Reader in awe of little creatures

Anna Victoria Reich
Stafford
Published: June 6, 2008

It is incredible to hear just how many “little patients” have been admitted to the Wildlife Center of Virginia, 50,000 (as of 2008) since it opened its doors in 1982. This time, life in the wild brought an admission of a loon that had suffered abrasions on both feet by having made a mistake of probably thinking a reflective surface of standing water would be deep enough to jump into and swim. The mistake took a wrong turn, which cost the loon injury to her feet and an admission to the wildlife center for treatment. Any amount of rainwater falling on shallow surfaces can cause a reflection and make “little creatures” like this loon think it is deeper. They then suffer minor injuries.

It is nice to know that the animal has been released back in the wild and hopefully has learned from its mistake. This is a great example of ways the wildlife center’s rehabilitation is helping bring back the many wild creatures of Virginia to live in their familiar habitats, free to be wild.