Publications
Wildlife Guide
Does this animal need help?
Learn when an animal needs to be rescued or when it should be left alone
Volunteer Spotlight – Grace Holden and Pam Fulmer
Meet Grace Holden & Pam Fulmer, WRL’s longest-serving volunteers. Their 50+ years of dedication help save and protect Virginia wildlife.
Keep Your Cats Inside to Save Wildlife
Feral cats and outdoor pets threaten native birds. Keep cats indoors to protect Virginia wildlife and keep them safe.
Summer and Reading Go Hand in Hand
Discover four inspiring 2025 wildlife-themed books perfect for summer reading, from heartfelt animal memoirs to practical gardening guides that deepen your connection with nature
Volunteer Spotlight – Billy Rios
Meet Billy Rios, a dedicated Wildlife Rescue League volunteer who specializes in raptor rehabilitation, responds to all wildlife calls, and has spent over a decade rescuing and releasing injured birds back into the wild
Sweet Summertime, and the Livin’s Easy… Unless You’re a Wild Animal, That is!
Help local wildlife beat the summer heat by providing water, planting natives, preventing litter, and checking your lawn before you mow.
Helpline Volunteer Dream Come True
Helpline Volunteer Dream Come True I can’t say how many times as a helpline volunteer, I received a call from someone who was concerned that a fox had babies under their deck or shed. I believe I convinced many of those callers to leave the family alone and enjoy the...
Rare Otter Pup Rescue
A rare baby river otter rescue in Fairfax County highlights the quick action of WRL volunteers and rehabilitators working together to save the helpless pup and give him a second chance at life.
Wildlife Rescue League Announces Holly Hazard as Co-Chair of its “Putting Down Roots” Capital Campaign
FALLS CHURCH, VA — Wildlife Rescue League (WRL) is thrilled to announce that Holly Hazard, a lifelong animal rights advocate and Virginia leader, will serve as co-chair of its Putting Down Roots capital campaign — a transformative effort to build its first-ever...
Wildlife Rescue League, the Northern Virginia Bird Alliance, Dark Sky NOVA and Dark Sky Friends Team Up
Wildlife Rescue League, the Northern Virginia Bird Alliance, Dark Sky NOVA and Dark Sky Friends Team Up Wildlife Rescue League is pleased to announce our collaboration with the Northern Virginia Bird Alliance (formally Audubon Society of Northern Virginia), Dark Sky...
Wildlife Rescue League Announces Rachel Feeney as Chair of their Putting Down Roots Capital Campaign
FALLS CHURCH, VA—Wildlife Rescue League is pleased to announce Rachel Feeney as the Chair of its capital campaign, Putting Down Roots. The campaign aims to raise $1,671,675 to construct WRL’s first-ever Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of Northern Virginia. The Putting...
Teamwork Saves Injured Great Egret
Teamwork Saves Injured Great Egret Last summer on July 2, Leena McCluney, a birder who was birdwatching at a pond in South Riding, witnessed a Great Egret being attacked by a Snapping Turtle. The egret was able to escape and dragged itself to an interior shore of the...
The Fox and the Hound
A dog plays a star role in this real-life story of a fox rescue. One of our recent rescues puts a different spin on the old tale of the Fox and the Hound. It was a spring day when a couple in Fauquier County became a part of a fox rescue, all thanks to the instincts...
Eva’s Story
We all know surviving in nature can be a tough ordeal, but is it possible to be tougher than nature? In little Eva’s case, it certainly is! In early May, the young Virginia opossum was found running down Eva Drive in Port Royal, VA, and brought to rehabber Karen Brace...
The Hidden Dangers and Effects of Feeding Wildlife
The Hidden Dangers and Effects of Feeding Wildlife: A Call for Responsible Interaction The allure of engaging with wildlife is tempting to many. Most people who feed wildlife think they are helping out, but in reality, they could be harming the very animals they love....
How To Safely Get Rid of Wildlife in Your Attic
Discovering wild animals making a home in your attic can be startling, but it's crucial to handle the situation with care, especially if there are babies involved. Whether it's raccoons, squirrels, bats, or other critters, evicting them from your attic can be done...
Helping to Re-Nest Chimney Swifts
If you don’t have a chimney, you may not have noticed our acrobatic avian visitors, the chimney swift. These birds, often described as a cigar with wings, spend most of their lives in motion, eating and drinking on the wing. Individuals can fly up to 500 miles each...
Does this Bird Need Help?
We all know that spring brings baby birds, and they are one of the most common baby animals people find. Before you try to rescue one, you should first identify whether it is a nestling or fledgling. This difference doesn't just concern the bird’s age and appearance,...
Help Highway Hawks this Winter
When you’re driving on the highway this winter, don’t forget to look up (only if you’re a passenger, of course!) Chances are you will see at least one hawk perched above the highway, deadly still and hyper focused. Of Virginia’s seven different types of hawks, the...
The Lucky Bald Eagle of Alexandria
On a summer day in June 2023, Morgan Jones was enjoying watching the wildlife from his back deck in Alexandria, Va., which is in the Mount Vernon area of Fairfax County. He’d grown accustomed to seeing a pair of bald eagles as they raised their chicks in a nest along...
Netting is Dangerous to Wildlife
Netting, often used for various purposes such as fishing, sports, or gardening, has become a serious threat to wildlife. While nets serve many human needs, their consequences on the environment and animal life are often overlooked. One of the primary dangers...
Squirrel Story
‘Twas a month before Christmas, and there on the ground Was a small baby squirrel, and good thing he was found! In mid-November, a good Samaritan in Alexandria, VA spotted a very young eastern gray squirrel, maybe only a week old, curled up on the ground. They quickly...
Balloons and Doves for Parties can have Serious Consequences for Animals
When you think of major life events and celebrations, you might think you need balloons, right? What you might not realize is that helium balloons released to the sky cause thousands of wild animals and birds to suffer and die needlessly. When helium balloons are...
How You Can Help Ruby-throated Hummingbirds Thrive This Spring and Summer
A hummingbird hovers above a blooming flower, his red-throat patch shining bright like rubies. He zips and zags. Upwards. Backwards. To the side. Around a tree. Preening his emerald-green feathers amongst the fragrant blossoms, his wings nearly translucent beneath the...
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...
Snake and turtle released into the wild by Wildlife Rescue League rehabilitators
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.
