SOMERS, N.Y. - When a tree falls on Martha Stewart’s Bedford estate, does she hear it?
In this case, the answer depended on how the wildlife was affected.
When a tree came down on Stewart’s property, her estate manager discovered two orphaned baby squirrels tangled in the wreckage. Unsure what to do, he turned to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation website, where he found Dr. Shannon James—a Somers-based veterinarian and licensed wildlife rehabilitator.
Before any rescue could happen, though, James insisted on following protocol.
“Before taking the baby, you have to make sure it’s an orphan,” said James.
That means waiting. Many wild animal mothers only visit their babies for a few minutes each day. Just because the young are alone doesn’t mean they’ve been abandoned.
The first step: place the babies in a shoebox with a warm water bottle and a blanket at the base of the tree. Then wait. If the mother doesn’t return, there’s one last test.
“It’s a baby squirrel screaming on repeat, and that calls the mom,” said James.
Still no response. At that point, a conclusion could be drawn.
“At that point, I said, ‘It looks like they truly are orphaned,’” she recalled.
James stepped in and took over. Fortunately, baby squirrels don’t experience fear in the way we think.
“They have no fear instinct,” she said. “They are just existing.”
Bonding happens fast.
“When they realize that I’m a source of food, warmth and comfort, they bond right away,” James said.
For the next three months, James cared for the pair until they were ready for a soft release. She put food outside, and even now, the little squirrels return occasionally—still climbing all over her with affection.
Throughout the rehabilitation process, Martha Stewart herself kept tabs via Instagram.
“From day one until the end, they wrote a blog and summarized the whole experience for their Instagram followers,” said James.
The Stewart team also posted about the rescued squirrels on their own Instagram account, helping bring even more visibility to the cause.
The attention didn’t go unnoticed.
“That was wonderful because it’s spreading awareness,” said James. “People don’t even realize wildlife rehabilitation exists.”
Beyond the cute factor, James emphasizes that wild animals play vital roles in the environment.
“They all have their purpose in the environment,” she said.
Squirrels, for example, help forests regenerate.
“Every nut they bury that they didn’t find again, grows a tree,” she explained.
They even aerate the soil. In this case, the tiny tree-planters just needed a little help.
James currently cares for more than 100 squirrels in various stages of rehabilitation. While she’s deeply committed to the work, she knows her limits.
“A raccoon, I would never handle them,” she said. “Call a rehabber who is licensed for raccoons.”
Still, despite the long hours and endless demands, she’s not complaining.
“Helping these animals to the point of relief and seeing them surviving so well in the wild, after I’ve raised them from day one—it’s very rewarding,” James said.
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