• 63 Eastern Grey Squirrels [plus two Southern Flying Squirrels];
• 29 Eastern Cottontail Rabbits;
• 15 Morning Doves;
• 11 Eastern Box Turtles;
• 9 American Robins; and
• 9 Virginia Opossums.

Young squirrels at the Wildlife Center generally start indoors and are fed up to six times a day, starting with a special “squirrel”  formula.  As they grow, they are weaned onto a solid-food diet — a mixture of nuts, seeds, fruits, and vegetables.  Young squirrels are slowly re-introduced back to the “outdoors”.    They will generally spend a few weeks in one of the Center’s outdoor patient-enclosures.  Once they have acclimated and proven that they can locate food hidden around their enclosures, the squirrels are ready for release. 

Daily log of patients admitted during August 2010

August 2010 patients by species

Rescue Advice:  If You Find a Baby Squirrel

There’s no charge to bring an animal to the Wildlife Center for treatment and care.  We rely on the generosity of caring individuals.  Your donation will help support the Center’s life-saving work with the 2,500 wild animals in need we’ll see during 2010. 

LOCATION:  Sherando, Augusta County, Virginia

CAUSE OF ADMISSION:   Likely hit by car

ADMISSION DATE:  July 14

PROGNOSIS:  Released, August 31

After finding this injured Eastern Box Turtle just miles away from the Wildlife Center, the turtle’s rescuer taped a four-leaf clover to its back — for luck — and rushed it in for treatment.  Center veterinarians examined the turtle and took radiographs, and then cleaned the multiple shell fractures that the turtle sustained.  These fractures were stabilized and repaired with metal bars and epoxy.  In addition to receiving treatment as soon as he arrived at the Wildlife Center, Box Turtle #10-1539 also took a starring role in an “Out and About” segment with Fox 2127’s Becky Freemal. 

Just six weeks after admission, the bars and epoxy were removed from the turtle’s shell.  Since the fracture sites were stable and clean, the turtle spent a few more days living in an outside pen, then was released in the same area in which he was found.

It’s not uncommon to find turtles crossing the road throughout the summer months, and they will continue to be active throughout the next month.  To help protect turtles, the Wildlife Center recommends the following:

* Don’t keep a turtle as a pet.  Some turtle populations, such as the Eastern Box Turtle, are declining.  The removal of one healthy adult can have a significant detrimental impact on the local population.  A female box turtle may lay several hundred eggs over the course of her lifetime – but only two or three will likely reach adulthood.

* Watch out for turtles and other wildlife when mowing lawns and doing other yard-work.

* Keep domestic animals indoors or on leashes.  Free-roaming dogs and cats injure and kill millions of wild animals each year. 

* Assist turtles crossing a road by carrying them across in the direction they’re headed.   Many turtles crossing roads are egg-laden females looking for appropriate nesting sites.  

* Do NOT relocate a turtle to a “better place”.  Turtles have small home territories and should be left where they are found.

*  Take special care when dealing with a Snapping Turtle.  These turtles may be as much as 19 inches long, weigh up to 35 pounds, have powerful jaws, and a long neck .  To safely handle a large Snapping Turtle, avoid the front half of the turtle’s body.  While wearing gloves, place one hand on the base of the turtle’s tail – to help stabilize and secure the turtle – and slide the other hand halfway under the turtle’s shell. 

 * If you find an injured turtle, put it in a box and contact the Wildlife Center of Virginia or a permitted wildlife rehabilitator.  Make sure to record details of the rescue location so that the turtle can be returned there once it has healed.

 * Always wash your hands with soap and water after handling a turtle.

There’s no charge to bring an animal to the Wildlife Center for treatment and care.  We rely on the generosity of caring individuals.  Your donation will help support the Center’s life-saving work with about 2,500 wild animals in need. 

NOTE:   This table provides information on the reason[s] for admission and the type of injury identified during an examination by our veterinary staff.

“Kidnapped” — is an animal taken from the wild unnecessarily.  This would include a healthy fledgling bird that is still receiving care from parents … a smallish rabbit that is out on its own … an uninjured turtle that was found on a porch and taken to the SPCA. 

There’s no charge to bring an animal to the Wildlife Center for treatment and care.  We rely on the generosity of caring individuals.  Your donation will help support the Center’s life-saving work this year with about 2,500 wild animals in need

 There’s no charge to bring an animal to the Wildlife Center for treatment and care.  We rely on the generosity of caring individuals.  Your donation will help support the Center’s life-saving work with the 2,500 wild animals in need we’ll see during 2010. 

This 11″ x 17″ 12-month wall calendar showcases remarkable photos taken at the Norfolk Botanical Garden by the “Eagle Paparazzi” — photographs that capture the majesty and the mystery of the Bald Eagle.

Calendars are now being mailed out to eagle-lovers in 48 of the 50 states – with Louisiana and South Dakota as the hold-outs, for now – and in Canada, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.  

Proceeds from the sale of the calendar will benefit the Wildlife Center and are earmarked for construction of a new permanent home for Buddy. 

More about the calendar …

Copies are limited!  Please purchase your calendar now.

RESCUE LOCATION:  McDowell, Virginia

CONDITION:  Not flying, listless

ADMISSION DATE:  August 28

PROGNOSIS:  Died during transport

On August 28 the Center received a call about an adult Bald Eagle that was spotted sitting on a log in the Bullpasture River near McDowell in Highland County, Virginia.  The bird appeared listless and was not flying. 

Madis Leivits, the Center’s Intern for Veterinary Diagnostics, and Sandy Strilec, a vet student from Atlantic Veterinary College in Prince Edward Island, went out and successfully captured the eagle. 

Photos courtesy of John Burch

The eagle did not survive the trip back to the Wildlife Center.  The eagle was given a patient number [#10-1887] and examined by the Center veterinary staff.  The eagle was thin; tests found high levels of lead in the bird’s blood, although radiographs found no shot.

Thus far in 2010, the Center has admitted 16 Bald Eagles as patients for treatment and has logged in two additional dead eagles –  one from Bath County [#10-0078 in February] and #10-1887.  

Learn more about Bald Eagles treated at the Center, including two current patients.  

This year, the Wildlife Center will help about 2,500 patients — sick, injured, and orphaned wild animals in need.  Your donation will help support the Center’s life-saving work

RESCUE LOCATION:  Staunton, Virginia

CAUSE OF ADMISSION:  Healthy orphan

ADMISSION DATE:  May 27

PROGNOSIS:  Non-releasable; transferred to education facility

This young female American Kestrel was found in a parking lot at a Dominion Power facility in Staunton and brought  to the Wildlife Center.  Center veterinarians examined the bird and determined that she was a healthy nestling.  However, because no nest could be found near the rescue site to which she could be returned, the bird was admitted as a patient.

The kestrel was initially fed three times a day.  The bird is fully flighted and has no injuries.  While Center rehabilitators took great pains to minimize interaction with the impressional young bird, the bird imprinted on humans.  Even when moved to an outdoor flight pen, the kestrel made feeding calls when people were present and showed no fear of humans.   Accordingly, the kestrel was declared non-releasable.  

Amanda Nicholson, the Center’s Outreach Coordinator and Rehabilitation Supervisor, found placement for the American Kestrel at the Cosley Zoo in Wheaton, Illinois, a facility accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.  On August 26, Amanda drove the kestrel, securely packed in a pet carrier, to the Charlottesville airport for the bird’s flight to Chicago — with a connection in Atlanta.

Representatives of the Cosley Zoo picked up the American Kestrel at O’Hare and report that she arrived in fine condition.

Learn about Edie, an American Kestrel who lives at the Wildlife Center.

This year, the Wildlife Center will help about 2,500 patients — sick, injured, and orphaned wild animals in need.  Your donation will help support the Center’s life-saving work.

LOCATION:  Staunton, Virginia

CAUSE OF ADMISSION:  Found in closet

ADMISSION DATE:  August 23

PROGNOSIS:  Candidate for release within a month

On the morning of August 23, a Staunton resident received an unexpected visitor in her bedroom:  a young Virginia Opossum.   Somehow separated from her mother, this little opossum made her way to the bedroom to find her breakfast.  More details on the rescue of the opossum can be found here.   

Virginia Opossum #10-1847 is nearly old enough to be on her own, but should still be with her mother, riding around on her back and enjoying the parental protection.  Several days after admission, when the rehabilitation staff confirmed that the opossum was eating well and already starting to gain weight, she moved to an outdoor cage at the Wildlife Center.  The opossum will likely be at the Center for the next 2-3 weeks and then will be released in Staunton.    

If you find a young animal and are unsure if it needs assistance, please visit our “I Need Rescue Advice!” section of our website or call 540.942.9453. 

There’s no charge to bring an animal to the Wildlife Center for treatment and care.  We rely on the generosity of caring individuals.  Your donation will help support the Center’s life-saving work with about 2,500 wild animals in need. 

LOCATION:  Roanoke, Virginia

INJURY:  Entangled in barbed wire fence; eye, tissue injuries

ADMISSION DATE:  May 1, 2008

PROGNOSIS:  Non-releasable; evaluation as possible Center education animal

This adult Great Horned Owl was found in Roanoke, caught in a barbed wire fence.  Upon admission, Center veterinarians found soft-tissue injuries on the bird’s right wing, a wound on the right side of the owl’s neck, and corneal ulcers on both eyes.  The ulcers were treated with eye drops, and the wounds cleaned and bandaged.

During the next few weeks, the wing and neck injuries healed well; despite aggressive treatment, the ulcer in the right eye kept recurring.  In April 2009, Center veterinarians surgically removed the damaged eye.

In addition, the owl is missing many primary feathers on the right wing.  These feathers start to grow in … and then fall out.  While a healthy Great Horned Owl flies silently, because of its missing feathers #08-0525 is quite loud in flight – seriously compromising its ability to hunt successfully.

Because of these conditions, #08-0525 was declared non-releasable in early 2010.  The bird is currently being evaluated as a possible addition to the Center’s roster of education animals.  The Great Horned Owl was moved to one of the education enclosures in February 2010 and began training in March.

The primary trainer for this bird is Dani Stumbo, one of the Center’s wildlife rehabilitators; the secondary trainer is Kelly Rourke, the Center’s Education Coordinator.  The training process has many steps and is gradual – having trainers in its enclosure; approaching; touching feet; eating with trainers in the enclosure. 

In August #08-0525 began stepping one foot onto the glove; within the past two weeks the owl has progressed to fully stepping up [both feet] onto the glove and staying there until it is told to perch.  Although the owl is still somewhat nervous and reluctant, progress is being made.  Next steps include developing increasing familiarity and ease with stepping on the glove, and staying on the glove while the trainer walks around the owl’s enclosure.   

Meet the neighbors …  #08-0585 is currently housed next to Buzz, another Great Horned Owl and a veteran Center education animal — he’s been at the Center since 1998.  Learn more about Buzz.

Your special donation will help support the Center’s work with this Great Horned Owl … and the veterinary care we provide to 2,500 wild animals in need each year.  

LOCATION:  Batesville, Virginia

INJURY:  Cat attack

ADMISSION DATE:  July 28

PROGNOSIS:  Candidate for release fall 2010

Upon admission, the Cedar Waxwing was examined by Center veterinarians.  The bird was bruised, had a puncture wound on the left side of its body [behind the wing], a large wound on the right thigh … and was missing tail feathers.

Center staff cleaned the wounds and treated the bird with fluids and anti-inflammatories.  Because of the risk of infection from the cat bites, the waxwing also was treated with antibiotics.  For the next few days, the wounds were cleaned daily and treated with Dermisol and Tegaderm. 

On August 2, Dr. Kelly Flaminio operated on the waxwing, removing infected and dead tissue from the large wound and suturing it closed.

The sutures were removed a week later.  The wound was healing well, and the waxwing was moved to one of the Center’s outdoor aviary enclosures in mid-August.  The waxwing will remain at the Center until the wound is completely healed and its tail feathers have re-grown.

If the waxwing is cleared for release, the Center’s rehabilitation staff will look for the best site for a release.  Cedar Waxwings are social birds — gathering in large flocks, particularly in fall and winter; identifying a release site that is frequented by other waxwings will be key.   Cedar Waxwings may be found year-round in Virginia.

Cedar Waxwings are primarily frugivores — they feed mainly on fruits year-round.  In summer, waxwings eat a variety of small fruits and berries and supplement their diets with insects, often caught on the wing.  In winter, a major food source is cedar berries [hence the species name]; other winter foods include mistletoe, juniper, mountain ash, crabapple, hawthorn, and Russian olive fruits.

At the Wildlife Center, Patient #10-1658’s diet includes blueberries and raspberries.  The waxwing seems particularly partial to champagne grapes.  [The Center gratefully acknowledges the fruits, vegetables, and other produce donated each week by Kroger in Waynesboro and Whole Foods Market in Charlottesville].

Cedar Waxwings are somewhat unusual patients at the Wildlife Center.  During 2008 we treated seven, in 2009, a total of 10.

In contrast, patients that have been attacked by cats are all-too-common at the Center.  During 2009, for examplke, 222 animals — or about one in every 12 patients — came to the Center after an attack by a free-roaming cat.  Birds and other animals that survive an initial attack are still in danger — unless treated, infections from the toxic bacteria found in a cat’s mouth kill a significant number of animals.

On average, indoor cats live longer, healthier lives.  Free-roaming cats are at a greater risk of injury, disease, parastites, getting hit by cars, or becoming lost, stolen, or poisoned.  Tips on keeping a cat indoors

At the Wildlife Center, we treat to release.  Your donation will help support the Center’s life-saving work with about 2,500 wild animals in need.