What a great way to celebrate the UN’s World Wildlife Day, than to introduce the second book in this series about children caring for animals. Title: Tortuga Squad-Kids Saving Sea Turtles in Costa Rica Written and photos by: Cathleen Burnham Additional photos by: … Continue reading
Add a Comment
new posts in all blogs
By: JOANNA MARPLE,
on 3/3/2016
Blog: Miss Marple's Musings (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Book recommendation, conservation, endangered species, turtles, Costa Rica, baby animals, global kids, youth activism, wild animal rescue, teachers guides, Perfect Picture Book Friday, environmental conservation, Marcie Colleen, poaching, World Wildlife Day, Cathleen Burnham, Tortuga Squad-Kids Saving Sea Turtles in Costa Rica, Add a tag
By: tara,
on 8/17/2009
Blog: Tara Lazar (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Children's Writing, Writing for Children, Squirrels, Squirrel Pups, Wild Animal Rescue, Children's Books, KidLit, Non-Fiction, Creative Writing, Add a tag
Viewing: Blog Posts Tagged with: wild animal rescue, Most Recent at Top [Help]
Results 1 - 2 of 2
By: JOANNA MARPLE,
on 3/3/2016
Blog: Miss Marple's Musings (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Book recommendation, conservation, endangered species, turtles, Costa Rica, baby animals, global kids, youth activism, wild animal rescue, teachers guides, Perfect Picture Book Friday, environmental conservation, Marcie Colleen, poaching, World Wildlife Day, Cathleen Burnham, Tortuga Squad-Kids Saving Sea Turtles in Costa Rica, Add a tag
By: tara,
on 8/17/2009
Blog: Tara Lazar (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Children's Writing, Writing for Children, Squirrels, Squirrel Pups, Wild Animal Rescue, Children's Books, KidLit, Non-Fiction, Creative Writing, Add a tag
Remember Andy from the movie Funny Farm? Chevy Chase in his post-Caddyshack and SNL days, sliding down fame’s slippery slope, but still hilarious as a wanna-be author who moves to rural Vermont to pen The Great American Novel.
Instead of peace and quiet, Andy gets a crazy mailman and an acute case of writer’s block. It’s a fish-out-of-water story, one that inspired his wife Elizabeth to name a squirrel after him in her first children’s book–a book that a publisher accepts with a $5,000 advance. (She asks, “Is that much for a first book?” as he reels.)
I’ve always been nuts about squirrels, although some people consider them rats with tails. And many children’s book editors warn against submitting talking squirrel tales. Seems they’re overdone. Was Elizabeth from Funny Farm to blame for an influx of fluffy rodent submissions? The world may never find out.
Despite the creature caveat, I’m writing about squirrels. But non-fiction, based upon our recent experience.
A voilent July storm blew a squirrel’s nest from a tree near our property. A neighbor and I found day-old squirrels on the bike path. Gently, we moved the nest onto the grass. I assured her since the tree was closest to my home, I would contact the proper authorities. I assumed the police or animal control would be the right call.
I was wrong. Had I telephoned those authorities, the squirrels might have been destroyed.
Instead, I found an informative resource in Squirrel-Rehab.org. I learned that if the babies were cold, the mother would not take them back. The nest was covered in hail from the storm. The pups were indeed cold and wet, squirming and chirping, in obvious distresss. I followed the instructions to warm the babies and tried to reunite the family, but by 10pm, the mother was still missing as another raging storm began. I brought the babies into my home.
I cared for them for nearly 48 hours and then brought them to licensed wildlife rehabilitators Wild Baby Rescue in Blairstown, NJ. The video below documents our short time with the squirrel pups, the inspiration for a new story. Elizabeth, you ain’t stopping me.
4 Comments on Ignoring the Squirrel Warnings, last added: 8/19/2009
Display Comments
Add a Comment
How wonderful that you saved them, Tara. Many people would have been intimidated and unsure and not been nearly as resourceful as you. Kudos for saving two little lives.
I help a local wildlife rehabber, (Donna at Rocky Springs Wildlife Rehabilitation Center), now also a friend, and applaud her and all the other rehabilitators and volunteers – which you just became. Congrats!
Jeanne
I read your posts often, since subscribing a while back. And i just have to mention here that I, too found myself in the position of wildlife preservationist due to tiny squirrels last spring. A thunderstorm the night before must have weakended the nest & sent the mom out early for food. I went out to pick up paper around 7:30 am and heard some strange but wild sounding sqeaks. When I looked up; something dark and small fell from a spot about 35 feet up in an oak tree in the neighbors yard and landed with a slight thump. Fearing the worst, I went over and found a very tiny squirrel pup. I could leave it there because several cats live nearby. so I thougt about what i could feed it and found a box with a small towel to give it some warmth. then I remembered that I had some Pedialite (given to infants/toddlers for re-hydration after illness) so I tried it in a tiny mouthed eye dropper. The baby squirrel slurped it up as fast as I could administer it. Then promptly curled up in the towel and went to sleep. Next i called our animal control officers. It was the little guy’s lucky day. they had rescued several in the last couple of days and took him to the person who could re-hab him properly and release hiim further out in the county. she was amazed that I had thought about the Pedialite, said it was perfect to help them stabilize until proper nutrition could be given to them. Next day it happened again – only this time there were two that fell out of the oak! So I did the same thing and called again. I hope all three survived – but I never found out. And of course, they may turn up in a picture book one day that i took notes for writing later! The muse is always listening! Congrats on saving your little guys!
what a heart-warming story! Good luck w/ your book! I’m so glad you saved those lil guys! So cute!
Wow, what a story! You did good!!!