Baby squirrel Grace was dropped into a water dish in a Hessle garden by a crow
Grace the squirrel(Image: Nala’s Nook)
A wildlife rescuer has thanked supporters after a squirrel was dropped by a marauding crow in a garden in Hessle. Grace, the young squirrel, suffered a broken leg and bruised spine in the fall from height last month.
Luckily, she was found by a vet practice manager and she was able to alert colleagues who knew of Jacqui Wilmshurst’s Nala’s Nook sanctuary in Beverley. Thanks to Jacqui, Grace is recovering but will need lifelong treatment and has undergone physiotherapy.
The rescuer set up a GoFundMe page with a target of £500. Within a few days, more than £400 has been raised.
The sanctuary took its name from the first squirrel Jacqui rescued and is now home to 13 squirrels and five birds. The owner is a chartered psychologist and studying for a PhD in wildlife care and ethics.
With the help of her husband, Tim Cowley, Jacqui has looked after the disabled and injured animals and shared their stories on Nala’s Nook Squirrel and Corvid Sanctuary Facebook page.
Before she wrote the story of fellow patient Bella, she had around 250 followers. But after sharing the story of Bella’s recovery there are 10,000 followers, some in different parts of the world.
“I have worked hard to share stories and have loyal followers. I know from the feedback the stories are compelling and show the adaptability and resilience of the animals. The support has been incredible,” she said.
Having grown up in Dumfriesshire in Scotland, she was more familiar with red squirrels. Sadly due to the a fad started in Victorian times, grey squirrels became a prize ornamental pet, like peacocks. They were imported in large numbers and a status symbol for large estates.
However, as Jacqui explained, the grey variety often carried a pox which was not harmful to grey squirrels but lethal to red squirrels. Their numbers were decimated. Now there are areas of Scotland where red squirrels are thriving thanks to conservation initiatives.
Jacqui said she will need support to provide the vital care for Grace. She specialises in animals which are disabled but otherwise healthy and thriving.
“In my view animals get put to sleep too easily. If an animal is disabled but healthy they can adapt incredibly well,” she said. She has purpose-built enclosures and arranges for physiotherapy treatment, including pulsed electromagnetic field therapy (PEMF.)
“There are many warm-hearted people who have donated and we have people following our Facebook page for updates,” she said.
Donations for Grace can be made here and updates are on https://www.facebook.com/share/1CuK1M6FxK/
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