Blog

stories from the Sanctuary

January 29, 2026

Ahhh, the classic snow day: slow mornings, cozy movies, hot cocoa, and…trudging through the woods carrying a basket of squirrel meals!? 🤔

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December 17, 2025

When winter settles in, most of us humans do too. We enjoy lots of soup, cozier evenings, and perhaps a bit more couch time than usual. Our wild neighbors adapt accordingly. For many of the critters that don’t migrate south for the season, winter means totally powering down.

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Yellow-bellied Slider education ambassador on CBS19

November 7, 2025

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They say slow and steady wins the race, but this critter is typically the fastest to greet visitors at Rockfish Wildlife Sanctuary. Meet our new Yellow-bellied Slider education ambassador! 💛

October 29, 2025

They’re little. They’re furry. They’re social butterflies. They’re pest-control pros. Above all, they’re misunderstood. They’re bats, and it’s their special week! 🦇

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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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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! ❤️

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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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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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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