Sick and injured native wildlife get second chance at new hospital facility

This short-eared Owl was treated for an injured wing and returned to the wild, but not before he made the cover of The Ridgeline newsletter. Courtesy Photos/Blue Ridge Wildlife Ctr.

BOYCE – The Blue Ridge Wildlife Center’s new hospital in Boyce admitted more than 1,800 patients – mammals, reptiles and amphibians – last year, according to the veterinarian, Dr. Jennifer Riley, DVM, who attended them.

Statistical data provided in the BRWC’s most recent newsletter, The Ridgeline, indicates that Warren County produced the third highest number (186) of wildlife patients in the 22 Virginia counties served by the Clarke County animal hospital. Frederick (539) and Loudoun (385) had the highest numbers while Clarke received treatment for 161 sick or injured wild animals.

The year 2017 was the first full year of operation in the new million-dollar facility that lies just off Route 50 at 106 Island Farm Lane. The building is a short distance from the original, aged house the Center operated from for many years.

Intake at the hospital started 2017 low, 29 in both January and February, peaking at 362 in May and staying busy the summer months of June (305) and July (304) then dropping off to 50 and 62 in November and December respectively. Of the total, 50% (916) were birds, 42% (774) mammals and 8% (137) reptiles and amphibians. Injured turtle admissions (120) increased 55% over the previous year. Among 916 birds delivered for treatment, the hospital received 100 more injured raptors (220) than in 2016. Many showed signs of various degrees of lead poisoning. The cause, and suggestions what can be done about this, is another story for another time. She explained the spring/summer spike being “due to the large number of babies.”

Admittance to the hospital is not good news for all our wildlife friends: those that have a very poor prognosis are humanely euthanized to limit their suffering. However, the good news is, according to Dr. Riley, those patients which made it through the first 24 hours at the center had a survival rate of 74%. Riley points out that the center is open 365 days a year “and there are very few days we don’t receive at least one patient.”

During the winter “downtime” BRWC held its first hospital “open house” Jan. 13. Board Chair Linda Goshen described a “truly spectacular day.” Said Goshen in a Letter from the Chair, “We had planned for 200-300 people … at the end of the day, approximately 1,500 people, most unfamiliar with BRWC, had walked through the building and learned about our mission … it was a good day for wildlife, too, as more members of the community are aware of who to call when they come upon a wildlife emergency.” The hotline is (540) 837-9000.

The BRWC is a 501 (c) 3 charitable organization established to provide quality rehabilitative care to native injured and orphaned wildlife … in Northern Virginia. The center also provides environmental education programs for people of all ages.

This Virginia Opossum was treated for an ugly wound at the base of his tail. He was released, fully healed, right back where he was found.