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SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA WILDLIFE CENTER

Neighbors file appeal after court rules in favor of SWVA Wildlife Center

ROANOKE, Va. – After the Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center and the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors won favor of the court in a second lawsuit brought by neighboring property owners, a motion to reconsider has been filed. Neighbors Blain Creasy, Adrian Maver and Stan and Jane Seymour made the appeal to the Supreme Court of Virginia. Without it, the birds are taken two hours away to the Wildlife Center of Virginia in Waynesboro. AdAttorneys for the Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center said an appeal was expected. AdIn response, the Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center has filed a countersuit against Creasy, Maver and the Seymours alleging conspiracy to injure the nonprofit in reputation, trade, business, and profession.

Spring fever? Animals feel it, too! Baby season begins at SWVA Wildlife Center

ROANOKE, Va. – Spring begins Saturday and while many of us are ready to get out and about, animals are feeling spring fever too, especially those who have wintered indoors while recovering at the Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center. The center is at the start of what Executive Director Sabrina Garvin calls their ‘baby season,’ the center’s busiest time of year. AdThe seasonal euphoria of spring spreads quickly at the wildlife center. It’s that magic moment Garvin describes that keeps center volunteers and staff passionate about the work they do. Follow the Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center for more photos and videos of new patients and success stories.

Court rules in favor of SWVA Wildlife Center in case brought by neighbors

ROANOKE, Va. – The Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center wins favor of the court in a second lawsuit brought by neighboring property owners. The Circuit Court of Roanoke County again ruled in favor of the Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center Wednesday in the lawsuit related to a Special Use Permit to build an aviary to rehabilitate large birds. Gilbert Law, PC, attorneys for the Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center, made the announcement via Facebook Friday. The announcement states “although the pending case could be appealed, the Supreme Court of Virginia held on November 2, 2020 that the neighbors failed to prove standing in the first case and refused to hear the appeal.”In total, neighbors have filed three lawsuits against the SWVA Wildlife Center. Litigation has been ongoing since 2018.

Local 10-year-old turns birthday parade into charity fundraiser

SALEM – A local 10-year-old chose to give gifts instead of receiving them this year for his birthday. For his birthday he wanted to take up donations for the Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center, and the community certainly showed up. A number of vehicles drove through his birthday parade and dropped off donations the center needed. 10-year-old Gabe asked for donations instead of presents for his birthday parade. AdThe wildlife warriors, a local group that supports the SWVA Wildlife Center also gave Gabe a gift of his own.

Instead of gifts, Salem boy asks for donations to local wildlife center for his birthday

SALEM, Va. – Instead of receiving gifts, a soon-to-be 10-year-old is going to be the one giving out presents this year to a good cause. They safely scooped the bird up in a bucket and took it to the Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center in Roanoke, where staff were able to help it fly again. Now instead of gifts for himself, this year for his birthday he’s asking for donations to help other animals like Toby at the center. They’re asking you to purchase a gift from the SWVA wildlife center needs list. Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke Wish List:

Injured owl ready to fly again thanks to Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center

DANVILLE, Va. – An injured owl rescued by a firefighter along the Dan River is nearly ready to fly again, thanks to the Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center. The barred owl will be released back into the wild on Saturday, near where it was found in Danville. The owl was found by a Danville firefighter hanging upside down entangled in some fishing line and injured its leg in the process. Wildlife center staff member Madison Burnette, who helped rehabilitate the owl, says it took nearly two months for it to heal. “In the end, the ends justify the means, when we get him out to where he belongs.”Burnette said the wildlife center planned to release the owl New Year’s Day, but weather pushed back their plans.

Roanoke Valley SPCA raises nearly $25,000 for Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center

ROANOKE, Va. – A local wildlife center, that’s usually the one to swoop in and save the day, is now the one getting rescued by another animal-loving nonprofit. The Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke relies on donations to take care of the hundreds of animals they work to save each year. The Roanoke Valley SPCA stepped in and helped them take their silent auction online and they raised $23,000. “It’s really heartwarming to see,” said Sabrina Garvin, Executive Director of the Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center. The center has 200 more patients compared to this time last year, so the donation will go a long way.

Missing animal found after break-in at SWVA Wildlife Center

Roanoke An animal that went missing after a break-in at the Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center has been found. The Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke shared an update on their Facebook page on Thursday night. The juvenile squirrel went missing after someone vandalized its outdoor cage, among others. (SWVA Wildlife Center of Roanoke)Good news! Were pretty positive weve recovered the patient that went missing after last weeks break in.

Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center says someone cut security cameras, broke into facility

ROANOKE COUNTY, Va. – A local wildlife rescue center says someone broke into their facility, cut their security cameras and defaced their property on Friday night. The Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke shared an update on their Facebook page on Monday night. According to the center, someone broke onto their property and cut their security cameras. The center also said an animal that was recovering in a cage is now missing after the cage was disturbed. They’re asking anyone with information to call the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries at 1-800-237-5712.

Roanoke wildlife center temporarily halts accepting new animals

ROANOKE, Va. – A Roanoke wildlife center is not be accepting new animals for a few days, although it could be longer than that. The Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center announced on Saturday afternoon that it would, “pause intaking new patients for a few days, perhaps even beyond that.”The organization cited a few reasons for what it called a “difficult decision”:Working with a skeleton crewSeeing more animals than the previous yearThe strain of the coronavirus pandemic on the center’s resourcesOngoing lawsuits preventing the center from having suitable caging to quicken our turnaround time for patients“... in blunt honesty, we are all killing ourselves trying to save everything. We are all completely overwhelmed both each individually and as an organization,” the center posted to Facebook. While no new animals will be admitted, animals already in the center’s care will continue to be treated. “We’re sick to our stomachs that we even had to consider doing this – this is the first time in our history that we’ve had to do something like this and we feel ashamed.”

‘They’re basically on death’s door’: SWVA Wildlife Center helping animals during severe weather

ROANOKE, Va. – Heavy rain and cold temperatures can mean deadly conditions for wild animals in southwest Virginia. A local rescue center wants to give them a second chance at life. The Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke has been taking in a lot of animals with hypothermia, including beavers, groundhogs, and birds that have been drenched with heavy rain that’s hit the region. A groundhog gets medical care at the Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center after it suffered from hypothermia. (WSLS)“They’re coming in cold, hypothermic and they’re basically on death’s door,” said Hayley Olsen-Hodges, a staff naturalist at the center.

Judge once again dismisses neighbor’s case against Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center

ROANOKE, Va. – Legal battles continue for a local wildlife rescue center. For the second time, a judge is dismissing a neighbor’s case against the Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke. That neighbor, Stan Seymour, has now filed with the Supreme Court to overturn the judge’s decision. The center has also filed a lawsuit for conspiracy, basically alleging that their neighbors are trying to bring them financial harm by filing these lawsuits. This is their attempt at getting the money back that they spent defending themselves in legal fees, which is upwards of $85,000.

Bear-y strange: SWVA Wildlife Center caring for cubs found in cooler

ROANOKE, Va. – Some bear cubs are receiving help thanks to a local wildlife center. The Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center spent all Monday night caring for three cubs brought in from Willis, Virginia, after a woman found them in a cooler a man was carrying as he walked down the road. On Tuesday morning, the trio was transferred to the wildlife center in Waynesboro where they’ll stay until they’re ready to be released. They had to have subcutaneous fluids," SWVA Wildlife Rescue Center Executive Director Sabrina Garvin said. "They were already warm because I think she had put rice socks in there, so they were nice and warm.

Protesters gather at Roanoke County Bojangles' protesting owner's actions against Wildlife Center

ROANOKE COUNTY, Va. - Supporters of a local wildlife center are protesting a local businessman's restaurant. Dozens of people stood outside of the Bojangles' on Brambleton Avenue in Roanoke County on Friday night. The franchise is owned by Stan Seymour, who is one of several people involved in a lengthy legal dispute with the Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center. The Wildlife Center wants to build an aviary for large birds, but Seymour and other neighbors have challenged that plan, which has angered protesters. Just don't spend your money at Bojangles'," said Dale Thompson with Wildlife Warriors.

Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center gains legal win in bid to add aviary

ROANOKE COUNTY, Va. - The Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center has claimed a legal win as it looks to help more animals in need. In the case brought against the center, the 23rd Judicial Circuit Court of Virginia found that the petitioners in the case do not have standing. Since 2018, the center has been looking to build a raptor building to help rehabilitate large birds. The building of the aviary was challenged by Stan and Jane Seymour, as well as Adrian Maver and Blaine Creasy, who all own property near the center. The ruling against the petitioners could be challenged further by being appealed to the Supreme Court of Virginia or asking the Circuit Court to review its ruling.

Baby bird gives up food to feed nest mate with broken leg

ROANOKE, Va. - It was a rare sweet moment in nature, as a baby bird gave up its own food to feed another younger, injured bird. The Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center is caring for a nest of cedar waxwings. When one young bird is offered food, instead of eating it, it brought it over to feed an even younger bird with a broken leg. The small bird is unable to move because of his injury, but its nest mate makes sure it's getting enough to eat. Is it play behavior, letting young birds practice the skills they'll need in adulthood when they raise their own babies?