Throughout the week, I ran into so many former co-workers who are out there in the wildlife world, doing big, impressive, important things.
News
As one of the world’s leading teaching hospitals for wildlife medicine, the Wildlife Center of Virginia has a core mission to teach the world to care about and care for wildlife and the environment. This news page collects stories of the Center’s expertise in action.
While the day I got the opportunity to work with a favorite animal didn’t have the outcome I had envisioned, I was so proud of myself and everybody around me that day.
The direct treatment and rehabilitation of patients is a side of the Wildlife Center that I don't get to see each day, but I am thrilled that I had these experiences to have a heightened understanding of the care that goes into every animal.
On December 27, Wildlife Center staff made the difficult decision to humanely euthanize Marigold the Virginia Opossum. At almost four years old, Marigold had declining mobility and developed several masses on her body; one of the masses continued to grow and became an open wound on her left leg. The only treatment option was surgery, but staff decided it would be unfair to put Marigold through the difficult recovery process given her age and already deteriorating health.
Within the nuanced boundaries of life and death in wildlife medicine, humane euthanasia is merely a clinical necessity.
But after an incredibly busy and often stressful season at the Wildlife Center this year, I think what I needed more was a reminder to better appreciate and cherish these victories.
Seeing someone of a younger generation already have so much passion and excitement about what we do here at the Wildlife Center tugged at my heartstrings and is a memory that I will never forget.