Secret Squirrel Wildlife Rehabilitation

09/01/2026

For those that aren’t yet aware. FWC is absolutely out of control. Rehabber and former Rehabber stalking, attempted entrapment of former rehabbers, accessing private information under the guise of “criminal investigations” that are paper thin and quite frankly would be laughed out of pretty much every other law enforcement agency. FWC is problematic from the top down, not the bottom up. Front line officers (the ones actually encountering wildlife in need) are frustrated and exhausted. They are now forced to drive hours to reach a rehabber, when 10-15 years ago they could pick and choose who to bring an animal in need to. There must be a deep investigation into FWC corruption and heavy handed tactics against current and former rehabbers. Selective enforcement of rules and regulations based on how willing you are to suck up to an officer isn’t acceptable. Take action. Before there are no Rehabbers left.

https://youtu.be/j8rJ4OT4K2Q?is=R2kVtS_aXx2HXCLW

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08/30/2026

The good news is we stand at 117 reunited baby squirrels as of this morning! The less good news is I’m back under anesthesia tomorrow and will not be available to help finders. If you see a post about a baby in need, post the “Reuniting Baby Squirrels” link from my website. Remember, I have no magic. I follow my own instructions and… guess what… you can too!

Sending love and light to tomorrow’s finders and babies ❤️🐿️

08/28/2026

No poison. Ever.

Give A Shift About Nature

The count isn't a guess. Researchers put cameras inside the boxes and watched deliveries. Each chick received about 170 rodents before it left the nest, and with an average of 3.6 chicks fledged, that's roughly 616 rodents delivered per box during breeding season alone.

A newer Napa study found 38 to 52% fewer rodents in vineyards with owl boxes compared to those without.

Growers noticed. Of 75 Napa wineries surveyed, four out of five now use boxes.

08/28/2026

A mother squirrel was locked out of a home while her babies were still inside.

We were called to this property after the homeowners had hired a pest control company but continued hearing noises and were concerned the squirrel had found her way back into the house. When we arrived, we discovered that the other company had installed a raccoon one way door over the squirrel entry point.

Not only had the mother been locked away from her babies, but had she been inside the home when that one way door was installed, the setup could have prevented her from getting out as well.

As soon as we opened the screen covering the entry point, one of the baby squirrels actually came walking out of the hole toward us.

This is exactly why proper follow-ups are such an important part of wildlife removal. At Gates Wildlife, we don’t simply install a one way door and assume the job is finished.

Our cellular camera monitoring allows us to follow the animal’s activity in real time, observe how they respond to the removal process and identify behaviours that may indicate babies are still inside.

It also allows us to make adjustments when needed and confirm that the animals have exited safely and humanely before the job is considered complete. This is especially important during baby season as separating a mother from her young can create a much bigger problem and unnecessary suffering for the animals.

Wildlife removal isn’t just about getting animals out. It’s about making sure every animal is accounted for and removed safely and humanely. This technology takes much of the guesswork out of wildlife removal.

Thankfully, we were able to step in and make sure these little ones weren’t forgotten.

08/27/2026

Our amazing community currently stands at over 107 reunited babies!!!! Thanks to the finder for this adorable video of momma getting her babies. This is ONLY SSWR reunites… I’m sure we have more not involving us. Great job❤️🐿️

08/24/2026

Local law enforcement gets a call: “ opossum in back yard and it’s drooling, looks disheveled and its mouth is wide open.

Me: “You’re literally describing every opossum, like ever.🤣

Call citizen: “please send me a picture”

The picture (below)

Me: Yep, that’s a opossum all right 🤣

08/24/2026

FWC has a horrific response time and record for wildlife emergencies. Too many callers are told to just “let nature take its course” because, you know FWC is super busy destroying wildlife rehabilitation and pimping out protected lands for a quick buck.

Huge thanks to these firefighters for doing what FWC wouldn’t, saving lives

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1DFC4GjRPf/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Send a message to learn more

08/22/2026

Join THE FEAST. Between comments and messages we have 5 folks asking for a Zoom where my brain is yours for the picking. $5 to join. For those interested I’d like to schedule at the most convenient time for you. I need to know: Day/ time of day. Thursday I cannot do. I do not record. You need to be available live.

08/21/2026

I’ve gotten more than 30 calls already this morning. Baby squirrels were horribly displaced in yesterday’s storms. Step 1 WARM THEM UP. Core temp (heating pad on low, rice sock) second step REUNITE THEM

https://secretsquirrelrehab.org/reuniting-baby-squirrels

FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS EXACTLY

Don’t abduct babies needlessly. 97 reunited this season… if you put in the effort babies get back to their mom

08/20/2026

The calls and messages have begun, worse than in years past which isn’t really a surprise since FWC has decided to decimate instead of support wildlife rehabilitation. People can’t find help, they are feeding babies and feeding them inappropriately and badly. Babies are dying from malnutrition, aspiration, hypothermia and just outright stupidity. I will make the offer again, I’m not the license police. If you’re COMMITTED to learning the proper way to feed, if you’re capable of following directions and willing to take instructions I’ll do what I can to help you triage babies until you can find proper help. That means calling me BEFORE you kill the baby, not when it’s taking its last horrific breaths. Don’t like me? Henry’s Pets has a hotline you can call. Just get help. Experienced, real help, not your great aunt who once fed a baby squirrel 40 years ago. Rehab is art but it’s also science and you need today’s information and today’s tools.

I’m always happy to put together a Zoom that you can ask me anything that’s helpful to you. All I ask is there’s at least 5 people. The “charge” is $5 per person, that pays for the Zoom.