Clover’s family was regularly monitored and banded by permitted American Kestrel banders in Augusta County. In 2021, Clover hatched and the permitted banders – also falconers – removed Clover and trained her as a falconry bird. She was released back to the wild in the fall of 2021. Clover came to the Wildlife Center of Virginia in November 2021 after she was attempting to follow humans at a local gas station; Center staff evaluated her behavior and deemed that she was imprinted on humans.
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.
June 27, 2023
In April 2021, a fledgling Eastern Screech-Owl was found on the ground at a park in Charlottesville. The owl was in very poor condition, and the veterinary team at the Wildlife Center found that the young bird had lead poisoning. The owl went through extensive treatment; while he survived, the veterinary team ultimately decided the bird was non-releasable due to permanent neurologic deficits. Ozzy began his training to become an education ambassador in late 2021 and received his name after the 2021 Gala.
June 21, 2023
On June 3, Center staff attended a special “Junior Gala” fundraiser in Crozet hosted by Lois, a six-year-old girl who organized the event to raise money in support of the Wildlife Center.
June 19, 2023
Created by the American Eagle Foundation in 1995, American Bald Eagle Day is celebrated each year on June 20. On this day, wildlife professionals and enthusiasts alike are taking the time to celebrate our national symbol and appreciate these amazing animals.
June 19, 2023
My experience at the Wildlife Center of Virginia has lived up to my full expectations! As a first-year veterinary student, I wanted to get hands-on experience with the world of wildlife, a division of animal care that I had limited learning experiences in up to this point. I was fully committed to the long hours and difficult cases upon receiving my letter of acceptance then I flew for the first time to Virginia to start my new journey.
June 16, 2023
In her latest release, New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Ackerman explores recent findings on the biology, behavior, and conservation of owls in What an Owl Knows: The New Science of the World’s Most Enigmatic Birds.
June 8, 2023
On June 2, a Black Bear cub was seen alone in a tree in Bedford County. After no sign of a sow was observed in the area for three days, Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources biologists determined the cub had been orphaned, and transported it to the Wildlife Center of Virginia on the evening of June 5.