Case Studies from a Wildlife ER

Presented by: Jennifer Riley, DVM / Jessica Andersen

This lecture is now virtual. You will receive details via email after you register. 

Join our Director of Veterinary Services and our Rehabilitation Manager as they share some of our most interesting cases from this past year!  This presentation may contain images of wounds and surgeries, recommended for ages 16+. 

Dr. Riley is BRWC's Director of Veterinary Services. She studied Animal Science at Cornell University and attended veterinary school at Tufts University. Prior to BRWC, Dr. Riley worked at The Belize Wildlife and Referral Clinic, the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife in Sanibel, Florida, and Lion Country Safari in West Palm Beach, Florida. 

Jessica is BRWC's Rehabilitation Manager. She joined the team in 2015, after completing a year-long internship as a Senior Apprentice at the Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Sanctuary in Kendalia, Texas. Prior to that, she completed an internship at the Marine Mammal Rescue Center in California.  Jessica is a graduate of Randolph College in Lynchburg, VA, with a B.A. in Biology.  She is a Certified Wildlife Rehabilitator through the International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council.

Past lectures: 

Living with Wildlife 

Presented by: Sarah Midolo

Interested in better supporting wildlife?  Unsure where to start?  Come to our first lecture of the series to learn what proactive steps YOU can take to become a positive steward for wildlife at home and in the community. 

Sarah is BRWC's Rehabilitation Associate. She graduated from Elon University with a degree in Environmental and Ecological Sciences with minors in Biology and Geographic Information Systems (G.I.S). Prior to BRWC, Sarah worked at the Virginia Living Museum and completed a nine month wildlife rehabilitation apprenticeship with BRWC.

From Intake to Release: A Wildlife Patient's Journey

Presented by: Emily Hsieh, DVM

Learn what qualifies a wildlife patient for treatment, what their experience is like at BRWC, and what qualifies them for release—from the perspective of a Wildlife Veterinarian.

Dr. Hsieh is BRWC's Veterinary Associate. She received her undergraduate degrees in Animal Science and Graphic Design at the University of California, Davis and her veterinary studies at Western University of Health Sciences. Prior to BRWC, Dr. Hsieh externed at Wildlife Safari in Oregon, the Wildlife Center of Virginia, and the Belize Wildlife and Referral Center, and  interned at Pet Emergency and Specialty Center in San Diego and served as a relief veterinarian in Orange County.

Considerations for Choosing Wildlife Ambassadors

Presented by: Jennifer Burghoffer

Blue Ridge Wildlife Center is home to 25 non-releasable wildlife Ambassadors, many former patients whose injuries have prevented them from surviving in the wild. Come learn the rigorous process that BRWC goes through to make sure that the wild animals on our Education Team are the best animals for the job. Some of our ambassadors will be making an appearance at this lecture! 

Jennifer is BRWC's Education Manager. She is a graduate of The Ohio State University, where she studied Zoology and was a volunteer at the Columbus wildlife rescue center. Prior to joining BRWC, Jennifer interned with the Safe Haven Rescue Zoo and the Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Sanctuary in central Texas. She has been with BRWC since 2012 and is a Certified Wildlife Rehabilitator through the International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council.

Beyond the Garden: How planting native plants can help heal communities

Presented by: Dr. lara Lacher

Native plants are gaining popularity due to increased knowledge about their importance in supporting native pollinators and other wildlife. This talk will go beyond individual plants, connecting them to each other and a system of life that sustains not only native wildlife but also resources essential to healthy human communities. Attend this talk to learn about how your native plant gardens can contribute to larger conservation goals at landscape scales.

Dr. Lacher is the owner of Seven Bends Nursery LLC, a native plant nursery focusing on sustainable horticulture and ecosystem based landscaping. An advocate of native plants for nearly twenty years, Dr. Lacher brings the knowledge and experience that comes from degrees in Botany, Environmental Science and Management, and Ecology to Seven Bends Nursery and its customers. She is established in conservation and planning circles in this region through her research at the Smithsonian Institute, where she worked to connect her science to policy in order to help achieve sustainability goals.

Domestic Cat Management in Virginia:  Challenges and Opportunities

Presented by: Grant Sizemore

Domestic cats (Felis catus) can make wonderful pets but are also instinctive predators whose introduction to new environments around the globe has resulted in tremendous harm to natural systems. Furthermore, domestic cats may pose serious risks to the health and welfare of other domestic animals, wildlife, and people through the transmission of a variety of infectious parasites and diseases. Effective management of domestic cats, however, is complicated by the species’ close association with people, which often affords them privileges not experienced by other animals, even dogs. This talk will explore the ecological consequences of domestic cats that roam outdoors, review Virginia’s existing domestic cat control policies, and identify personal and legislative solutions that could be enacted to benefit cats, wildlife, and people.

Grant Sizemore has earned degrees in Zoology and Environmental Science from Miami University in Ohio and an M.S. in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation from the University of Florida. He has worked in wildlife conservation research, education, and policy for over 15 years and is a certified wildlife biologist and a member of the Virginia Chapter of The Wildlife Society. Grant is currently the Director of Invasive Species Programs at American Bird Conservancy, where he runs the Cats Indoors program. Outside of work, Grant enjoys hiking, birding, and taking care of his (indoor) cat.

Preventing Lead Poisoning in our Native Wildlife

Presented by: Jennifer Riley, DVM

Deer hunting season is gearing up in our area and we are expecting a dramatic increase in lead poisoning cases. Lead ammunition not only contaminates the meat people may ingest, it also poisons our wildlife at an alarming rate. More than 80% of the eagles and vultures that come to our hospital have dangerously high lead levels. And this percentage is far higher in the late fall/early winter (hunting season).

Celebrate National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week (October 23–29) by learning how lead ammunition impacts our wildlife, environment, hunters and their families, and recipients of venison donations—and steps we can take to prevent it!

Dr. Riley is BRWC's Director of Veterinary Services. She studied Animal Science at Cornell University and attended veterinary school at Tufts University. Prior to BRWC, Dr. Riley worked at The Belize Wildlife and Referral Clinic, the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife in Sanibel, Florida, and Lion Country Safari in West Palm Beach, Florida. 

One Health

Presented by: Jennifer Riley, DVM

November 3rd is One Health Day!  Learn about One Health, a collaborative, multisectoral, and transdisciplinary approach—working at the local, regional, national, and global levels—with the goal of achieving optimal health outcomes recognizing the interconnection between people, animals, plants, and their shared environment.  See how a One Health approach guides everything we do at BRWC and how our work helps you!

Dr. Riley is BRWC's Director of Veterinary Services. She studied Animal Science at Cornell University and attended veterinary school at Tufts University. Prior to BRWC, Dr. Riley worked at The Belize Wildlife and Referral Clinic, the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife in Sanibel, Florida, and Lion Country Safari in West Palm Beach, Florida. 

Catching Up With Bats

Presented by: Leslie Sturges

A discussion of current conservation issues facing Virginia's native bat populations, what we can do to help them, and why they need our help. We will touch on habitat loss, white nose syndrome, and other issues that challenge our beloved bats.

Leslie has been a wildlife enthusiast all her life. One of her earliest memories is feeding grass stems to a nestful of almost-weaned meadow voles she discovered in her backyard. She housed and bred snakes, turtles, lizards, frogs, and insects before becoming a zookeeper with the Smithsonian’s National Zoological Park. She left the zoo to join Montgomery County Parks as a park naturalist. In 2001, Leslie opened Bat World NOVA, a satellite rescue center of Bat World Sanctuary, so that she could pursue a lifelong love of bats. In 2011, she founded Bat Conservation & Rescue of Virginia (then known as The Save Lucy Campaign) to focus on white nose syndrome, bats native to the eastern US, youth advocacy, and conservation education through art. Over the past 20 years, she has cared for well over 1,000 bats and has maintained a colony of bats that visit schools and other venues to educate the public about bats and wildlife conservation. 

How to Become a Wildlife Rehabilitator

Presented by: Jessica Andersen

Have you ever wanted to become a wildlife rehabilitator but didn't know where to start?  Join our Rehabilitation Manager to learn about what to expect, how to apply to get your permit, and the permit conditions every Virginia Rehabilitator must understand and abide by.  

Jessica is BRWC's Rehabilitation Manager. She joined the team in 2015, after completing a year-long internship as a Senior Apprentice at the Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Sanctuary in Kendalia, Texas. Prior to that, she completed an internship at the Marine Mammal Rescue Center in California.  Jessica is a graduate of Randolph College in Lynchburg, VA, with a B.A. in Biology.  She is a Certified Wildlife Rehabilitator through the International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council.

Best Intentions Gone Wrong

Presented by: Emily Hsieh, DVM / Carly Corbin

Caring members of the public are essential to wildlife rehabilitation. They find the wild animals that need assistance and make sure they get care. Unfortunately, every year, we see more and more cases where people take it upon themselves to try and raise or rehab an animal, leading to unnecessary suffering or worse. Join us for this presentation to learn how even the most innocent seeming act can affect the chances of survival for wild patients. You may be surprised by what you don't know! 
This presentation may contain images of wounds, recommended for ages 16+.

Dr. Hsieh is BRWC's Veterinary Associate. She received her undergraduate degrees in Animal Science and Graphic Design at the University of California, Davis and her veterinary studies at Western University of Health Sciences. Prior to BRWC, Dr. Hsieh externed at Wildlife Safari in Oregon, the Wildlife Center of Virginia, and the Belize Wildlife and Referral Center, and  interned at Pet Emergency and Specialty Center in San Diego and served as a relief veterinarian in Orange County.

Carly is BRWC's Office Manager and oversees our Wildlife Emergency Hotline. Not only does Carly work with finder's to get animals into care, she also works closely with other wildlife organizations, local animal control and law enforcement, area veterinary hospitals, volunteer transporters, health departments, and more. She has seen it all!

Fireflies!

Presented by: Dr. Ariel Firebaugh

Who doesn’t love fireflies?  Many of us have fond memories of catching fireflies, or watching a magical light show on a summer evening.  But why do fireflies flash?  What do they eat?  And are fireflies disappearing?  Learn all about these fascinating insects in this talk by firefly scientist Dr. Ariel Firebaugh.

Dr. Firebaugh is the Director of Scientific Engagement at Blandy Experimental Farm, at the State Arboretum of Virginia.  As a Ph.D. student, Ariel studied the effects of light pollution on firefly behavior and ecology. During her dissertation research, she trained homeowners, many from the Virginia Master Naturalist program, to census fireflies in their own backyards. She was also a part of Blandy's family firefly festival since its inception.