While Wildlife Rescue League Volunteers are certainly familiar with our common species of Virginia wildlife, there are a few critters in the Old Dominion that are much more infrequently seen. For example, some of the “frequent fliers” seen here at WRL include foxes, raccoons, rabbits, crows, songbirds, turtles, and many others. However, there are also a number of species in which sightings are rare, or even once-in-a-lifetime occurrences.
The Virginia Big-Eared bat (pictured above) is a medium-sized bat that has a lifespan of 16 years on average. These bats leave their caves in late evening to eat moths and other insects. They graze over fields and pastures and the tops of trees. Conservationists estimate that there are fewer than 200,000 left in the wild due to habitat loss. In Virginia, these bats live exclusively in limestone caves. The species numbers are increasing due to limestone cave conservation, and hopefully, with continued support, they will be removed from the endangered list.
The Rusty Patched Bumble Bee is another endangered species in Virginia. These bees live in prairies, grasslands, and wooded areas, and use abandoned rodent dens for their nests. Several states, including Virginia, are using the Endangered Animal Act to protect bee habitats to hopefully improve their numbers. The Rusty Patched Bumble Bee is crucial for the environment because they survive off of pollen and nectar. While they are eating, they pollinate flowers and other plants which is a keystone function for the ecosystem. These bees have been only identified in five Virginia counties: Fauquier, Augusta, Bath, Highland and Rockingham, which is a small percentage of their previous range.
Lastly, the Shenandoah salamander is another endangered species, and this one lives only in Shenandoah National Park. These terrestrial salamanders live in higher elevation, forested areas, where fog and cool moisture create a perfect environment for them. They play several critical roles in the ecosystem, including soil aeration, decomposition, and altering soil dynamics due to burrowing for their dens and their diet of insects.
Thank you for all you do to assist in wildlife conservation! With consistent effort, we can save lives and promote habitat protections to reverse population decline.
Written by Elizabeth O’Malley
Elizabeth O’Malley is a WRL Transporter and columnist. She loves plants, pottery, and powerlifting.
