Wildlife Rescue League

Wildlife Rescue League's goals are to increase the number of permitted wildlife rehabilitators in the region by offering incentives and providing rehabilitation opportunities as well as training and education. WRL is standardizing it's training in an effort to recruit additional helpline and transporter volunteers to handle the large volume of calls the Wildlife Helpline receives every year. WRL has recognized the need to establish a wildlife center in Northern Virginia and is taking steps to secure a location and funding to realize that endeavor.

WRL is making an effort to recruit wildlife rehabilitators by designing a new brochure specifically to target people who enjoy wildlife and nature, and is contacting the veterinary industry to promote the importance of working with wildlife to conserve species. WRL is offering to provide starter supplies to new rehabilitators as well as reimbursements for vaccines that are required for rabies vector species such as bats and foxes. WRL is working on securing a location to establish a centralized facilitity to triage and stabilize wildlife that is brought in by the public, animal shelters and animal control officers.

WRL has been in the wildlife rehabilitation industry for 38 years and networks with area veterinarians, wildlife rehabilitators, nature centers and park systems and wildlife centers. We will use those relationships as well as undertake a capital campaign to raise funds to establish a wildlife center.

WRL received 8,400 calls to the Wildlife Helpline and successfully referred animals to area rehabilitators and veternary partners. WRL has recruited 130 volunteers and is continuing recruitment efforts. Funding and assets increased in 2021, and a part-time consultant was identified to assist with additional efforts for 2022. We have also located two potential opportunities to secure a location for a wildlife center.