Blue Ridge Wildlife Center
Meet the Dedicated Staff of the BRWC
 
 
The Blue Ridge Wildlife Center is a 501(c)3 charitable organization dedicated to wildlife rescue and wildlife conservation.
  
 
Our Staff
               
  Belinda Burwell    Dr. Belinda Burwell opened the BRWC in 2004 to fill the need for wildlife rescue and stewardship in northern Virginia, a need that has grown to include West Virginia, and Maryland.  She currently serves as the Center's veterinarian and director.  
She's a graduate of Duke University with a B.S. in Zoology, and received her Veterinary Medical Degree from Tufts University where she studied Zoo and Wildlife medicine. She has been rescuing and rehabilitating wildlife since 1988 and is a Certified Wildlife Rehabilitator through the International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council.  She is also a Virginia Master Naturalist and Instructor. 
 
  Heather Sparks and Seymore  

      Heather Sparks grew up in Winchester, Va.,  and joined the Army after graduating from Handley High School. She spent 8 years in the military between active duty and the National Guard.  During that time she received her Associates of Science degree from Lord Fairfax Community College.

  
After a year in Iraq doing convey security she was able to finish college at Virginia Tech. She graduated with a BA in Wildlife Sciences and a minor in Biology. At Tech she was an active member of The Wildlife Society and was able to participate in a research project trying to determine how black bears are able to den over winter with no muscle or bone damage.  Heather started as a volunteer at the Blue Ridge Wildlife Center, became a summer intern, and then stayed on to become a full time staff member.  She is a Certified Wildlife Rehabilitator through the International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council and heads up our student intern program.  
         
  Jennifer Burghoffer and Seymore  

Jennifer Burghoffer is a graduate of The Ohio State University, where she studied Zoology.  While obtaining her degree, she became interested in wildlife rehabilitation while volunteering at the Columbus wildlife rescue center.

 
After graduation, she took an internship position with the Safe Haven Rescue Zoo, then moved on to an apprenticeship with the Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Sanctuary in central Texas. During this year-long position, Jennifer helped  with the raising and rehabilitation of some of the 5000 animals admitted to the center, gaining hands-on experience with all kinds of wildlife, from squirrels to porcupines!  After that, she accepted a position with Blue Ridge Wildlife Center as a wildlife rehabilitator.  She is also a Certified Wildlife Rehabilitator through the International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council.
 
      Andrea Donald grew up in Winchester, VA., and has always enjoyed working with animals. She is a certified dog groomer, but pursued jobs caring for a variety of different species.  
 Prior to joining the BRWC, she worked at Apple Valley Animal Hospital caring for the animals and assisting the veterinarians.   She joined the BRWC in 2012.
 
  Becky Shore with Eli   Becky Shore has worked in the wildlife education field for over 20 years. She graduated from Virginia Tech with a degree in Speech Communications and Wildlife Biology and went on to the Ross Park Zoo in New York as their Director of Education.  
In 1996 she started her own wildlife program called Wildlife Ambassadors and has been presenting wildlife programs throughout the metro area in schools and libraries and also at special venues such as Animal Planet and Smithsonian’s Discovery Museum. She has worked with a variety of animals including lynx, coatimundis, macaws and monkeys, but began focusing on Virginia's native wildlife during the last five years. This year she joins the Blue Ridge Wildlife Center to continue her passion of bringing excellent wildlife education programs to the public as our Education Program Coordinator.  Welcome Becky!  
 
 

 

 

 



"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated."   Mahatma Gandhi
 
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Email: info@BlueRidgeWildlife.org             540-837-9000           Blue Ridge Wildlife Center © Copyright 2011               All Rights Reserved