National Drought Mitigation Center
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National Drought Mitigation Center
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Baby squirrels, other wildlife need food in Northern California
11/26/2014 4:29:19 PM



CATEGORIES:
Plants & Wildlife
Society & Public Health
AFFECTED AREAS:
Alameda County, CA
Alpine County, CA
Amador County, CA
Butte County, CA
Calaveras County, CA
Colusa County, CA
Contra Costa County, CA
Del Norte County, CA
El Dorado County, CA
Fresno County, CA
Glenn County, CA
Humboldt County, CA
Inyo County, CA
Kings County, CA
Lake County, CA
Lassen County, CA
Madera County, CA
Marin County, CA
Mariposa County, CA
Mendocino County, CA
Merced County, CA
Modoc County, CA
Mono County, CA
Monterey County, CA
Napa County, CA
Nevada County, CA
Placer County, CA
Plumas County, CA
Sacramento County, CA
San Benito County, CA
San Francisco County, CA
San Joaquin County, CA
San Mateo County, CA
Santa Clara County, CA
Santa Cruz County, CA
Shasta County, CA
Sierra County, CA
Siskiyou County, CA
Solano County, CA
Sonoma County, CA
Stanislaus County, CA
Sutter County, CA
Tehama County, CA
Trinity County, CA
Tulare County, CA
Tuolumne County, CA
Yolo County, CA
Yuba County, CA

Start Date: 1/1/2014 - End Date: 11/25/2014
Numerous hungry baby squirrels were falling out of their nests in parts of Northern California as they sought food. Wildlife experts say this is just one more way years of drought are hurting wildlife. The Gold Country Wildlife Rescue, a nonprofit volunteer organization in Loomis, has been overwhelmed with orphaned baby squirrels and experienced an increase of 120 percent in the number of baby squirrels needing care. In 2013, they took in 1,800 baby squirrels, but so far in 2014, they have received more than 2,200 baby squirrels. Other animals, too, have been on the move in search of food and water. More bears and deer have been struck and killed by vehicles on mountain highways, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. The director of the California Department of Transportation said that there were an “unprecedented” 23 collisions between animals and drivers on Highway 50 and Interstate 80 in Northern California. Mating season and wildfire-damaged vegetation have also caused animals to travel further to find food. More deer have been killed this year than in 2013, according to the California Roadkill Observation System. The co-director of the Road Ecology Center said that drought was probably the reason more deer have died this year. Drivers are cautioned to be on watch for wildlife near the road. Los Angeles Times, Nov. 25, 2014
Sources