It’s time to look back on 2023! Check our blog between Christmas and New Year’s for a variety of stories and memories of 2023 from the staff and volunteers of the Wildlife Center of Virginia.
My most fond memories of 2023 came when I shadowed our rehabilitation and veterinary teams and watched them work with our patients. Coming from an independent school and food banking background, I had never experienced these kinds of "days at work". For the first time, I was face to face with Bald Eagles and hawks. I also held snakes, which is something that I am usually reluctant to do. In fact, this experience made me more fond of snakes, and less fearful of them in general … something I never thought that I would say. These days were very early on in my time at the Wildlife Center, and I immediately noticed how our staff took great care to note the progress of our patients and were pleased to see that the birds that we were working with looked stronger.
I spent part of one morning preparing food for several of our raptors and reptiles, and I enjoyed seeing the detail that went into weighing the correct food for their diets. I remember being so happy when the birds that I fed immediately started eating.
These experiences showed me quickly how much work goes into caring for EACH patient. Their food and exercise were two small aspects of their overall care, but our staff members were diligent in their work. Watching the "feet and feathers" inspection and count for raptor patients, which is very time-consuming but very necessary, showed how team-oriented, informed, and passionate each person is about being a part of this team. The direct treatment and rehabilitation of patients is a side of the Wildlife Center that I don’t get to see each day, but I am thrilled that I had these experiences to have a heightened understanding of the care that goes into every animal.
– Chris Aycock, Director of Development