An all-volunteer home-based 501 (c) 3 tax exempt nonprofit organization, Squirrel Sanctuary devotes its efforts exclusively to the rehabilitation, protection, and preservation of indigenous tree, ground and flying squirrels.We are a volunteer collective of State licensed wildlife rehabilitators and rehab assistants. Unprecedented as specialists in the metro NY area, we have focused on squirrels to directly address needs unmet by general care wildlife centers, where priority is often given to high profile avian and other species. OUR FOCUS: To offer temporary rehabilitative care, rescue, and intervention to squirrels that are orphaned, ill, or injured, thus in need of specialized attention, with the objective of returning them to their natural environment with intact survival skills. To advise the public by prompt response through rescue efforts, rehabilitation and appropriate contacts for follow-up. To promote the exchange of knowledge and resources among wildlife rehabilitators, related government agencies, community organizations, veterinarians and the community-at-large. To cultivate an understanding and respect for squirrels, wildlife, natural habitat and ecosystems
To reduce people's negative impact on wildlife through education efforts.
Main Entry: sanc�tu�ary Pronunciation: 'sa[ng](k)-ch&-"wer-E Function: noun Inflected Form(s): plural -ar�ies Etymology: Middle English sanctuarie, from Middle French sainctuarie, from Late Latin sanctuarium, from Latin sanctus Date: 14th century 1A : a consecrated place: as a : the ancient Hebrew temple at Jerusalem or its holy of holies B (1) : the most sacred part of a religious building (as the part of a Christian church in which the altar is placed (2) : the room in which general worship services are held (3) : a place (as a church or a temple) for worship a (1) : a place of refuge and protection(4) : a refuge for wildlife where predators are controlled and hunting is illegal b : the immunity from law attached to a sanctuary
How it Happened
After experiencing a unique wildlife encounter with three infant squirrels in 1993 ,it was kismet. I embarked on a vigorous pursuit of wildlife rehabilitation that continues to this day. These small mammals were instrumental to a calling that opened a new door in my life. I began to look at a tree in a very different way.
Growing up in beautiful upstate New York, I took nature for granted. Skunk would occasionally den under the old garage . Deer would graze in the backyard ,nibbling on tender ,new bush and opossum ramble across the back porch under the evening sky. It seemed natural and ordinary. I gave little thought to the reasons why. Only when I moved to the suburbs of Long Island did I come to realize how significant Nature and all her kin, would become.
One day while stopped at a red light, I heard an unusual high pitched distressed sound. My ears followed the sound to the sidewalk and next to a shredded animal nest ,lay three furless embryonic creatures.It was a sight my eyes had never seen.
Watching them squirm on the hot, hard concrete pavement and sensing the distress from the sound of their cries was enough to make me realize their vulnerability. In the face of oncoming heavy traffic and trampling pedestrians, instinctively I scooped them up and unknowingly off we went. ..my fate was sealed.
Little did I realize that the initiation into the world of wildlife rehabilitation had begun.
Prompted by this unique experience, the following years were consumed by a quest to learn more and gain practical experience in wildlife rehabilitation. I offered to volunteer at a local wildlife center to acquire practical wildlife knowledge and skills , to learn how to help resolve wildlife/ human problems and to assist with hands on care of mammals and birds. Patient , educated and well spoken ,the clinic supervisor was skilled and compassionate, sharing her expertise ,never allowing me to feel foolish for asking too many questions.Given sound advice, I joined the professional national , international and state wildlife organizations to start and became familiar with the NWRA/ IWRC Minimum Standards Program: which provides excellent, solid information. Additionally I traveled and attended State Wildlife Conferences which were both educational and rewarding. Soon after that when I felt confident and with support from my mentors,I took and passed the New York State test,to become officially state licensed to rehabilitate wildlife. When the IWRC skills seminar came to Long Island I attended and gained even more valuable training. The library in my home has became stocked with recommended wildlife manuals ,books and journals .It was and still is amazing to discover the amount of knowledge that wildlife rehabilitation offers to science and ecology. Networking with local and national rehabbers ,sharing experiences and information was and still is an ongoing process. Networking The power of networking is an important facet of wildlife rehabilitation.
In 1996, a brand new state of the art animal hospital opened and I was hired to be on staff in charge of the wildlife unit. The hospital director was a licensed wildlife rehabilitator so she implemented and dedicated a wing to the hospital just for wildlife.It was an intense learning experience. Working alongside skilled veterinarians and technicians ,I quickly was exposed to and gleaned information about critical care of both domestics and wildlife. My position also required me to study natural history and diet of many different species indigenous to Long Island.
Shortly after my stay with the hospital, a dream that I had carried quietly with me for some time came to fruition: With the right timing I formally organized a collective of state-licensed wildlife rehabilitators specializing in squirrel care ,naming it Squirrel Sanctuary.
Independently filing incorporation papers in the state of New York and later filing federally to achieve a 501(c) 3 status ,Squirrel Sanctuary is a home -based collective of volunteers; state Licensed Wildlife Rehabilitators and Licensed Wildlife Rehabilitator assistants, that devote our rehab efforts exclusively to the rehabilitation, protection, and preservation of tree, ground and flying squirrels. This includes indigenous eastern gray(Sciurus carolinensis) eastern chipmunk(Tamius striatus), southern flying (Glaucomys volans) and woodchuck(Marmota monax)
Busy at work
In addition to pure hands on rehabilitation,Squirrel Sanctuary actively promotes wildlife education .Authoring articles that appear in professional wildlife rehab publications ,and speaking at annual state and national Wildlife Conferences ,we are busy spreading the word. We were pleasantly surprised when nominated and voted ''Best Facility" by Wildlife Rehabilitation Information Directory, an international Wildlife Rehabilitation online resource. Local news is no stranger ,having been invited to speak as guests on local television '' Talking About "and we have been interviewed in Newsday the principal Long Island newspaper. We strongly advocate wildlife education particularly for young people who show a sincere interest in wildlife and the environment . Our efforts aired nationally this September on PBS NATURE.-Wild TV http://www.pbs.org/wnet/wildtv/wildlife.html
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It is our expectation that our efforts will establish ourselves as a role model for current squirrel rehabilitation protocol within the wildlife rehabilitation community and hope that our work will also serve as an educational tool for those who may consider squirrels nothing more than nuisance animals. By getting the squirrels back to their rightful place in nature, healthy and free, they are once again allowed to continue their inherited purpose, helping to maintain the balance of nature that we so vigorously are unbalancing through land development, clear cutting of trees for highway widening, and artificial lawn maintenance.
We can demonstrate by our own example and by other's participation and cooperation, that there is a place for each of us within the community of nature. Our future generations are entitled to discover and enjoy their natural wild heritage. Still in our "neonate" stages, Squirrel Sanctuary shows promise - by virtue of our energy, imagination and goals. We are only at the very beginning of our lifetime now but, like any juvenile, be given the best nurturing possible to make it and the squirrels under our care ,thrive.
"Ye of the tree shall be healthy and free"-Fr McAcorn