The Wildlife Center of Virginia, an internationally acclaimed teaching and research hospital for wildlife and conservation medicine located in Waynesboro, has admitted its 100,000th patient – a Northern Ring-necked Snake.
The snake was admitted on August 21 after it was found stuck on a glue trap in Staunton; the snake had likely been attracted to the glue trap by insects caught in the trap, becoming stuck itself. It wasn’t alone – two other ring-necked snakes were also found stuck on the glue trap. Sadly, the other snakes had already passed away by the time the glue trap was brought to the Center.
On admission, the veterinary team quickly and painstakingly removed the snake from the glue trap. They found that the snake was in critical condition – it was severely dehydrated, thin, and lethargic. The vet team immediately provided fluids and placed the snake on heat support in the Center’s Reptiles Room.
While the snake's prognosis is poor, the veterinary team will give the snake the best care possible, with the hope that it can recover and make it back to the wild.
The Wildlife Center was founded as a hospital for wildlife in 1982 for just these occasions – to provide emergency care for wild animals in need. Among the 100,000 animals treated and cared for during the Center’s 42-year history are more than 200 species of native birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians. This year, the Center is on another record-breaking pace for admissions, with more than 4,200 animals expected to arrive by the end of the year. This is only the second ring-necked snake admitted this year.
“Patient #100,000 is a huge milestone for our Center. We do our best to give each patient who comes in a second chance. And each patient helps us learn more about wildlife and the environment and the steps that each of us can take to help wild animals,” said Amanda Nicholson, the Center's Senior Vice President. “Our celebration is brief – we already have additional new patients coming in – a grounded hawk, a cottontail injured by a lawnmower, a bat caught by a cat.”
Staff also recognize that this milestone is not the achievement of the Center alone, but that of the entire community – concerned citizens, rescuers, transporters, and financial supporters of the Center. “We never would have made it to patient #100,000 without the incredible support of the community along the way. Our state-of-the-art care for each patient is only possible through the involvement and partnership of caring individuals, " said Connor Gillespie, the Center's Director of Outreach.