Recent warm snap led to early wildlife births and injuries

Jen Dalley holds the hairless baby squirrel in the palm of her hand. The animal is just five days old, blind and deaf.

Dalley works with injured animals like this every spring. From squirrels to birds,Wings Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre, helps nurse thousands of animals back to health.

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But this year, the animals are coming in much sooner than usual because of the recent stretch of warm weather.

Wing has taken in two baby squirrels that had been knocked out of their nest.

"With it being so mild this winter, we're going to see babies quite early. We know they're out there it's just whether mother nature and humans co-operate," Dalley said.

Dalley estimates the squirrels to be five or six days old.

"You know right now, he's pretty helpless, he's blind and deaf, and very hairless they would only last a couple hours without mom," Dalley said while holding one of the squirrels.

Keeping formula for the young animals is expensive. Already this year, Wings has spent about $3,000 on formula for baby possums, squirrels and raccoons.

"That won't take us all through our season. We'll still have to order more," Dalley said. "We can always use [more] resources.

"We do about 3,000 animals a year and the majority of thoseare coming in spring and summer."