Blue Ridge Wildlife Center names new executive director

The Blue Ridge Wildlife Center (BRWC) in Clarke County continues to move forward in its new million dollar hospital and rehabilitation center and recently added to its board of directors and named a new executive director.

BRWC president Lisa Goshen and her search team didn’t have to look beyond their midst to settle on Hillary Russell Davidson of Warrenton to fill the vacancy left by the resignation of Chris Scott.  Davidson served as secretary at the center for the past three years and as a volunteer working with wildlife for seven years.

Four new members were also appointed recently to an expanded board of directors, which is comprised of residents across the region. The four are Susan Galbraith and Judy Landes from Frederick County; Russell McKelway, Clarke County; and Timothy Bates, Loudoun County. Other board members in addition to Goshen are: Beatrice von Gontard, Warren County; Mike Morency, Tricia Booker, and Patricia Robinson.

Davidson heads up a team comprising Dr. Jennifer Riley, DVM, director of wildlife services; Heather Sparks, rescue and rehabilitation manager; Jennifer Burghoffer, education manager; and Jessica Anderson, rescue and rehabilitation associate.

The new executive, Davidson, has a MBA degree from William & Mary and a Master of Computer Science from Colorado State. She is a Virginia Master Naturalist with a passion for wildlife and habitat conservation. She also has a working knowledge of raptors and other birds. She and her husband, John, have two grown children, and share their home with a number of dogs, horses and cats. Davidson also is a “permitted” caregiver of a great horned owl named Wisdom.

The Blue Ridge Wildlife Center is a 501 (c) 3 charitable organization established to provide quality rehabilitative care to native injured and orphaned wildlife. It is one of only two wildlife hospitals in the Commonwealth. It receives no funding from federal, state or local governments, depending entirely on private donations. Interns, mainly college students, work at the hospital during the busy months of spring, summer and fall.

Veterinarian Riley in the past year performed 100 surgeries while the center provided shelter for more than 1,000 injured animals, 25% of them turtles. Riley has been employed at BRWC for about two years. Among the permanent residents at the center, a bald eagle named Jefferson, with an injured wing holds a majestic place, along with a favorite (de-scented) skunk and an Arctic fox. A viewing area for visitors is under construction.

The center, at 106 Island Farm Lane, Boyce (off Rte 50), may be reached by calling (540) 837-9000.

Other two new board appointees, above Russell McKeleway of Clarke Co., and Tim Bates of Loudoun Co.