Wildlife center of Virginia admits patient No. 50,000

— Tracy Bell from press release

Published: May 28, 2008

STAFFORD — The Wildlife Center of Virginia in Waynesboro recently celebrated its 50,000th patient in history —  a common loon suffering abrasions on both feet, likely from an improper landing.

The center, known as a teaching and research hospital for wildlife and conservation medicine, took in the loon after it was discovered near the Green Valley Book Fair in Mount Crawford.

According to center officials, recent heavy rain is likely to have caused the loon’s abrasions. Common loons are water birds that nest on freshwater lakes in northernmost areas of the United States and across Canada. Loons winter in coastal marine areas near shore and inland on large lakes. Wildlife Center veterinarians believe the juvenile loon is likely a migrating bird. 

Loons, which live most of their lives on or in the water, can mistake reflective surfaces of standing water for lakes of rivers. When the birds land, they can be stunned by the impact and become stranded, according to center officials.

The discovered loon is said to have suffered minor injuries and was set for release.

The loon’s May visit falls during the center’s busiest time of the year. According to center statistics, about one-quarter of the patients the center will admit in the year arrive in May, including rabbits, opossums and birds.

“The 50,000th patient we’ve admitted represents an important milestone for the wildlife center,” said Ed Clark, president and cofounder of the center. “Yet the patients that come through the doors of our hospital clinic are really just the tip of the iceberg.  We have helped train an army of volunteer wildlife rehabilitators across Virginia who are often the ‘first responders’ in providing emergency medical care. Our ‘help-desk’ staff has answered questions and given sound advice to the thousands of individuals who call us each year.”

The Wildlife Center was founded as an emergency room and hospital for wildlife in 1982.  Among the 50,000 animals treated and cared for during the center’s 25-year history are more than 200 species of native birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians.

For more information about the wildlife center, visit wildlifecenter.org.