Calif. woman a foster parent for squirrels

SAN MATEO, Calif., Oct. 17 (UPI) -- An employee of the Peninsula Humane Society in San Mateo, Calif., has enjoyed a successful career as a foster parent for nearly 150 local squirrels.

While Mary Nacey admits that the tiny creatures can be handful at times due to their wild nature, she said she still enjoys taking care of the furry animals at the humane society, the San Jose (Calif.) Mercury-News reported Tuesday.

"They're just like little Walt Disney characters," she said of her squirrelly foster clients. "They're each so unique."

The local wildlife center typically takes in dozens of squirrels that have been rescued from adverse conditions in the area each year and Nacey never hesitates to provide the energetic animals with a temporary home.

"They're God's creatures," Nacey said. "They were put here for a purpose. They're so much like us with different personalities" -- with at least one major exception: "They don't seem to hold a grudge."

The newspaper said that after being raised by Nacey and her husband, the squirrels are returned to the center's aviary and eventually are released back into the wild.