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Virginians are lucky to enjoy four distinct seasons each year, each one reflected in the changing natural scenery. While the winters are generally mild, temperatures do dip below freezing and bring the occasional snowfall. During these months, the wildlife have many ways to adapt.
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Water makes up more than half of the human body, and nearly three-quarters of the earth itself. It’s easy to take something so ubiquitous for granted, but it is more important than ever to protect our watersheds for the good of all the life they sustain. Virginia has more than a dozen major watersheds, including the Chesapeake Bay. Each of these includes all the major tributaries that feed into them, including rivers like the James, and all of the smaller creeks and streams that feed those tributaries. -
Virginia boasts some of the most diverse landscapes in the nation, from the rocky peaks of Shenandoah to the sandy expanses of the Eastern Shore. Over centuries, as more and more humans have made themselves at home here, there have been significant changes to the land. Forests have given way to crops, paths have evolved into highways, and wetlands have been drained and filled to create neighborhoods.
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Citizen science lets members of the general public collect and analyze scientific data that is helpful to a broader research effort. In recent years, technology has made it easier than ever to crowdsource this data from everyday people.
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Predators are an important part of a healthy ecosystem. Learn how we can coexist by changing our attitudes and developing a better understanding of Predators.
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Virginia wildlife hospital treats thousands each year. Every animal comes with a lesson.Understand that the ending isn’t always happy. It’s unfortunate, but death is a part of wildlife rehabilitation. Although it’s sad when an animal doesn’t survive its experience, they can still offer information that benefits others, everywhere from the veterinary lab to the airport.
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A new season of UNTAMED will premiere on April 21.
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Working to protect natural habitats is a noble pursuit for people who love animals, but the benefits go far beyond wildlife. The natural world also does wonders for the minds and spirits of its human visitors.
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Leave No Trace aims to increase responsible enjoyment of the natural world by teaching and inspiring people to leave outdoor recreation spaces as good as we found them. It was established in response to growing problems that stemmed from human carelessness: dangerous litter, polluted water, even devastating forest fires.
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The hard work of wildlife conservation can happen in many settings. Sometimes it’s at the roadside, carefully collecting an injured animal. Or it might be in a veterinary hospital, cleaning wounds, X-raying wings or performing delicate surgeries.
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The goal of wildlife rehabilitation is to release healthy, recovered animals back to their natural habitats as fully functioning wild animals. But what happens when animals can’t be released? Sometimes, they may be suitable for a new job: an education ambassador at the Wildlife Center of Virginia.
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We’ve all seen how bottles, cans, cups, wrappers, cigarette butts and straws can accumulate along roadways and in nature. But you’re also contributing to litter when you release helium balloons at a party, or set aside some fishing line and tackle at the river. -
you can create the perfect wildlife retreat right outside your door. The trick is to create a welcoming habitat for a variety of animals, and it needs just four things: food, water, shelter and safety.
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So how does a bird get lead poisoning? It starts with hunting. When big game such as deer are shot with a lead bullet, that bullet often shatters into fragments inside the animal. If the hunter field dresses the animal, removing its entrails on the spot, many of those fragments are left behind.
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To learn more about these and other animals, have a look at the Education Animals cared for by the Wildlife Center of Virginia. Each one was treated for some kind of illness or injury, but deemed non-releasable because of lingering issues that could make it unsafe in the wild. You’ll be amazed at what these creatures have survived!
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Human and animal habitats have always overlapped, and several factors can push us even closer into each other’s space. New construction, flooded lands and unseasonal temperatures can all contribute to more active wildlife around your home. And you may have inadvertently invited some new neighbors and visitors with your own behavior.
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A new season of Untamed premieres Thursday, May 21 at 8 PM on VPM. Also watch and engage in the conversation on Facebook.
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WatchLearn what all diurnal raptors have in common as Ed and the rest of the Wildlife Center of Virginia staff introduce us to the world of hawks and falcons.
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WatchThink you're doing a good deed by feeding the ducks and geese at the park? Think again as Ed and the staff at the Wildlife Center of Virginia introduce us to the wonderful world of waterbirds.
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WatchSpring is baby season and that means the staff at the Wildlife Center of Virginia is busy taking care of injured or orphaned baby animals.
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WatchSome people don't like vultures but Ed and the Wildlife Center of Virginia staff explain the important role they play in the environment.
