September 2008 at the Rainbow Wildlife Rescue

The Rainbow Wildlife Rescue is a non-profit organization in Stephenville, Texas. My name is Birgit Sommer. I founded the Rainbow Wildlife Rescue and am a licensed Wildlife Rehabilitator for the State of Texas as well as a Shelter Walker and volunteer foster parent for the Erath County Humane Society.

I, like many other licensed wildlife rehabilitators, work out of my own home and volunteer my time and just about every spare cent I can gather. No state funding is available for animal caging, veterinary care, medicine or food. That's why most rehabilitators gratefully accept donations towards the care of animals they receive from the public.

If I find enough time, I accept various online jobs including web design and hosting, to add to the funds needed to maintain the rescue. So, if you need a website or know somebody that does, here is a list of clients.

Rainbow Wildlife Rescue and Ike's Squirrels

September at the Rainbow Wildlife Rescue was all about Hurricane Ike's orphaned squirrels. Ike had not even left Texas when my phone went crazy. I received over 150 calls and emails from people that had found baby squirrels, often with the dead mother's body still protectively covering them. It was heart-breaking.

Most people were out of power themselves and had no means to provide extra heat for the babies or warm up formula, which was impossible to purchase anyway, because the stores were closed.

With a lot creative thinking, adjustments and brainstorming, we came up with some extreme measures to help all of these caring people and their babies, until a place was found where they could turn the babies over to professional caretakers.

Naturally all the shelters, rescue centers, and rehabilitators across south Texas were overrun with orphaned squirrels. The large organizations and official responsible parties such as the Houston SPCA, Texas Parks and Wildlife, Humane Society of America, just to name a few, got together and ended up shipping the squirrels all over the State of Texas and neighboring States to centers, rescuers, and rehabilitators. 1200 of those babies alone were shipped to the SPCA of Texas located in McKinney near Dallas, TX.

I decided that I can take in 10 - 15 of these infants, possibly more, if I had more outside enclosures. So I reached out to the local as well as the online community for help. As a result a fundraiser was held by TSU Wildlife Society students, led by Dani Meyers (thanks girl, you rock!) as well as an online fundraiser, which resulted in enough funding to complete a 6 x 12 x 6 ft metal framed enclosure and have enough material left to build a new wooden framed habitat for squirrels and other small wildlife.

The Eagle Scouts are working on drawing up a project to build 2 more habitats in addition to the material we have now.

Two newspapers covered the rescue efforts and the arrival of the 15 orphaned infant squirrels we picked up from the McKinney SPCA (video) .

With all of this effort, the outside facilities for the Rainbow Wildlife Rescue will be 80% completed by the end of this year! All there is left a Storage Shed, few more fence panels, concrete for a walkway, railroad ties, and a flight cage. The latter is the last item I need to complete my application for the federal migratory bird rehabilitation permit.

Special Thanks goes to:

• The TSU Wildlife Society (especially Dr. Jim Mueller and Dani Meyers)
• Barnes & McCollough for the lumber
• Don and Jackie Wallace for the squirrel houses and all over support
• Gerry Cockrell for the most generous donation
• Northland Cable for the Channel 9 Ad (especially Kelli)
• Empire Tribune for their newspaper stories (especially Amanda Kimble and Jessica Horton)
• Abilene Reporter for their newspaper stories (especially Angelia Joiner and daughter, and Jane Pratt)
• Erath County Humane Society
• All the other generous friends and strangers that donated via the internet.

You can help by clicking this link or contact Birgit at help@rainbowwildlife.com

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Rainbow Wildlife Rescue in the News

Empire Tribune in Stephenville, TX

Orphaned squirrels find refuge in Stephenville Published: Tuesday, September 23, 2008
	When natural disasters strike, a mobilization of relief workers from various agencies such as the Red Cross, National Guard, and FEMA are ready to respond, bringing in food and water, working to restore power, and setting up temporary shelter to assist in returning the disaster zone and the lives of those within it back to normal.
Animal rescuers also play a vital role in rehabilitating disaster touched habitats. One local resident and licensed wildlife rescuer, Birgit Sommer, who operates Rainbow Wildlife Rescue in Stephenville, recently made a trip to the Metroplex to pick up 15 baby squirrels orphaned by Hurricane Ike.
Read the entire article HERE >>>>

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Locals build ‘homes’ for orphaned squirrels Published: Tuesday, September 30, 2008
	The gray baby squirrels orphaned by Hurricane Ike now have a cozier place to play - and sleep - while temporarily residing in Erath County. Volunteers spent the better part of Saturday building a mesh enclosure at the Rainbow Wildlife Rescue Center in Stephenville so the little ones will have room to move around until they can be taken back to the coast.
Read the entire article HERE >>>>

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Rescuing Animals Published: Sunday, May 2, 2008
	One local woman works to save abandoned and mistreated pets Birgit Sommer has been a Stephenville resident since 1991. She was born in Germany and just last month, after passing a test correct answering questions covering U.S. government and history, she took an oath before officials and became a naturalized citizen of the United States. "It just feels great to become a citizen of this country," Bridget said. "I studied hard in order to pass the test and now I can vote in this important election.".
Birgit didn't wait to become a registered voter before taking the responsibility of foster care of homes and abandoned animals in Erath County. Having a great love for animals, she was attracted to the animal shelter maintained by the Erath County Humane Society, shortly after becoming a resident in Stephenville. During the past few years she has given loving, expert care to hundreds of dogs and cats including entire litters of puppies and kittens.
Read the entire article HERE >>>

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Abilene Reporter in Abilene, Texas

Stephenville woman takes in 'squirrely' hurricane victims Published: Monday, September 22, 2008
	STEPHENVILLE -- Appropriately nicknamed "Miss Doolittle" when she was just 5 years old, Birgit Sommer is taking in orphans from Hurricane Ike. Not the human kind. The small, furry kind.
Infant gray squirrels were found everywhere after Ike moved through the Houston area, blowing down their nests, and residents were desperate to help them. Sommer, a licensed wildlife rehabilitator, said before Ike had even moved out of the Gulf area, her phone began ringing off the wall and the e-mails started piling up. People were contacting her to see if she could help.
Read the entire article HERE >>>

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Donations helping baby squirrels left orphaned by Hurricane Ike Published: Sunday, September 28, 2008
	STEPHENVILLE -- Several volunteers were busy Saturday building a mesh wire enclosure at the Rainbow Wildlife Rescue center in Stephenville to provide shelter for additional gray squirrels orphaned by Hurricane Ike.
Birgit Sommer, a licensed wildlife rehabilitator, said members of the Tarleton State University Student Wildlife Society collected $62 in donations and are soliciting area businesses for materials needed to build shelters for the squirrels. She said she has also received a check for $500 from a Buffalo Gap resident, lumber from Barns and McCullough in Stephenville and numerous smaller donations.
Read the entire article HERE >>>

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Erath County Humane Society Animal Shelter

I want to mention the ECHS, since they have a current Adoption List on petfinder.com. I go to the shelter at least once a week and take pictures to update the petfinder page. It has been a great success!

ADOPT A PET, DON'T BUY!

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Wildlife

Currently residing at the Rainbow Wildlife Rescue

• 8 Gray Squirrels: 5 of the 15 were transferred, 2 expired, 8 are still "in custody" ( watch movie )
• 1 Raccoon named Chip ( watch movie ) - transferred to another rehabilitator with other raccoons his age, so he can be socialized before release.
• 6 Fox Squirrels: released (watch movie)

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Our Pets

Sandy: she has left this world peacefully. R.I.P. my lil princess, you are missed!

Don't cry because it's over, Smile because it happened :)))))))!

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Miss Dolittle's Websites:

Critter Blog with Daily Updates - Kittenbaby.com - Puppy Education - Funny Animal E-Cards - Squirrel Rescue Texas - Rainbow Wildlife Rescue in Texas - Pets and Wildlife Forum - Magic Postcards - MissDolittle on Youtube - Webdesign in Support of the Rescue

Adult Squirrel Diet

I'm not going to confuse you with endless explanations and recommendations. Instead I made a simple list for you to look over fast.

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Rodent Block: Daily Recommendation: 2 - 4 small blocks Recommended brands: Harlan Teklad Rodent Diets KayTee Forti-Diet for Rats and Mice	Vegetables that are High in Calcium Daily Recommendation: 5-7 small pieces beet greens endive carrots celery chicory chinese cabbage cilantro chrysanthemum flowers collard greens dandelion greens escarole fennel kale lettuce mustard spinach parsley radicchio radishes romaine lettuce squash turnip greens watercress
Healthy Vegetables Daily Recommendation: 2-3 small pieces asparagus artichokes bell peppers broccoli brussels sprouts cabbage carnations cauliflower cucumber green beans okra peas pumpkin squash sweet potato zucchini.
Wild and Natural Foods: Daily Recommendation: unlimited while in season. magnolia cones pine cones pine branches pine bark branch tips roses purslane plaintain dandelion greens whatever the wild squirrels outside in your neighborhood are eating is what's natural to their diet. Be careful while gathering them and rule out that the area hasn't been treated with pesticides. Animal Protein: live or dried mealworms crickets live moths hard-boiled eggs cheese plain yogurt	Fruits: Daily Recommendation: 2 slices apple apricot bananas blackberries blueberries cantaloupe cherries crabapples cranberries grapefruit grapes honeydew kiwi kumquats lemon lime mangos oranges nectarines papaya passion fruit peaches pears pineapple pomegranates raspberries strawberries watermelon
Nuts and Seeds: Daily Recommendation: 2 nuts, still in shell. acorns almonds hazelnuts macadamia nuts pecans pistachios peanuts roasted unsalted pumpkin seeds sesame seeds (high in calcium) walnuts	Something to Chew On: antlers tree branches sea shells cuttlebone CAUTION: SOME SEEDS AND PITS CAN BE TOXIC
FOODS TO AVOID: all dried vegetables or fruits avocados (high in fat, toxic skin and pits) pototato sprouts garlic onions palm hearts fresh or dried corn yams figs fruit juice plums prunes raisins cashew nuts sunflower seeds pine nuts (will cause calcium loss) commercial squirrel food at stores, pet treats, seed mixes pasta bread sugary foods such as candy, cookies, sodas, sweetened yogurt, candy nuts, sweetened breakfast cereals, chocolate etc junk foods, chips, crackers, anything salted artificial sweeteners or any food items that contain them.

Rainbow Wildlife Rescue News Coverage

Empire Tribune in Stephenville, TX

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Orphaned squirrels find refuge in Stephenville
Published: Tuesday, September 23, 2008 10:07 AM CDT

	When natural disasters strike, a mobilization of relief workers from various agencies such as the Red Cross, National Guard, and FEMA are ready to respond, bringing in food and water, working to restore power, and setting up temporary shelter to assist in returning the disaster zone and the lives of those within it back to normal. Animal rescuers also play a vital role in rehabilitating disaster touched habitats. One local resident and licensed wildlife rescuer, Birgit Sommer, who operates Rainbow Wildlife Rescue in Stephenville, recently made a trip to the Metroplex to pick up 15 baby squirrels orphaned by Hurricane Ike.
	Read the entire article HERE >>>>

Locals build ‘homes’ for orphaned squirrels
Published: Tuesday, September 30, 2008 9:06 AM CDT

	The gray baby squirrels orphaned by Hurricane Ike now have a cozier place to play - and sleep - while temporarily residing in Erath County. Volunteers spent the better part of Saturday building a mesh enclosure at the Rainbow Wildlife Rescue Center in Stephenville so the little ones will have room to move around until they can be taken back to the coast.
	Read the entire article HERE >>>>

Rescuing Animals
Published: Sunday, May 2, 2008

	One local woman works to save abandoned and mistreated pets Birgit Sommer has been a Stephenville resident since 1991. She was born in Germany and just last month, after passing a test correct answering questions covering U.S. government and history, she took an oath before officials and became a naturalized citizen of the United States. "It just feels great to become a citizen of this country," Bridget said. "I studied hard in order to pass the test and now I can vote in this important election.". Birgit didn't wait to become a registered voter before taking the responsibility of foster care of homes and abandoned animals in Erath County.
Having a great love for animals, she was attracted to the animal shelter maintained by the Erath County Humane Society, shortly after becoming a resident in Stephenville. During the past few years she has given loving, expert care to hundreds of dogs and cats including entire litters of puppies and kittens.
	Read the entire article HERE >>>

Abilene Reporter in Abilene, Texas

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Stephenville woman takes in 'squirrely' hurricane victims
Published: Monday, September 22, 2008

	STEPHENVILLE -- Appropriately nicknamed "Miss Doolittle" when she was just 5 years old, Birgit Sommer is taking in orphans from Hurricane Ike. Not the human kind. The small, furry kind. Infant gray squirrels were found everywhere after Ike moved through the Houston area, blowing down their nests, and residents were desperate to help them.
Sommer, a licensed wildlife rehabilitator, said before Ike had even moved out of the Gulf area, her phone began ringing off the wall and the e-mails started piling up. People were contacting her to see if she could help.
Read the entire article HERE >>>

Donations helping baby squirrels left orphaned by Hurricane Ike
Published: Sunday, September 28, 2008

	STEPHENVILLE -- Several volunteers were busy Saturday building a mesh wire enclosure at the Rainbow Wildlife Rescue center in Stephenville to provide shelter for additional gray squirrels orphaned by Hurricane Ike. Birgit Sommer, a licensed wildlife rehabilitator, said members of the Tarleton State University Student Wildlife Society collected $62 in donations and are soliciting area businesses for materials needed to build shelters for the squirrels.
She said she has also received a check for $500 from a Buffalo Gap resident, lumber from Barns and McCullough in Stephenville and numerous smaller donations.
Read the entire article HERE >>>

Ikes little orphaned squirrels are growing up

Ike's little orphaned squirrels are growing up:

Rainbow Wildlife Rescue and the Community

Thanks to the generous people, students, stores, and organizations, we have managed to build the first enclosure and are ready to accept more squirrels! We are in the process of setting up the details.

The Eagle Scouts will be building one, possibly 2 more enclosures next month, which will complete the main section of the Rainbow Wildlife Rescue.

All that is left is a Storage Shed and trash/storage bins for the different feed.

This allows me to apply for the federal migratory bird permit next year, so I can accept songbirds as well.

Special Thanks goes to:

• The TSU Wildlife Society (especially Dani Meyers)
• Barnes & McCollough for the lumber
• Don and Jackie Wallace for the squirrel houses and all over support
• Gerry Cockrell for the most generous donation
• Northland Cable for the Channel 9 ad
• Empire Tribune for their newspaper stories
• Abilene Reporter for their newspaper stories
• All the other generous friends and strangers that donated via the internet.

Rainbow Wildlife Rescue in the News

Here's the local article
http://www.empiretribune.com/article...9231197745.txt

Orphaned squirrels find refuge in Stephenville
By AMANDA KIMBLE
Staff Writer
amanda.kimble@empiretribune.com
Published: Tuesday, September 23, 2008 10:07 AM CDT

When natural disasters strike, a mobilization of relief workers from various agencies such as the Red Cross, National Guard, and FEMA are ready to respond, bringing in food and water, working to restore power, and setting up temporary shelter to assist in returning the disaster zone and the lives of those within it back to normal.



Animal rescuers also play a vital role in rehabilitating disaster touched habitats. One local resident and licensed wildlife rescuer, Birgit Sommer, who operates Rainbow Wildlife Rescue in Stephenville, recently made a trip to the Metroplex to pick up 15 baby squirrels orphaned by Hurricane Ike.

Sommer said with the assistance of locals, she hopes to bring more homeless squirrels to the area.

“Hurricane Ike has left literally thousands of baby squirrels orphaned on the ground in Houston and in the surrounding areas,” Sommer said. “One wildlife rescuers alone received 730 infant squirrels!”

In the days following Ike’s destruction, Sommer said her phone has been ringing non-stop and e-mails began piling up, all from people looking for refuge for baby squirrels they had rescued. She said many of the people seeking help didn’t even have electricity to care for themselves and their families but they were still taking in the tiniest of hurricane victims.

While Sommer was only able to bring 15 squirrels home in her first round of aide, she hopes to bring more to her local sanctuary on East Clifton. She said when she picked up her tiny patients, she was told about 600 more were on their way to Dallas. The problem is that not just anyone can adopt a baby squirrel. You have to have a state wildlife rehabilitation permit, which Sommer does.

“With a little bit of help and effort I could take in twice or even three times as many,” Sommer said. “I just need more outside cages.”

Sommer said donations to her local rescue efforts have been scarce and since she does not get funding to support her cause, she needs help caring for her new furry friends.

Sommer said local organizations, including Ark Veterinary Hospital and the Girls Scouts have offered assistance in the past. She also said the Boy Scouts have offered to help.

“The Boys Scouts are planning a fund-raiser to help get the funds I need to build more enclosures,” Sommer said.

In addition, Sommer said members of Tarleton State University’s Student Wildlife Society have stepped up to help. The club organized a fund-raiser and also plans to visit local hardware and supply stores this week to see if local retailers have any materials they would be willing to donate for the cages. One member of the Wildlife Society, Danielle Meyers, who is majoring in wildlife management, said she and other members are working on a letter to distribute to managers of local supply companies to solicit donations.



How can you help? While taking in a few orphaned squirrels is only an option for licensed rescuers, Sommer said donations would go a long way in saving the baby squirrels. Monetary donations, as well as supplies, are needed.

Sommer said she is in need of materials to build outside enclosures, as well as a garden utility shed to store cages and food. The young orphans are fed milk replacers.

Materials used to construct outdoor enclosures include: 1/2 inch galvanized hardware cloth (most useful at the moment); 50 ft. privacy fence panels; concrete for cage foundations; 2 x 4’s and plywood for bottom frames and back walls. Or if you have unused cages such as large ferret type cages with enough room for squirrels to climb around in, they too would be appreciated.

Anyone interested in assisting with the effort is encouraged to contact Sommer at Rainbow Wildlife rescue at 968-4626 or you may send e-mail to squirrels@rainbowwildlife.com.

For more information on the Student Wildlife society, visit www.tarleton.edu/~wildlifeclub.

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http://reporternews.com/news/2008/se...ely-hurricane/



Stephenville woman takes in 'squirrely' hurricane victims

By Angelia Joiner
Special to the Reporter-News
Monday, September 22, 2008
Photo by Angelia Joiner/Special

STEPHENVILLE -- Appropriately nicknamed "Miss Doolittle" when she was just 5 years old, Birgit Sommer is taking in orphans from Hurricane Ike.

Not the human kind. The small, furry kind.

Infant gray squirrels were found everywhere after Ike moved through the Houston area, blowing down their nests, and residents were desperate to help them.

Sommer, a licensed wildlife rehabilitator, said before Ike had even moved out of the Gulf area, her phone began ringing off the wall and the e-mails started piling up. People were contacting her to see if she could help.



"These people were calling and they didn't even have electricity themselves and they wanted to help all the squirrels being found in their yards and around their homes," Sommer said. "I told them how to feed them and gave emergency instructions, but there weren't any stores open to get the food."

Sommer said she was then contacted by the International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council and learned that more than 900 baby squirrels had been dropped off at the nonprofit Wildlife Rehab & Education in Houston. Some of the squirrels are being sent to animal rescue centers around Texas.

Last weekend, 175 of those animals were delivered to the McKinney SPCA of Texas, and Sommer was there to cart 15 little critters back home to Stephenville.

Two Tarleton State University Wildlife Society students, Randi Baldwin and Danielle Meyers, heard about the plight of the animals and offered to help. They collected $62 in donations at their school's football game last Saturday and will begin soliciting area businesses for donations and materials needed to build shelters for the squirrels.



Sommer said she could take 20 more babies if she just had the wire needed to enclose a metal frame a neighbor donated.

"I'm in desperate need of galvanized hardware cloth also called mesh wire," Sommer said. "I'm not allowed to use chicken wire or chain link type wire. What I need is about $140 a roll."

Just a bucket of Esbilac (milk replacer for puppies) is $50, and according to Sommer, it's just what a baby squirrel needs for nutrition.

The goal is to get the animals healthy enough that they can be released back into the wild in their native area.

Sommer also takes in all kinds of other needy animals and has just rehabilitated a young raccoon. She works closely with the Erath County Humane Society by taking in as many dogs and cats as she can and tries to find good homes for them. Sommer said animal control officers and police bring her animals they find injured or sick as well. Area residents also bring her animals.

Sommer grew up in Northwest Germany, and her parents didn't allow pets because they were allergic. But her grandfather, who lived next door, called her "Miss Doolittle" after a fictional doctor who could talk to animals because it appeared that strays followed her home from school. It wasn't unusual for a bird to light on her shoulder. She said all of the animals in Germany are taken care of because "it's so small with so many people.

She believes she's found her place in Stephenville.

"I'm trying to give back one little animal at a time to nature," Sommer said. "That's where they belong. There's a cycle -- we need them."

Donations are accepted at Sommer's Web site at www.rainbowwildlife.com or at (254) 968-4626.

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15 orphaned Squirrels from Houston have arrived!

We picked up 15 infant orphaned grey squirrels from the SPCA of Texas in McKinney, TX, today. They expect 600 more babies in the very near future!

The Tarleton Wildlife Society and the Eagle Scouts are working both on fundraisers and getting together enough material to build new enclosures to house these baby squirrels. If the work pays off and we can build at least one more enclosure, I will accept more transfers at the Rainbow Wildlife Rescue.

The Channel 11 Dallas News was present when I picked up the squirrels and my hubby filmed them filming me. I don't know if they show me on the news or not yet. I also have not heard from the local newspaper back either:



And here are the 15 darlings:

Hurricane Ike's orphaned Squirrels are coming to the Rainbow Wildlife Rescue in Stephenville, Erath County, Texas

Hurricane Ike's orphaned Squirrels are coming to the Rainbow Wildlife Rescue in Stephenville, Erath County, Texas

The IWRC (International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council) put out a call for help to all wildlife rehabilitators to accept transfers of orphaned squirrels left behind in Houston and surroundings by hurricane Ike. Caring people found the squirrels and turned them over to the various wildife centers and animal shelters, which got so overwhelmed. One center alone received over 700 infants squirrels.

If I understood everything correctly, the rescue organizations are working together to transfer a load of squirrels up to the SPCA of Texas in McKinney, Texas.

I have volunteered to accept 15 squirrels for now. I will pick them up in McKinney on Sunday, September 21st at 11 am.

I could accept more later on if I had more outside enclosures. Thanks to the Tarleton Wildlife Society efforts of doing a fundraiser at tonight's Texan football game, we are off to a good start, but we are far from having a suitable enclosure up and read ty move squirrels into.

Material to build outside enclosures and/or aviaries as well as a garden utility shed to store cages and food.

• 1/2 inch galvanized hardware cloth (most useful at the moment!)
  
• 50 ft privacy fence panels
• concrete for cage foundations
• 2 x 4's and plywood for bottom frames and back walls
• utility or garden shed for cages, supplies, and feed (right now the stuff takes up an entire room in my house which I could use as a nursery)
• large ferret type cages with enough room for squirrels to climb around in
  

If you want to help with a donation, supplies, or just ideas, please CLICK HERE or EMAIL me!

Outside Enclosure (Example ONLY):