"Mr Squiggles" - A rare success story

19/01/10

It is always pleasing to learn a little about the subjects that I photograph, and a recent article in the Isle of Wight County Press showing a photograph I had taken of a Red Squirrel in the snow led to me receiving a phone call with regards the Squirrel in question.

Apparently, the Red Squirrel, 'Mr Squiggles', named by members of the RSPCA in Godshill, was bought in to the centre after being caught by a cat. The Squirrel had suffered damage to one of its claws and a probable broken vertebrae in its tail.

After a time of recuperation, the RSPCA got in touch with John Ralph, of the Alverstone Meade Nature Reserve, with a request to take on the care of 'Mr Squiggles' with the hope the Squirrel could be released into the reserve, which has a large colony of Red Squirrels.

It is a well known fact that Squirrels rarely re integrate after having injuries but 'Mr Squiggles' beat the odds and was soon released and later spotted with other Squirrels around the Alverstone Meade hide to the relief of many including Jane Williams who helped in the caring of the Squirrel.