Events
Current Events:
2 Red-shouldered Hawks Being Released
August 18th, 2022 @ 4 p.m.
@ the Merriman Soccer Complex
Release will take place near the soccer field furthest to the left if facing from Merriman Road. Public is encouraged to attend!
First Fridays downtown on Franklin Road between Jefferson and Williamson (Volunteers still needed – contact swvawildlifecenter.edu@gmail.com if you can help)
August 5th, 2022
August 19th, 2022
5 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Rockbridge Community Festival in beautiful downtown Lexington, VA returns for its 45th year! The Rockbridge Community Festival features local vendors, local organizations, family fun, live music, and great food vendors. All proceeds will go to benefit local charities. For more information click HERE!
August 27th, 2022
11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Southwest Virginia Pride Fest will be taking place at the Vinton War Memorial in lovely Vinton, VA. We’re very pleased to take part in this inaugural event featuring entertainment, a vendor marketplace, a kids zone, food, and more! For more information click HERE!
September 17th, 2022
12 p.m. – 6 p.m.
A Night Owl on the Town – Our annual charity gala is back! We’ll have a silent and live auction, live music and dancing, heavy hors d’oeuvres, drinks, and a great time to be had by all! It will take place downtown at the Shenandoah Club from 6 p.m. – 10 p.m. Tickets are $80/person prices and will be available for purchase on our website HERE!
October 1st, 2022
6 p.m. – 10 p.m.
Hokie BugFest – Hokie BugFest celebrates the fun and exciting science of entomology, and the Virginia Tech tradition of learning and discovery, through outreach and engagement. This event highlights an ongoing youth education program hosted by the Virginia Tech Department of Entomology, Virginia Tech College of Agriculture & Life Sciences, Virginia Cooperative Extension’s 4-H program, and the department’s student-run professional organization, the W. B. Alwood Entomological Society.
October 8th, 2022
November 1st – 30th
November Old Salem Brewery, Twisted Track, and ??/
Upcoming Public Education Programs:
One hour programs will feature some of our amazing non-releasable animal education ambassadors. We’ll share fun stories, teach history, and provide information on how we can help the wonderful wild animals around us!
If you or someone you know is interested in an educational program please email the center at swvawildlifecenter.edu@gmail.com.
Past Events:
Give A Hoot at the Mill Mountain Zoo will be an exciting day to celebrate Owl Awareness Day (August 4th). The zoo will have their exhibit owls on display and the Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center will be present with some of our education ambassador owls! Admission is $10 for adults and $8 for children. For more information click HERE!
August 6th, 2022
11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Double bird release at the Virginia Tech Duck Pond
Thursday, July 21st @ 4 p.m.
The Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke is very pleased to announce that we will be releasing a Mallard duck and a Canada Goose at the Virginia Tech Duckpond Gazebo. After spending a couple months with us in rehab these two have become quite good friends and will be going back home tomorrow. Director of Operations, Haley Olsen-Hodges, will be present to conduct the release and answer any questions.
July 7th 2:00 p.m.
Dublin Public Library (Free Memorial Library)
Dublin, VA
July 16th 7:00 p.m.
Claytor Lake State Park
Dublin, VA
More info
June 18th 7:00 p.m.
Claytor Lake State Park
Dublin, VA
More info
June 6th, 10:00 a.m.
Christiansburg Library
Christiansburg, VA
June 6th, 2:00 p.m.
Meadowbrook Library
Shawsville, VA
June 7th, 10:00 a.m.
Blacksburg Library (MFRL- Library)
Blacksburg, VA
June 7th, 3:00 p.m.
Jessica Peterman Library
Floyd, VA
BOCO Wild
Saturday June 4th, 2022
9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
*We will be presenting 3 times, for 20 minutes each, on the main stage at 10:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m., and 12:00 p.m.
We will be present with some of our wonderful Education Ambassadors! Previously known as the Botetourt Fishing Carnival, BOCO WILD will encompass a diverse array of outdoor interests— all are welcome to explore a wide range of activities including our historically popular community tradition of fishing instruction, as well as wildlife education, hunting safety, hiking, river activities, boating education and so much more.
Mother’s Day Barnes & Noble Book Fair
May 2nd – 8th, 2022
Use ID# 12623310 with all purchases at any Barnes & Noble nationwide and we’ll receive 5% of the total sales for that week.
“Breakfast, it’s for the birds”
Saturday May 7th, 2022
8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Many of our ambassadors will be present for breakfast in the cafe area at Barnes & Noble at Tanglewood Mall.
April 20th, 2022
12:00 a.m. – 11:59 p.m.
GIVE Roanoke is our annual 24 hour giving day campaign. However, EARLY GIVING is now open!!!
Click here to make a difference for wildlife.
Barred Owl Release
Tuesday, April 19th, 2022 @ 7 p.m.
Journeys End at the Roanoke County Explore Park
Eastern Screech Owl Release
Friday, February 18th @ 5:45 p.m.
Eastern Elementary/Middle School (EEMS)
September 28th, 2021
Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign is underway!
Click HERE to donate (only Virginia state employees may donate)
Photos with Santa & Mrs. Claus
December 4th, 2021
10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Sign up HERE!
ONLINE AUCTION!
October 29th – November 13th
Click HERE to start bidding!
October 23rd, 2021
Come to the Explore Park and learn some interesting facts about these fascinating and somewhat mysterious birds of prey. Find out which owls live in Roanoke County and how to identify them by sight and sound. Learn how and why they raise their young in the winter. Discover the secrets of these intriguing birds and dissect an owl pellet to learn even more! Children must be accompanied by a paid, registered adult.
Roanoke County Parks Explore Park, 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
October 16th, 2021
Adventure Saturday @ The Explore Park
-We will be part of Adventure Saturday in the nature activities section with a program called “Trees, and the animals that use them.”
Roanoke County Parks Explore Park , 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
October 13th, 2021
Pita Pit Fundraiser (they’ll be donating a percentage of their takeout sales to Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center)
301 S. Jefferson Street from 4 p.m. – 8 p.m.
September 25th, 2021
This one hour program will feature 2-3 of Southwest Virginia’s Wildlife Center’s non-releasable animal ambassadors who will share stories, natural history, and information on how we can help the wild animals around us. Event will be held on the patio. Weather permitting. Space is limited. Register online.
Register HERE!
2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
September 26th @ 12 p.m.
Kroger Community Fundraiser
September 16th, 2021
American Kestrel and Green Heron Release
Wasena Park @ 3 p.m.
September 10th, 2021
Eastern Screech Owl Release
Mill Mountain Park overlook @ 6:00 p.m.
This Eastern Screech Owl was found as a baby lying on the ground covered in flies. After a couple months of rehabilitation with us it is ready to released to finally begin its life in the wild.
September 11th, 2021 (Saturday)
Fundraiser: West End Cruise In
1917 Chapman Ave S.W. Roanoke, VA 24016
10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
(rain date September 12th, 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.)
September 8th, 2021 (Wednesday)
Pints With A Purpose @ Parkway Brewing
739 Kessler Mill Rd, Salem, VA 24153
5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Saltys Lobster Co will also be there and donating $1 from every Lobster roll sold!
September 9th, 2021
Canada Goose Release @ Virginia Tech
This Canada Goose was originally found stuck in VT’s drone cage having sustained a few injuries to the wings and legs. After a few months in rehab with us it is ready to be free once more.
Release will take place at the Virginia Tech Duck Pond near the gazebo at 4:30 p.m.
Haley Olsen-Hodges, staff naturalist and Virginia Tech Senior, will be on conducting the release.
August 18th, 2021
Chillin’ Shaved Ice will be donating 10% of sales and 100% of their tips. They are located at 1318 Riverland Road, SE, Roanoke 24014
August 13th, 2021
Red-tailed Hawk Release at Fishburn Park at 3 p.m.
Sabrina Garvin, executive director, and Samantha Cline, senior staff, will be on hand to conduct the release and to answer questions.
August 10th, 2021
Samantha Cline, a member of our senior staff, will be releasing a Barred Owl at 7 p.m. The release will take place by the pond near what used to be Ballast Point Brewery
July 23rd, 2021
Tails and Tales Educational Program
Big Island Branch of Bedford County Libraries, 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Registration is open click here .
July 16th
Downtown Roanoke 5 p.m. – 9 p.m. Live music, beer/wine for sale, food truck onsite, and proceeds help the wildlife center.
June 19th, 2021
Forest Branch of Bedford County Libraries – Event is full!
June 18th
Downtown Roanoke 5 p.m. – 9 p.m. Live music, beer/wine for sale, food truck onsite, and proceeds help the wildlife center.
March 2nd, 2021
Red-tailed Hawk Release
We will be conducting a release of a Red-tailed Hawk in Danville, VA at 3:45 p.m at 900 Northmont Blvd at the Johnson Shelter (park). Kaitlyn Rankin will be present to conduct the release.
December 4th, 2020
Great Horned Owl Release – Salem, VA
This release was done by Sabrina Garvin.
Past Events:
We will be releasing a Great Horned Owl at the lower Pandapas Pond parking lot this Friday October 30th, 2020 at 5pm. The patient was found by Beth Lohman of Blacksburg, VA on September 12th, 2020 and was captured with the assistance of Dr. Greg Daniel, professor of Radiology at the Virginia Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine. Kaityln Rankin, a member of our staff, will be conducting the release. Kaityln recently graduated from Virginia Tech with a degree in Biology and a concentration in Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior.
We are releasing a Red-Tailed Hawk Saturday October 24th, 2020 at 12pm at Fishburn Park in Roanoke, VA. Timiah Palmer will be conducting the release and Sabrina Garvin, Executive Director, will be on site.
We are also releasing a second Red-Tailed Hawk Saturday October 24th at 3pm at 716 Blue Grass Trail, Newport, VA 24128. Haley Olsen-Hodges will be conducting the release.
5985 Coleman Road, Roanoke, VA 24018
1-540-798-9836
swvawildlifecenter@gmail.com