Blog

stories from the Sanctuary

A fledgling Cedar Waxwing perches on a wooden slab, looking back at the camera.

September 29, 2025

Cedar Waxwings are beautiful, spunky birds that quickly become staff favorites whenever they’re in care. We thought this month’s Critter Corner would be the perfect opportunity to share more about these spirited little masked bandits.

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A juvenile red fox kit looks down at the camera from atop a perch inside an enclosure at RWS.

September 18, 2025

Remember the adorable red fox kit we featured back in May? We’ve got an exciting update!

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August 29, 2025

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This month’s Critter Corner focuses on some extra special folks who have helped us care for 750+ critters this season. 👏

We’re highlighting our summer student interns! ❤️

Two nestling red-headed woodpeckers sit in a cloth-lined nest inside the nursery at RWS. They look up at the camera.

August 19, 2025

It’s not every day your nest gets struck by lightning. However, that’s exactly what happened to our featured patients this month: four nestling Red-headed Woodpeckers! 😮

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Four nestling Chimney Swifts peer up at the camera while hanging from an orange fleece.

August 1, 2025

We’re true Swifties at Rockfish Wildlife Sanctuary! Now, we don’t mean fans of Taylor Swift (though, admittedly, some of our staff members certainly are). We mean fans of the original swift: the Chimney Swift! 👏

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A Northern Mockingbird fledgling stands on a wooden sill with two plastic and medical tape shoes, one on each foot, to correct its foot posture.

July 15, 2025

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Our wildlife patients get only the very best when it comes to wildlife rehab haute couture. We were privileged to bear witness to a true fashion statement from Northern Mockingbird 25-514 this month!

June 24, 2025

Well, summer has certainly arrived in full force! 🥵 This month, we’re sharing how our wild neighbors keep cool on sweltering days…without popsicles.

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Two gloved hands hold up a black ratsnake. Its head sticks out of a tangled mess of black mesh garden netting.

June 12, 2025

June’s Patient of the Month came to us last Friday in quite the predicament. Meet patient 25-356, an Eastern Ratsnake who came to RWS literally tangled up in knots! 🪢

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May 30, 2025

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As birds flit to and from their nests, fox kits dash around their dens, and humans call the RWS hotline all day long, one species is taking things slow…very slow. Cumbersomely slow, in fact. We’re talking, of course, about the charming Common Snapping Turtle!

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