Category Archives: Uncategorized

Eastern Box Turtle Babies in People Magazine

Our baby Eastern Box Turtles are officially celebrities!

A huge thank you to People Magazine, Raven Brunner, and Denise Domlesky for sharing the incredible story of our newly hatched, conjoined Eastern Box Turtle babies with the world!

These little shells of sunshine may only be a few weeks old, but they’re already stealing hearts nationwide. While tiny in size, they carry a BIG reminder of why protecting threatened species like the Eastern Box Turtle matters so deeply. Listed as threatened in Virginia since 2021, every hatchling is a hopeful step forward for conservation.

We couldn’t be more proud of our hatchlings — and we’re pretty sure they’re blushing under their shells from all the attention.

Check out their story here: https://people.com/rare-conjoined-turtle-twins-separated…

Thank you again, People Magazine, for helping us spread awareness far beyond our state and for shining a light on the amazing wildlife we work to protect every day.

THANK YOU TO OUR BIRDIES FORE BIRDIES SPONSORS!

Thank you to our sponsors for our Birdies fore Birdies Golf Tournament!

Wish List

Click on the link below [Wish List] to see the top items we need:

Wish List

 

WSLS/NBC Bobcat Cam

We are soo very excited to announce WSLS (NBC) has added a 24-hour livestream camera to our center! You can watch these bobcat kittens at any time on WSLS’s website here, until they are released in the Spring!

These orphaned siblings arrived at our center in August 2023. They were just over a week old and full of worms. Luckily, they have made a remarkable recovery! We estimate the cost of their care to be in the thousands. So, if you find it in your heart to show them some love this Valentine’s Day, you can make a donation for the duo here.

Eagle PSA in USA Today

USA Today article regarding Bald Eagle patient we received on Christmas Eve:

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2023/12/26/american-bald-eagle-shot-wing-euthanized/72035047007/

Our official statement on this case:

“It was a very sad Christmas Eve – we admitted this immature Bald Eagle from Max Meadows who had been surviving by eating deer carcasses for a week prior to her capture by a Conservation Officer and was transported to our facility by Appalachian Wildlife Management. Images of this eagle’s wing are too horrific to be shared on social media, but we have provided an x-ray of her injured wing to show how badly her wrist was severed. Our worst fears gave way to horror when we realized that this bird had been shot. Sadly, due to the severity of the injury, there was nothing that could be done. This bird, even in a true miracle scenario, would never be able to live a painless and stress-free life. It was an inhumane act that led this beautiful bird to suffer for over a week out in the elements with no hope of recovery.
It’s been a hard year. This is the kind of news nobody needs right now. But we tell you this story for two reasons: we hope that with exposure, we will be able to find the person who shot her and get them to face justice. The eagle was found near the intersection of Major Grahams Rd & Red Hollow Rd in Max Meadows – if you have any information on this situation, you can contact the Department of Wildlife Resources crime line at: 1-800-237-5712, at wildcrime@dwr.virginia.gov or go to: https://dwr.virginia.gov/conservation…/wildlife-violation/ to submit a tip to law enforcement.
Second, we would like everyone to reflect just how fragile our natural resources are. Bald Eagles were still an endangered species thirty years ago. Bald Eagles only came off of Virginia’s list in 2013. Conservation efforts like ours worked extremely hard to bring these birds back from the brink, and their recovery is just barely in the rear-view mirror. And this is how we treat them? Our national symbol, that we worked tirelessly to save for future generations? We can do better than this. We SHOULD do better than this. If we don’t, who will?”

Bobcat Kittens!!!

Bobcat Kittens Trimmed

Disclaimer! Please be advised that this video contains an absurdly overwhelming and unbearable amount of cuteness! Watch at your own risk as we are not liable for tears, smiles, and/or the sudden urge to donate!
These Bobcat kittens arrived just a couple days ago and we suspect they were just over a week old upon arrival! Rehabilitating these 2 will present some very difficult challenges like:
-They currently need to be fed specialized formula every 2 to 3 hours around the clock just like a newborn baby.
-We will have to wear a mask, or sometimes a leopard print pillowcase, in order to prevent these 2 from becoming habituated to humans during feedings. At such a young age they could easily imprint, and once they associate humans with food they could no longer be safely released.
-Given their young age and being so late in the summer we will have to overwinter these 2 and they likely won’t be released until sometime next May.
This will be a long and very expensive rehab, so please consider making a donation today at 👇 ❤️🐯

Name Our Next Ambassador!!!

VOTING HAS ENDED!

The VOTES ARE IN!!! Pecan, Peanut, and Nutter Butter have made it to the final round of voting! Thank you to everyone who helped us get this far by voting on Facebook and Instagram.
NOW, it’s time for the final vote on our website where you will see these nutty names + Baldwin (thanks to an anonymous donor) listed ✔❤️🐿
We invite everyone to participate!! Each vote will cost $5 and you can vote as many times as you like! Your votes don’t just help name this cute fella – the proceeds will help support our continued mission of saving wildlife too!
🐿 And of course please share with your friends and family – so everyone can join in on the fun! Voting will end on March 7th at 9 p.m.

First Bobcat Kitten of the Year!!!

We recently received our first Bobcat of the year from Giles County yesterday. The kitten is currently recovering from severe neurological trauma and her prognosis is guarded.

She was found dazed and circling on the side of the road in Giles County. Given the location she was found and the severe neurologic symptoms we suspect she was most likely struck by a car.

It is highly unusual to see such a well developed Bobcat this early in the year. Usually, Bobcats have offspring in April or May but given this mild winter we aren’t entirely surprised. She weighs 2.4kg and when not sedated is still rather feisty, which is a good sign! X-rays were negative for any fractures, and is on medications for pain, swelling, fever and neurological trauma. Bobcat Kitten Eating Feg 2023