag full, and added to this amount about 2 cups of willow oak acorns from my backyard.
After gathering all the acorns, sorting them to remove any cracked or damaged nuts, I packed them in paper bags in a cardboard box. The first thing Monday morning, I drove to the post office and mailed 3.5 lbs of acorns to my Angel Anita. The $10 cost was minimal compared to the time and gas it would require to make the 2 hour round trip to deliver them.
Many people would think of me as crazy…picking up and sorting acorns to package and mail to a wildlife rehabber. But it is a very small price to pay considering how much time and money these dedicated experts spend to give so many tiny, orphaned creatures a chance at life. Upon receipt of the package the following day, Anita texted to thank me. Her work on my small donation started as soon as she opened the box. She had to wash, dry, package and freeze the acorns to preserve them for use in the coming months.
I would not dare suggest that anyone reading this pick up several pounds of acorns and mail them to a wildlife center. But I will ask, if you do have acorn trees that drop the nuts onto your property, don’t think of them as a nuisance. Instead, reconsider their purpose as part of nature’s way to provide food for all creatures. And, if you collect them to avoid having your lawn turn into a tiny forest, think about looking up the locations of small mammal wildlife rehabbers in your area. You might be surprised to find one in a neighborhood close by. They would gladly take the acorns vs. having them go to yard waste disposal. I promise that the rehabbers and their baby squirrels will go nuts over your donation!!!
Cary to Calcutta 
Well done!
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