Wildlife Center of Virginia Blog

“In those days we had never heard of passing up a chance to kill a wolf. In a second, we were pumping lead into the pack, but with more excitement than accuracy: how to aim a steep downhill shot is always confusing. When our rifles were empty, the old wolf was down, and a pup was dragging a leg into impassable slide-rocks.

"Full Circle." Those two words could be a good thing or a bad thing, depending upon circumstances. If one gets lost in the woods and winds up back where they began, that's a bad thing. If one finds themselves in-and-out of a toxic relationship, constantly back at the stage when it derailed, that is a bad thing. If, however, you are an Eastern Screech-Owl who lands at The Wildlife Center of Virginia, well, “full circle” is not necessarily a bad thing.

Eyes open. October 8th, 2020. I didn’t want this day to come. Twelve hours from now it will all be over and I will be left not exactly knowing what I am waking up for. For the last three months that hadn’t been a problem. The fawns needed browse, the box turtles needed to be taken out to soak, the raptors needed to be exercised - staying in bed wasn’t an option. The patients were counting on me. But tomorrow? Tomorrow, my externship in Wildlife Rehabilitation at the Wildlife Center of Virginia will be over.

I’m grateful for my colleagues who have helped make that possible. I’m grateful for the courage, commitment, and resiliency of my colleagues who have gone into the Center.