With the help of Wildlife Rescue League, licensed rehabilitators, the Humane Society of Fairfax County, George Mason University PhD candidates in wildlife conservation and environmental
policy, and Category IV Care providers, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors voted UNANIMOUSLY to approve the changes that were recommended to the county code that exempt individuals, organizations or veterinary clinics that are properly licensed by or permitted by an agency of the Federal Government or Commonwealth of Virginia, including, but not limited to wildlife rehabilitators and exhibitors, from its prohibition on the keeping of wildlife.
This amendment removes the previous regulation that would have shut down wildlife rehabilitators in Fairfax County. Over 250 emails supporting this board action and seven speakers presented testimony in favor of the exemption. WRL submitted written testimony and Catherine Sevcenko, one of our bird rehabilitators, provided oral testimony. Various speakers pointed out that rehabilitation takes place at no cost to the county, the public health benefits of wildlife eating harmful insects, the importance of public education and the fact that rehabilitators serve as an early warning system for environmental problems.
