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California Drought Causes 120 Percent Spike In Orphaned Squirrel Rescues In Loomis

LOOMIS (CBS13) — An animal rescue group is looking for help saving squirrels in exchange for quirky, squirrel-themed gifts.

More than 200 orphaned squirrels ended up at Gold Country Wildlife Rescue in 2014. The Loomis-based group saw a 120 percent jump in rescues because of the drought.

"They have no water and they're coming closer and closer to urban areas, so people are interacting with the animals more, they're coming across them more," said Jackie Nott.

HOW TO HELP: Save Our Squirrels Indigogo campaign

The group has taken in more animals, but the nonprofit rehab and release group hasn't taken in more donations. That's when Nott, who dabbles in graphic design, came up with the Save Our Squirrels campaign.

"I was kind of going for like an Urban Outfitters, kind of Forever 21 thing," she said.

People can make tax-deductible donations and receive squirrel-related merchandise ranging from T-shirts and bags that say "Squirrels are my people" to plaster squirrel pawprints.

Nott says squirrels are like the Johnny Appleseeds of our forests.

"They're the heavy seed-movers som they're really important for the ecosystem," she said. "They just plant all the trees and everything."

It seems more people are noticing the squirrel significance. Donors from around the world have already kicked in $2,700 to an idea that's hardly nutty.

"Any money that we do get extra is going to help all the other animals—all the 120 species that we help," Nott said.

The campaign runs through Friday.

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