About


About Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke

Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke is a non-profit (501(c)3) state and federally licensed veterinary hospital and wildlife rehabilitation facility that offers quality care and veterinary treatment to native wildlife of the Roanoke Valley and surrounding areas. Between our collective experience as a close-knit team of veterinarians and professional wildlife rehabilitators we have over 100 years of experience working with wildlife in this setting. We are one of the largest wildlife rehabilitation centers in Virginia in terms of animals we treat (2,600+ a year), one of three wildlife veterinary hospitals in the state (and the only one in the western half of Virginia), and serve as a regional hub for wildlife in need.

Operating as an independent organization since 2000, directors Sabrina and Lucky Garvin, members of the National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association and the International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council, have acted as a resource for wildlife in Roanoke for decades. After realizing there was a desperate need for a professional veterinary hospital for wildlife in the community they transitioned their at-home operations to a fully fledged center to better serve the community of wildlife and people who were in need. As an organization we have consulted other veterinarians, at-home rehabilitators, and wildlife centers not only locally but nationwide to better improve rehabilitation conditions and standards to those based in Virginia, South Carolina, Texas, and New York, and more! Our staff have been invited to present at wildlife rehabilitation conferences on both the national and state levels by other organizations held in high esteem. As such, we are well-qualified to provide care tailored to the needs of a variety of species found here in southwest Virginia.

We are assisted by a team of volunteers, interns, and veterinarians including Dr. Kelli Knight, Dr. Karen Thomason, Dr. Ernesto Dominguez, and many others. Our facility specializes in native Virginia wildlife, with a strong emphasis on birds, which constitutes the majority of the 2,600+ cases admitted each year. Intakes include raptors (eagles, owls, hawks, falcons, etc), waterfowl (including herons, ducks, and shorebirds), and migratory birds such as Chimney Swifts, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, and more! We also have permission and permits to rehabilitate eagles, state and federally endangered/threatened species (such as gray bats, peregrine falcons, bog turtles, wood storks, etc.), and bear cubs — all of which have come through our doors.


In addition to the care, treatment, and rehabilitation of our native wildlife we also have an award-winning educational outreach program that has reached over 30,000 people in southwestern Virginia. We also procure a well-loved social media presence where we continue our mission to educate others about the creatures we share the world with. We feel we must advocate for the protection of wildlife and wild places to ensure these magnificent animals have a place alongside us for generations to come.

“What a country chooses to save is what a country chooses to say about itself.”
– Mollie Beattie, Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke has a 501(c)3 status.

All donations are tax-deductible.

Mission: Conserving Virginia’s wildlife through rehabilitation and release while teaching care and respect of native species.

 

Mailing Address:

SWVAWCR
P.O. Box 20972
Roanoke, VA 24018

 

Physical Address:

5985 Coleman Road
Roanoke VA 24018

For directions click here.

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5985 Coleman Road, Roanoke, VA 24018

1-540-798-9836

swvawildlifecenter@gmail.com