But over the course of two separate releases on a weekend in early October, I also got the special privilege of witnessing those former cotton balls take their first steps into the world at large.
In celebration of the International Day of Veterinary Medicine this week, The Wildlife Center of Virginia is taking a look at the history of veterinary radiology: the use of x-rays to diagnose and treat animal patients. Additionally, The Center is releasing fifteen sets of radiographs to promote their educational value in veterinary medicine!
During my time at the Wildlife Center, I’ve gotten to meet friends and supporters from all across the nation – a host of wonderful, interesting, and generous people.
Anita Dec was a donor to the Wildlife Center for about a decade. Her first contribution came with the purchase of a Garden of Eagle calendar, back in June 2011. She was an active participant in the Center’s Caring for Critters program. She lived in Mays Landing, New Jersey. Ms. Anita died earlier this year; she included the Center in her estate plans.
We often feature “staff picks” in our Inside Poop, the Center’s bi-weekly email newsletter. Staff picks offer a fun insight into what our various staff members like to do in their free time – it might be reading a really good wildlife book, listening to an environmental podcast, or creating something wildlife-related. When we asked some of our veterinary staff for a “staff pick” earlier this year, both wildlife rehabilitation intern Ben and veterinary intern Dr.
“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.
Happy Mental Health Awareness Month!
That statement seems a little ironic, doesn’t it?
"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.
An international crime spree is being committed, one which is estimated to be worth anywhere from 7-23 billion dollars annually. This crime is happening everywhere, from Brazil to Thailand, Tanzania to Turkey, and yes, even right here in Virginia. The crime in question: the illegal trade in wildlife. This illegal trade is one of the most costly illegal activities in the world, moving living animals, and parts of deceased ones, across a global network of organized crime.
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.
A couple of folks have asked me why I did not write a year-end blog post, like so many of my colleagues did. The answer is simple; as the saying goes, “Hindsight is always 20/20”, or in this case 2020. I would rather share my foresight and talk about the year ahead—our 2021 vision!
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See who is currently featured on the Center's Critter Cams!