-By Lisa
A few months ago, we found a racer snake entangled in some plastic landscape netting in our yard, unable to move. We cut him out as best we could but couldn't remove all the netting. A call to the Wildlife Center of Virginia assured us that we should bring our slithery friend in to them, where they cut him free from the net and cleaned his minor wounds. He was promptly returned to me - in a pillow case no less - so I could release him back where we found him.
If you want proof of this little story, check out my ridiculous attempt to be an Animal Planet host on Youtube. I sound more appropriate for the Disney Channel - seriously is my voice that squeeky?? I actually recorded the video to prove to family and friends that this thing was as ginormous as I claimed.
Because of my previous good experience with the Wildlife Center, I was totally excited to attend their open house last weekend and get the behind-the-scenes scoop.
The Center has been around since 1982, treating and rehabilitating about 3,000 wild critters a year, with ultimate goal of releasing animals back to their habitat. They care for bears, raptors, squirrels, turtles, deer and anything else you would find in our neck of the woods. While release is often the result of a rescue, some animals have sustained injuries that prohibit them from living in the wild and those become education animals at the Center.
Kelly gave us a great tour of the facility and introduced us to Pignoli, one of the education owls. Pignoli had been rescued after an injury which resulted in the loss of his right eye. He is therefore not be able to hunt and sustain himself in the wild, so he is now a wildlife ambassador, educating school kids and community members about conservation.
We toured the medical center where surgeries, tests and x-rays are performed. We checked out the kitchen, which contains everything from dog kibble to a fridge full of dead mice. We wandered amongst some impressive birds in the outdoor area, which provides fresh air and a safe environment for animals who are being rehabilitated.
The center will be running several other free open house tours, on Sept. 12, Sept. 26, Oct. 10, and Oct. 17. And if you have a soft spot for the animals, consider one of their many volunteer opportunities which range from animal care to transporters who drive injured animals from the rescue site to the Center. This is a non-profit organization, which is dependent on donations of both money and time.
Oh, and one last word about wild animals. They are usually more capable than you think. Always call a wildlife center for advice before attempting to "rescue" something. They might really be better off without your goodwill, and an expert can help you determine if that animal really needs assistance.
For more from Lisa, check out www.justherejustnow.com
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