Latest news with #SouthwestVirginiaWildlifeCenter
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center rehabilitating bobcat kitten
ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR) — The Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center has received its first bobcat kitten of the year, and just the third in the past three years. It was picked up in Floyd on May 21, after it was discovered near its mother, who had been hit and killed by a car. 'Luckily, he did get away from that incident and he has no major injuries,' said Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center volunteer coordinator Catherine McGrath. 'The vets have looked over him and he's in fantastic health. All he's going to need as we raise him are a couple vaccinations.' The center is working to rehabilitate him and is targeting a spring 2026 release date. 'He's going to be here for a very long time because that's how long it's going to take him to essentially grow up and be large enough to survive while in the wild,' said McGrath. Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center receives first-ever rare Eastern Spotted Skunk He has to be fed a specialized formula every two-to-three hours, and staff have to wear full protective gear when interacting with him because of how susceptible big cats are to COVID-19. Staff members are also working hard to avoid having the animal bond with them, a process they say would complicate things upon its release back into the wild. 'Because the bobcat is going to take about a half a year to ween, that's a lot of interaction with people and not a lot of interaction with another of his own species,' said McGrath. 'So, what we want to do is mitigate him associating us with food and care.' She also said the Center is actively looking for another bobcat kitten in need of rehabilitation so that the two can grow up as a pair. 'You never want to raise any sort of baby alone,' said McGrath. 'You want to raise them in pairs because that reduces the risk of habituation.' The whole rehab process is an expensive one, and the Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center says it is looking for some assistance in the form of donations. 'By the time we're getting him ready for release, he's eating four times more than the average house cat,' said McGrath. 'And when you add that up to a year of that sort of care, that is thousands of dollars of specialized food for him.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Smith Mountain Lake Gives kicks off its 4th giving day, with hopes of raising over $200,000
SMITH MOUNTAIN LAKE, Va. (WFXR) – The 4th annual Smith Mountain Lake Gives is underway. It's a fully online giving day to support nonprofits in Franklin, Bedford, and surrounding areas. With over 30 nonprofits, SML Gives is aiming to raise over $200,000 this year. One way you can give this year is to our furry friends through the Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center. It treats thousands of threatened and endangered species each year. Covering the Commonwealth from Harrisonburg to the North Carolina border, completely for free. 'A lot of rehab costs, to get food, medicine, some medical equipment like a fundus camera. Capio-graph which reads CO2 for patients. We need some specialized medical equipment. We're also going to use it for facility maintenance,' said Chester Leonard, the center executive director, 'A lot of our animals around here do quite a number on our enclosures, so they require constant around the clock maintenance to make sure they're receiving the highest possible quality care.' You can also give to the Southern Virginia Child Advocacy Center, a completely free program that supports children who have faced abuse. The director tells WFXR the center worries about some federal cuts and says financial support has dropped over the past five years. Smith Mountain Lake fundraiser to support ecosystem and wildlife She says the donations would go to ensure every child that walks in feels supported and empowered to heal. 'When you have a kid on site, you're going to want to make sure that you have electricity, that you have a bathroom with running water, that you have the paper products and soaps to support good, clean hygiene,' said Joyce Moran, the executive officer/director of the advocacy center, 'It's a matter of making sure that we have the supplies to write the court reports on or the internet to run for, you know, run the forensic interviews.' Leonard says every dollar counts- so no matter how much you give- these organizations will be grateful. 'We need your support, but also other nonprofits in SML Gives that need help too. It's a wonderful day of giving and it helps all the struggling nonprofits right now,' said Leonard. The SML Givesmission statement states that since it covers mostly rural communities, nonprofits play a vital role in addressing the challenges they face, andthe event is a call to action for the community it loves. You can click here to learn more and donate. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
American mink recovers from injury at Virginia Wildlife Center
ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR) – For the first time in five years, since 2019, the Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center is caring for an American Mink. The mink was brought to the center on February 27 with limited mobility, including one functional arm and two immobile legs. It has since been receiving round-the-clock care, including anti-inflammatories, pain medication, and laser therapy to help reduce the swelling. Although the healing process is slow, there are signs of progress. Due to treatment, the mink is now starting to get movement back in all limbs. 'Hoo' goes there? Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center releasing Eastern Screech Owl The cause behind the injuries is unknown; however, the center believes the trauma is related to a vehicle collision. The severity of the injuries is believed to be from a spinal trauma that caused swelling and pressure on the spinal cord and nerve that left the mink with temporary paralysis. Minks are known to be solitary, nocturnal, and semi-aquatic, with a diverse diet of insects, rodents, fish, crustaceans, amphibians, and birds. Meet 'Cosmos,' Wildlife Center of Virginia reveals ambassador Opossums new name They are great swimmers and have webbed feet, which allow them to dive up to 17 feet. They can also stay underwater for several minutes. Their species are likely to be found in wetlands, including rivers, ponds, and streams, which is why intake at the center is rare. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
