The Wildlife Center of Virginia

The Center's "faculty" includes not only our environmental educators and rehabilitation staff but also about 20 education animals. These animals include patients that have been treated at the Center but whose injuries or behavioral modifications preclude their return to the wild.

These education animals make the Center's programs unforgettable. There is no better way to teach kids - or adults - about wildlife and environmental issues than to let them look into the eyes of animals affected by our daily decisions and behaviors.

Learn about our Caring for Critters Animal Adoption Program

Current Wildlife Center of Virginia Education animals include:

Edie [American Kestrel]
Edie is a female American Kestrel. She was found as a orphan in Roanoke when her nest fell out of a tree. She was kept by her rescuers for a few days before being taken to a local wildlife rehabilitator. After many weeks of observation at the Wildlife Center, the vet staff determined that she was imprinted on humans. Birds visually imprint on their caregiver and identify with that species for life. Edie was probably with her rescuers during this critical imprinting stage of her life and cannot be released back into the wild.

Justus [Bald Eagle]
Justus was found in Sebring, Florida, in April 2006, and brought to the Wildlife Center of Virginia in June 2006. She suffered from an unknown trauma while in the nest, possibly stepped on by her parents or siblings. She suffered from a wing injury, and later fell from the nest. Her wing injury never healed properly, and she is unable to fly properly, so she became a member of our education team. Although the Bald Eagle was once facing extinction, conservation and public action have helped their populations recover.

Kettler [Broad-winged Hawk]
Kettler came to The Wildlife Center of Virginia as a chick in 1988 after falling from her nest and suffering a broken right wing. She lost full use of the wing and can no longer fly. Broad-winged Hawks are a highly migratory species, often traveling in large groups [called "kettles"] of several hundred birds. Broad-wings may nest in Canada, then migrate as far south as Brazil to spend the winter.

Junior [Golden Eagle]
Junior was taken from his nest in 1984 when he was less than a month old and became imprinted on humans while in captivity. He was apparently kept in a wire cage since his feathers were broken and shredded. He escaped from his captors and was found walking down a road in Merced, California, unable to fly. Junior came to The Wildlife Center of Virginia in 1985.

Kali [Red-shouldered Hawk]
Kali came to The Wildlife Center of Virginia in May 2005. She was found as a hatchling at the base of a tree in Powhatan County, abandoned by her parents and unable to stand. She was taken to a local rehabilitator whose examination found an abnormal curve in a bone in her right leg. Kali required extensive physical therapy to correct her leg, and she became imprinted on her human caretaker. Because of this, she cannot be released back into the wild.

Altaire [Red-tailed Hawk]
Altaire came to The Wildlife Center of Virginia in 2005 after becoming entangled in a barbed wire fence in Woodberry Forest, Virginia. He showed signs of head trauma with a poor sense of balance and an unwillingness to fly. Because his condition never improved, our veterinarians determined that he would have a difficult time caring for himself in the wild.

Cathy [Red-tailed Hawk]
Cathy was born in Powhatan County in 2006. She never fledged from her nest, so her parents finally abandoned her. A wildlife rehabilitator rescued her from the nest and brought her to the Wildlife Center. Through x-rays, the Center's veterinary staff found that Cathy had a flawed joint in one wing - a condition that was painful and also prevented her from flying. Center veterinarians did surgery on the wing to fuse the joint - easing the pain but making Cathy a non-releasable bird. As a resident of the Wildlife Center [she often shares a pen with Altaire], she often vocalizes and chirps, earning her the nickname "Chatty Cathy".

Scarlette [Red-tailed Hawk]
Scarlette came to The Wildlife Center of Virginia in 1989 when she was still a fledgling. Her nesting tree was cut down to expand a major amusement park in Virginia. She suffered a broken right wing when the tree fell. Her wing never healed properly and she can no longer fully extend her right wing.

Gustavo [Barred Owl]
Gustavo was taken from the wild by people who thought he would make a good pet. They did not know that it is against the law to keep wild animals in captivity. Eventually, Gustavo was discovered by neighbors and removed from the household by the police. However, he had already imprinted on people. Gustavo no longer fears humans and therefore can never be released into the wild.

Buzz [Great Horned Owl]
As a nestling, Buzz fell through the bottom of his nest and suffered a broken wing. The bones of his left wing were broken in many places, and despite orthopedic surgery they never healed correctly. As a result, Buzz can no longer fly and is therefore non-releasable.

Mama G'Ho [Great Horned Owl]
Mama G'Ho was found in Henrico County in December 2001. One of her toes had to be amputated, and she had sustained injuries to her wing that prevent her for flying silently - an important criteria for an owl's ability to hunt in the wild. Although non-releasable, Mama G'Ho now has a new job - as a surrogate [or substitute] mother. Each year, baby Great Horned Owls that are admitted to the Center are housed with Mama G'Ho. She helps the little owls learn how to hunt and other owl survival skills. Unlike other Wildlife Center education animals, Wildlife Center staff take great care to keep Mama G'Ho from becoming comfortable around humans - keeping her "wild" helps her raise owlets that will survive, and thrive, on their own. [For the latest news stories about Mama G'Ho and her work, check out the "News & Events" section of our website]

Pignoli [Screech Owl]
Pignoli was brought to The Wildlife Center of Virginia in October 2003. He was found by the side of railroad tracks and had suffered a severe head trauma. Our veterinarians determined that his right eye would need to be removed due to his head injury.

Jaz [American Crow]
Jaz is a female crow, hatched in the wild in Warren County in May 1992. She was found as a pre-fledging and taken to the National Zoo's Conservation and Research Center [CRC] in Front Royal, VA. ÊWhile the CRC works to breed rare and endangered animals, some common "surrogate species" with behavioral and physiological characteristics similar to their endangered relatives are housed there. ÊDuring most of her time at the CRC, Jaz was paired with a male crow. ÊIn fall 2007, the CRC determined that Jaz's enclosure would need to be torn down to make room for new caging, and Jaz was relocated to the Wildlife Center of Virginia.

Bella [Opossum]
Bella was brought to The Wildlife Center of Virginia in August 2006. She was rescued from a roadside in Virginia Beach; her mother had been hit by a car, and her siblings had died. She was taken to a local rehabilitator, with only minor injuries from her trauma. Bella had a very tame nature, and since she is so used to being around people, she could get herself into trouble if she were released and approached humans. Since Bella is unfortunately too tame to be released back into the wild, her calm demeanor is better suited to being an education animal, so she can help teach people not to litter.

Lily [Opossum]
Lily was brought to The Wildlife Center of Virginia in August 2007. She was injured by a dog and her rescuers decided to care for her at their home. During her recovery, she became used to being around people and turned into a family pet. Since Lily was kept in captivity, she may no longer have the skills necessary to survive in the wild, such as hunting for food, finding shelter, and avoiding predators and people. Lily's calm demeanor is better suited to being an education animal, so she can help teach people to contact a wildlife rehabilitator if they find injured wildlife, and not to keep wildlife as pets.

Margaret [Opossum]
Margaret was brought to The Wildlife Center of Virginia in May 2006. She was found as a juvenile, limping in a garden in Charlottesville. The cause of her trauma is unknown, but her right front paw never fully healed. She is unable to use her paw normally, and since opossums rely heavily on their sense of touch, she would have had great difficulties in the wild, and could not be released.

Cleo [California King Snake]
Cleo is a female California Kingsnake that was brought to The Wildlife Center of Virginia in July 2000. She is a captive-bred snake that had been a local classroom pet. When the teacher switched subjects, the snake was no longer able to stay at the school. Because snakes in captivity may have been exposed to diseases, parasites, or other organisms that they might transport back into the wild, Cleo could not be released back into the wild.

Cornelius [Corn Snake]
Cornelius was taken from the wild as a newly hatched snake in Charlotte County, Virginia. He was kept as a pet for more than a year before coming to The Wildlife Center of Virginia in June 1997.Ê Because snakes in captivity may have been exposed to diseases, parasites, or other organisms that they might transport back into the wild, Cornelius could not be released back into the wild.Ê You can help animals like Cornelius by remembering that wild animals do not make good pets.

Emma [Russian Tortoise]
Emma, a Russian Tortoise, was brought to The Wildlife Center of Virginia in 2000. Emma was found wandering the grounds of The University of Virginia far from her native desert territory. Most likely an escaped pet, Emma could not survive on her own in this climate. Emma now lives at the Wildlife Center and teaches children the importance of leaving native animals in their natural environment.