The VBSPCA Wildlife Program is preparing for the 2009 season and will be offering a wildlife orientation to all interested Adult Volunteers. If you are not currently a VBSPCA Adult Volunteer, please contact Teresa Lamarche at outreach@vbspca.com to register as an Adult Volunteer prior to the orientation, or download and bring your completed Adult Volunteer Application and fee with you to the orientation. To learn more about the Wildlife Program and the different wildlife volunteer opportunities that are available, visit vbspcawildlife.com.
The orientation class will be held April 25, 2009 at 11am in the VBSPCA Conference Room. The following topics will be covered:
Wildlife Program Overview
Onsite Volunteering
Transporting
Referral Line Volunteering
Mammal Rehabilitation Basics
Bird Rehabilitation Basics
Some of our existing wildlife volunteers will be on hand to answer any of your questions after the orientation. Please contact Virginia Tavenner at specialprojects@vbspca.com to RSVP and for more information.
If you have found orphaned or injured wildlife and
have visited the links below to confirm that this bird or mammal needs assistance, you can contact our Wildlife Referral Line and one of our volunteers will provide you with directions to the nearest drop-off location. We do not provide pickup services.
(Due to the volume of calls received, it may be 2-4 hours before your call is returned. Please ensure that wildlife are safely secured in lined box or carrier and are kept in a warm, dark location until you receive transport instructions. Please do not provide food or water.)
Wildlife Referral Line 263-4762
What is wildlife rehabilitation?
Wildlife rehabilitation starts when someone finds orphaned, injured, or sick wildlife. The Virginia Beach SPCA Wildlife Rehabilitation Program is the largest wildlife rehabilitation organization in our area, and we continue to grow every year. We have a network of licensed wildlife rehabilitators and volunteers and are always seeking dedicated volunteers to join our program.
The first thing to do...
...if you've found a baby bird
...if you've found a baby mammal or duckling
Where to take orphaned or injured wildlife
After you have used the links above and have determined that the wildlife you have found requires assistance, you can bring it to the Virginia Beach SPCA (
Map) during shelter operating hours.
After shelter operating hours, you can call our referral line at 263-4762. One of our volunteers will return your call with the contact information of an area wildlife rehabilitator that will accept your bird or mammal. Please be aware that you will need to transport wildlife; we do not provide pick up services.
Please use precautions for personal safety. As soon as you come into possession of wildlife you should:
- Place the baby in a softly-lined covered box with ventilation.
- Place the box in a warm, dark quiet indoor location away from all humans and pets.
- Do Not attempt to give it food or water, no matter how much it begs!
- Make arrangements to transport the bird or mammal to a permitted facility or rehabilitator as soon as possible.
Our Transport Coordinator Rick, assisting during a pelican release
Photo Courtesy of DAVID B. HOLLINGSWORTH/THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
What makes our program so special?
Aside from having an outstanding core group of volunteers, The Virginia Beach SPCA boasts its very own Wildlife Treatment Room onsite at the shelter. We are very proud to be one of only a handful of shelters nationwide that have a dedicated room just for wildlife care. Having a separate, self-contained area provides a quiet, reduced-stress area for our wild patients, and streamlines their initial care and processing through the shelter before they are delivered to local rehabilitators. Since we received approximately 1,800 wildlife animals in 2006 directly at the shelter, our new room is definitely put to good use!
We have an extremely dedicated group of volunteers. Our transporters ensure that wildlife received at the shelter reach the appropriate rehabilitators for continuing care. Several of our professional rehabilitators have cared for wildlife for almost 20 years. Our volunteer wildlife rehabilitators are located throughout Hampton Roads and receive wildlife from the shelter, from other wildlife groups and animal agencies, and also directly from the public.
We offer complete training, a new comprehensive private volunteer database, and an exceptional group of fellow volunteers willing to assist new volunteers at anytime.
We strongly advocate coexistance with wildlife and work to educate and assist the community in understanding the nature of wildlife conflicts so that humane solutions can be utilized. The majority of wildlife conflicts can be resolved by addressing the cause; what is drawing wildlife in. We strongly discourage trapping and relocation. Studies have shown that both methods are ineffective in addressing problems on a long-term basis, and may even result in higher wildlife populations.
If you have found orphaned or injured wildlife, you can bring them to the Virginia Beach SPCA during operating hours. You can also contact our message line for a listing of after hour volunteers that can assist you in locating a rehabilitator that can accept wildlife. Please call 427-0070 ext 38 for more information.
We have worked with local businesses and municipalities in helping them address nuisance wildlife. We have begun developing a humane waterfowl management program with the City of Virginia Beach, and recently worked with the City to develop and implement zoning regulations to allow wildlife rehabilitation activities in the city.
As our region continues to grow, we hope to continue to assist the citizens and the wildlife of Hampton Roads with the resources to coexist.
