The Blue Ridge Wildlife Center


INFORMATION FOR BASIC STABILIZATION OF WILDLIFE HOME WILDLIFE EMERGENCIES OUR FACILITY WILDLIFE REHABILITATION VETERINARY CARE RELEASES EDUCATION PROGRAMS NEWS NEWSLETTER VOLUNTEERS MAPS CONTRIBUTE CONTACT US	VETERINARY CARE Every case that needs medical assistance creates new challenges on how to diagnose and treat a patient who can’t talk, who doesn’t want to be touched or even be approached by humans, and who instinctually tries to hide its symptoms so it won’t be recognized as weak and easy prey by a predator. We need to examine and treat our wildlife patients with minimal handling so we don’t add more disease producing stress to an already injured animal. Sometimes our patients make things more difficult by refusing to take the medication we’ve hidden in their food or by working relentlessly to remove their bandages or splints. Unlike domestic pets who can count on their owners for food and shelter, these wild animals must be able to fend for themselves when they are released from our care. Any disability that makes it difficult for them to find and catch food, or avoid predators, is reason not to release them. In spite of all these challenges we’ve had a very successful year rehabilitating a wide variety of wildlife species. ______________ Our Veterinarian, Dr. Belinda Burwell, has 23 years of experience as a pet and wildlife vet. She received her training at the National Zoo, the Tufts Wildlife Center, the Franklin Park Zoo, and the New England Aquarium. She has advanced training in emergency stabilization and critical care. ______________________	Broken wings are very common injuries and often need to be repaired surgically. It takes weeks of healing, followed by reconditioning in a flight cage before these birds can be released. Barred owl with a fractured wing due to a gunshot. At surgery pins were required to repair the fractured wing.

Ophthalmic exam by Dr. Viti at the Winchester Medical Center.	Endoscopy	Digital Radiology
Red tailed hawk that was shot through the wing, recovering after surgery to repair her fractured humerus.	Young squirrel with two broken legs after a dog attack . This squirrel regained full use of its legs and was released.	Eastern screech owl recovering after a collision with a car ruptured its eye. The eye is healing and this bird has enough vision to be released again.

Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation
Turtles that have been severely injured by cars
can receive help at the Blue Ridge Wildlife Center
and return to the wild.

Painted turtle that has been hit by a car.	In 2008, Dr. Burwell repaired the shells of 25 turtles The turtle was treated for shock, then the shell was repaired with acrylic adhesives while turtle was under anesthesia	Three months later she was ready for release.
Box turtle whose shell was severely fractured by a car. This turtle was so seriously injured she earned the nickname "Smash".	After stabilization and shell repair.	Four months (and 5 eggs) later, she is ready for release.