frequently asked questions
Animals we do NOT care for:
- Deer. Clarke County (our county) is in a Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) containment zone. For this reason, we are not able to rehabilitate fawns. Adult deer are not able to be rehabilitated ANYWHERE in the state of Virginia. Should you have an adult deer that needs care, please call your local county sheriff’s department. For fawns, please consult the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources website for possible permitted rehabilitators who may be able to take a fawn. This link shows the currently Virginia’s CWD containment zones.
- Bears. While we are not able to take bear for rehabilitation, we can take young bears in emergency situations. Once stabilized and within 24 hours, we will transfer the bear to the Wildlife Center of Virginia - the only wildlife hospital currently permitted to rehabilitate bear. Injured adult bears or bears with suspected mange, please contact your local Department of Wildlife Resources office.
- Non-native species. BRWC is unable to release back to the wild any species that is considered to be a non-native species, including naturalized species. If one of these species is brought to the Center, it will be euthanized per the permit conditions for a wildlife rehabilitator or hospital.
- Animals found Out-of-State. Per our permit conditions, birds that were found outside of Virginia must be reported to our state game department for permission to treat. It is always best to find a rehabilitator in your own state first, however, we are typically given permission to rehabilitate birds from other states when a facility could not be found in the state of origin. For mammals, reptiles or amphibians, we are not able to admit them for rehabilitation nor release back to the wild. Please call the Center (540-837-9000) for guidance. We certainly do not want to see any animal suffer. If it is injured and unable to be rehabilitated, we will ease its suffering with euthanasia.
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.
- Observe the situation from a distance. Are there any obvious injuries or bleeding?
- Note the location (exact street address/location landmarks, if possible).
- CALL a professional: Blue Ridge Wildlife Center at 540-837-9000, a licensed wildlife rehabilitator, or your local animal control
- Regardless of species, do not touch the animal directly (wear gloves, use towels, etc. to prevent injuries and the spread of disease).
- Keep the animal in a dark and quiet location.
- Do not offer food or water – especially for babies.
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.
- Is bleeding profusely/wounded
- Has been bitten by a cat or dog
- Has a broken limb or obvious asymmetry
- Has collided with a window, car, or other object
- Is experiencing respiratory distress
- Is non-responsive
Do not attempt to treat an animal's wounds yourself. Do not offer it food, water, or medicine. Doing so is illegal and may harm the animal.
If you have found a healthy or orphaned wild animal, please call us to discuss. We may refer you to other facilities or resources to allow our hospital to focus on victims of trauma or disease.
If you have a nonemergency, please use our contact form rather than calling to leave our phone lines free for emergencies.
