Did you know?

Perhaps you’ve never really considered what happens to wildlife babies when their mothers are killed…

The sad truth is that many die a slow death of starvation. Without their mother’s care they are not fed or kept warm, and are left vulnerable to being preyed upon by other animals.

A few lucky ones are found by humans who want to help. That’s where we come in. Valley Wildlife Care is a network of independent, in-home wildlife rehabilitators. We are trained in the care of Virginia’s orphaned and injured wildlife. We raise orphans and give medical care to injured adult wildlife. We also educate the public about the best ways for them to live in harmony with nature.

We are there to step in and help because it’s illegal for the general public to keep wildlife. By doing this, we keep the public safe, (from animal-borne diseases, parasites and other possible dangers) while providing the proper care for the animals. Then we release them back to the wild, where they belong.

How do we do this?
We are required to have a minimum of two years’ training as an apprentice and continuing education yearly. Per State and Federal regulations, we must get rabies pre-exposure shots to work with Rabies Vector Species (raccoons, fox, bats, skunks and groundhogs). We must provide proper food and shelter for the animals in our care with the goal of releasing back to the wild.

We are not paid to do this work – we’re not reimbursed by the State or Federal government. All costs come out of our own pockets – and it does get costly. We purchase species-specific milk replacement formulas. We must provide foods typical to what the animals would eat in the wild. This includes hard nuts, vegetables, fruits and even meats (for carnivores).

We provide housing appropriate for each species (some species’ living quarters can only be used for that species and not shared with others). Cages range in sizes from small neonatal to meduim to large as the animal grows. They finally reach the large pre-release housing. Some animals require specialty areas (such as digging areas for under-ground dwellers; or high fencing for jumpers). The costs mount rapidly, typically in the thousands each year.

Why do we do this?

We do this for the love of the animals. With our skills, we find fulfillment in helping helpless creatures. We also want our children and their children to enjoy the wildlife in the future.

Humans moving into what was once wildlife habitat drive the animals out of their homes. This causes inadvertent damage to wildlife populations. Conflicts arise when these animals try to relocate (sometimes into human’s homes). This is where we also help – teaching you how to avoid or reverse conflicts in humane ways.

How can you help?

We need your help now more than ever. Every year we receive more and more animals that need our help. The economy is putting the pinch on our resources. It makes it harder for us to help all the animals that we would like to. We must turn to you for help.

We accept donations, both monetary and in the form of supplies. Please consider us when you want to make a difference for wildlife. Your donations are tax-deductible!