stories from the Sanctuary

May 18, 2026
Wildlife rehab baby season is in full swing. With all of these critters pouring into our care, it’s been tough for our team to pick a stand-out Patient of the Month. So, we’ve got a tie for now…until you pick the winner by voting at the end!
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April 30, 2026
The wildlife patients are rolling in at RWS. As our first wave of baby squirrels is calming down, we’re quickly admitting opossums, cottontails, flying squirrels, and songbirds. Amidst the critter chaos, we’ve received a number of phone calls about injured Canada Geese.
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April 13, 2026
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This past week, we admitted 30 orphaned opossum patients in a single day! We’re also ahead of patient admission numbers compared to this same time last year by about 25%…mostly due to opossums.

March 30, 2026
With a sparkling new refrigerator here at RWS, we’re ready to take on baby season! Learn about the complex, fascinating process behind hand-feeding the hundreds of baby mammals we receive.
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March 19, 2026
To kick off baby season, we wanted to share one meaningful reunion success story from earlier this week. Meet our “Patients” of the month: an adorable litter of five Red Fox kits, who didn’t need to become patients after all. 🦊🦊🦊🦊🦊
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February 26, 2026
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As people around the world celebrated the Lunar New Year last week, one of our education ambassadors said goodbye to the Year of the Snake in the most appropriate way: by shedding his skin.

February 3, 2026
Finding the perfect Valentine’s Day gift can be tricky. We’ve got you covered at RWS! 💘 Show someone you love them with a wild gift they won’t forget. Plus, you’ll be supporting Rockfish Wildlife Sanctuary’s lifesaving animal care program in your loved one’s honor!
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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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January 15, 2026
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We’re still caring for over 50 patients this winter, including our very last admission of 2025. Meet Patient 25-871, a charming Silver-Haired Bat! 🦇
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Rockfish Wildlife Sanctuary is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. EIN 51-0498181.
Thank you for supporting our mission to help native wildlife in Virginia and beyond.