A. Please call the Center (540-837-9000) to discuss your specific situation. Our immediate concern will be for your safety. We do admit venomous snakes for veterinary care and rehabilitation when they are injured.
It is illegal in Virginia to relocate an animal off the property on which it was found.
It is illegal to kill any snake in Virginia unless you feel the venomous snake is an imminent threat. There are several snakes that may look like a venomous snake when it really is not venomous. If you have a doubt about what type of snake you are looking at, take a picture and send it to us or the Virginia Herpetological Society for species identification.
A. If you have an animal contained and we are closed at the time, try and contact the wildlife rehabber closest to you .
Until you reach a rehabber, keep the animal in its container, in a warm, dark, quiet location away from humans, especially small children, and domestic pets.
Please do not feed or provide water to the injured animal as the animal will likely be too stressed to deal with food. Feeding the animal could cause it to aspirate or choke on that food or water.
Take the animal, in its container, to the Center and place it (within its container) in the 'afterhours enclosure’. Please fill out the paperwork with details of the situation and your full contact information.
Please do not feed or provide water to the injured animal as the animal will likely be too stressed to deal with food. Feeding the animal could cause it to aspirate or choke on that food or water.
Any cat-caught wild animal must be seen by a wildlife veterinarian as soon as possible. Domestic cats (including feral cats) are non-native predators across the United States, and cats can often leave tiny puncture wounds invisible to the untrained eye. The bacteria from their mouths and paws can get trapped in these wounds and cause a systemic infection and death.
Call us immediately if your cat (or any cat) has brought you a wild animal, safely containing that animal per the above guidelines while awaiting further instruction.
Want to help your cat and help wildlife? Keep your cat indoors. Cats live longer, happier lives when kept inside - and so do wild animals.