Publications
Wildlife Guide
Does this animal need help?
Learn when an animal needs to be rescued or when it should be left alone
A Little Bit About Skunks
As most people know, skunks are those funny, furry, white, and black mammals that can cause a stink when they are cornered or threatened. But what most don’t know, is that there’s technically twelve types of skunks: the Striped Skunk, the Hooded Skunk, the Western...
Rehabilitators, Our Unsung Heroes: Karen Brace
Meet Karen Brace, a wildlife rehabilitator and founder of Awesome ‘Possumz from Fredricksburg, VA. She lives on 12 acres at the end of a gravel road where she releases many of the squirrels, bunnies, and opossums she rehabilitates.
Volunteer Spotlight: Sara Lissabet
We are spotlight lighting long-time Wildlife Rescue League Volunteer, Sara Lissabet, who recently moved out of the country and had to retire from some of her volunteer responsibilities. Sara has always been a delight and a key member of the Wildlife Rescue League...
Crusty Bird Ailment
Wildlife centers, rehabilitators and veterinarians are searching for answers to numerous reports of sick and dying birds with swollen eyes, a crusty eye discharge and neurological signs such as unusual head bobbing and difficulty with balance.
Wildlife Laws in Virginia
You might not think so, but wildlife rescue, rehabilitation, and release are heavily regulated activities. In an effort to better educate the public on wildlife laws in Virginia, we have compiled the following set of FAQs for our readers.
Rehabilitators, Our Unsung Heroes
Read the story of Mattie Libre, a NoVa wildlife rehabilitator who works with vultures and opossums.
“Hiccup’s” Story
A strange and unfamiliar sound was coming from the back sliding glass doors in the family room of a local suburban residence. It was late in the evening and the family cat had already been brought in for the night. The scratching of nails on the glass and random...
Chimney Swifts winter in the Amazon Basin of Peru
Chimney Swifts winter in the Amazon Basin of Peru. They arrive in the continental United States in late March and are gone by early November. Nesting begins in May and can continue into August, with the female laying three to five eggs in a nest glued together with...
Baby Wildlife in Need / How to know
As the last bit of winter hangs on, many of us have already glimpsed sprigs of lavender crocus peeking out of the ground. Soon our yards and communities will be hosts for all of nature’s new arrivals. Our natural areas will be filled with baby birds, bunnies,...
Interview with wildlife photographer Don Chernoff
Don Chernoff is the winner of Wildlife Rescue League’s 2020 photo contest “Wild Neighbors”. He is the author of “Wild Washington: Amazing Wildlife in and Around Our Nation’s Capital” – an incredible photo book celebrating Northern Virginia’s wildlife.
Interview with wildlife rehabilitator Nora Missell
Nora is a wildlife rehabilitator who usually handles around 400 wildlife critters each year. She is sharing about her experiences as a rehabilitator and how Wildlife Rescue League is helping her take care of the animals in need.
Turkey Vultures – How the “Clean Up Crew” Contributes to Nature’s Balance
Turkey Vultures, or Turkey Buzzards, are called “scavengers”. Despite a generally negative attitude from humans, these birds provide numerous benefits for their ecosystems. Turkey vultures can be seen in places such as fields, suburban areas, roadsides, and even...
Baby geese – transporter tales
Spring is often associated with Easter holidays and the arrival of Springtime and with both events, our social media is filled with pictures of cute little baby ducklings and bunnies. As wildlife lovers, we shiver to think of the well meaning parents who gift these...
Lead Poisoning Continues to Threaten Bald Eagles in Northern Virginia
Bald eagles are known for their majestic beauty. Wings spread from tip to tip, soaring against a clear blue sky. They are the symbol of freedom and America’s national bird. Once nearly driven to the brink of extinction by the effects of the harmful pesticide DDT, bald...
Baby Squirrels Rescue Story
Have you wondered how WRL helps orphaned wildlife? Here is one of our rescue stories. While out walking, Jennifer came across two baby squirrels that seemed to be lost. There were lots of children around and the babies were squeaking and running up to people. She...
Meet Lou Lou the opossum
Lou Lou is a very special girl! She came to Karen Brace, of Awesome Possumz, from another rehabilitator after she was hit by a car about eight weeks ago. Her right eye is damaged, she has very little vision in the other eye, she has a broken bottom canine tooth and......
Turkey Vultures – How the “Clean Up Crew” Contributes to Nature’s Balance
Turkey Vultures, or Turkey Buzzards, are called “scavengers”. Despite a generally negative attitude from humans, these birds provide numerous benefits for their ecosystems. Turkey vultures can be seen in places such as fields, suburban areas, roadsides, and even...
Little Brown Bats
In Virginia, we are lucky to host 16 species of bats. Unfortunately, about half are either state or federally listed as threatened or endangered. One of those, the little brown bat (Myotis lucifugous), also referred to as the little brown myotis, was once the most...
Endangered Species of Bats in Virginia
Every October when Halloween comes around, frightening images of werewolves howling at the moon, black cats creeping through the night, ghosts haunting deserted corridors, and bats morphing into blood-sucking vampires often come to mind. But even when it’s not...
It Takes a Village To Rescue a Raccoon
We all know that raccoons are wicked smart. But sometimes they’re too smart for their own good. On August 8 th Jane Gailey received a call on the helpline from Cat Roberts in Fairfax. A raccoon, that frequently visits her neighborhood had gotten its head completely...
Fox Sightings During the Day: To Call or Not to Call?
An increase of fox sightings during the day in Virginia spike concern in residents. However, is their concern valid? There are two types of foxes in Virginia: red foxes (above) and gray foxes (below). According to Melissa Stanley, Executive Director and Founder of the...
The Bunny and the Warble
A local Wildlife Rehabber gets a call about a paralyzed bunny possibly hit by a car, but the cause was not what she was expecting. A woman came across a bunny in the road that was apparently injured. The bunny was alive, and the woman thinks it was hit by a car...
Ways You and Your Family Can Help Wildlife
Ways You and Your Family Can Help Wildlife Do not become a food source for wild animals. Animal populations need to be naturally balanced to their environment. Do not encourage nocturnal wildlife by leaving garbage or pet food outside or leaving shed and...
Living With Beavers
Living With Beavers -- by Erika K. Yery, licensed wildlife rehabilitator Most calls received by licensed wildlife rehabilitators regarding beavers, are usually about beaver problems. Most complaints are from new developments, such as subdivisions, townhouses, suburban...
Foxes – Red and Gray
By Erika Yery, Licensed Wildlife RehabilitatorUrban foxes are model citizens. Their good record comes from notable fox traits, foremost of which is timidity. I receive calls from homeowners worried about foxes attacking their children and cats. A fox weighing 12...
Canada Geese In Your Neighborhood
Canada Geese In Your Neighborhood Aside from its beauty, grace, and intelligence, the Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) has much to recommend it to nature lovers. At the age of two to three years, they select a mate and stay with that mate for life. If something...
The Groundhog, Our Underground Architect
The groundhog is known by several names. The most common one is the woodchuck (Marmota monax). Two long, chisel shaped, ever growing incisors indicate that the groundhog belongs to the rodent family.
The Eastern Gray Squirrel
Squirrels. You either love them or hate them. There’s not much neutrality on the subject.
The Opossum: Our Marvelous Marsupial, The Social Loner
One of nature’s most beneficial and unusual wild neighbors.
Raccoons — Facts and Fancies
The raccoon (Procyon lotor) belongs to the carnivores grouping, a group that is composed of mammals which are primarily meat eaters, although many of them also eat berries, fruit, vegetables, eggs, acorns, beech and hickory nuts, grains, grasses, and bark, if nothing else is available.
