Richmond Wildlife Center

Found an upside down nest on my driveway. Inside, a hatchling (robin / oriole). Unable to move much - he (?) just kept squirming inside his nest.The condescension by these wild life experts was annoying and insulting.Of course I turned the nest back - right side up, Stepped away and waited 2 hours to see if the parents came to the rescue. None did. And calling a Wildlife rescue center for an abandoned robin ? It sounded as if their priority was for the exotic and endangered birds.It has been a learning experience, I had to eventually turn to YouTube to find the necessary and pertinent information. I hate being talked down to by the experts.Release date keeps getting pushed back - He is very active and healthy.Has learned to pick insects and look for food on the ground. .========EDITI belatedly realized it was not you, but another wildlife expert who responded to my spouse. Apologies.

You’re looking at reviews for Richmond Wildlife Center for a reason. If it’s to wonder whether you should donate to them, I’m about to tell you what you need to know. Please read this whole thing.9 years ago I found a groundhog that was hit on a road by the airport, unconscious but barely alive. Somehow safely got it into my car. On the recommendation of a veterinarian, I brought it to RWC. They not only knew HOW to save a groundhog, and how to safely amputate an eye that was injured, but then they reached out to me asking if I vaguely remember where I got him, and when I told them I not only remembered where, but that I’d meet them there, Melissa was excited saying “Really?!” Because she knew if she was off by 500’, then the rehabilitated groundhog would not have found it’s home. After showing her, she determined it was too close to the main road, and instead of doing the easy thing, and arguably the right-but-not-best thing, Melissa’s conscience immediately decides she’s going to spend time, find someone with some acreage so it can live out the rest of its life in peace and safety.THIS IS WHAT MELISSA AND RICHMOND WILDLIFE CENTER DID FOR JUST THIS ONE ANIMAL. Compound this story, times likely thousands of animals. The only ones who know how much she’s helping is herself (Melissa), their volunteers, and the animals.I’ve since brought in a Canadian goose that I found injured on the side of the road, a small bird that hit a window, and I think another one or two.All RWC does is save animals. If this is what you want to accomplish with your donation, then please proceed knowing this is the right place.Thank you for reading. And please donate now, while you’re still reading this, so you don’t forget. They really stretch every dollar for the benefit of the animals.

A private wildlife Rehaber (VA Dept of Wild Life Resourses) which you recommended told me that I need a Fed Lic. to care for the robin I rescued and I need to now take him to my vet and have it" euthanized. Amazing !! I'm now trying to teach him to feed himself. But he keeps coming back home for food.Heads up to anyone who finds wild life in need. Most wildlife rehab resources are too busy to help

Worst Experience possible.I saved a bat and took it here for them to save its life. The bat had a broken wing and behaved totally normal and was just scared. Then I made $50 donation for my appreciation of them helping.They turn this rescue into a complete nightmare. They manipulated me into saying if the bat had been touched with bare hands. Then they proceeded to tell me the bat was going to be decapitated and sent off for rabies testing because he had been touched. If all of that wasn't bad enough, then we get calls from the health department trying to force us to take lengthy and expensive rabies tests at our own expense. Of course we refused and said that was ridiculous. So their response to that is to have to police department call us and they have told us they are coming to our house for a statement and god knows what else.At the end of the day, I tried to save this poor animals life who clearly suffered from no more than a broken wing. This turned into an interrogation and they killed the poor bat for no goddamn reason so they could cut off his head and test his brain matter for rabies. NEVER TAKE AN ANIMAL HERE. ALL THEY WILL DO IS KILL IT. It is more expensive to save them than to kill them. I am sick to my stomach from this nightmare and feel horrible for having taken the poor animal to this death trap. Now were possibly facing litigation over refusing a 4 stage rabies vaccination.

They do everything they can to save critters great and small. In addition to that, their work is inspiring and educational. It is a wildlife hospital and it has opened up my eyes to how much work is involved in healing animals. These folks rely solely on donations and it is worth every bit of it. :)

I called this rehab center for advice after finding a baby Mockingbird. I received a phone call after hours at that very quickly. The lady that is on the voicemail that runs it I believe was the one that called back. She was more than helpful with my situation. Was able to help the bird and really appreciated her not making me feel dumb for not knowing. Great place! With people doing great things! THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO FOR HELP OUR WILDLIFE!

I found an abandoned baby squirrel in my front yard and wasn’t sure what to do or who to call, so I did a quick google search & it led me to this wonderful organization! I made contact with whom I believe is Melissa (?) and she was super helpful in directing me with how to safely drop the animal off into her care (following all COVID-19 precautions as well) Despite not knowing what to do, the little guy seemed to be doing well and Melissa definitely saved the day. I plan on donating money when I can! They are super overworked due to them serving such a large area, so the fact that they were so prompt is amazing. 10/10, can’t say enough good about this place!

As Founder and Executive Director, Melissa is unprofessional. She criticized and was extremely condescending when we spoke. I called in for an animal AFTER doing what a normal person would do WITHOUT experience. Hence, why calling this Wildlife Center. She was nothing but rude and nasty. At the end of the day, she did not send someone to help the animal ....

The founder and director of this organization, Melissa has shown clear lapses of judgement and a total disregard for animal well-being and a willingness to misuse public resources. In a Facebook post in a Virginia Poultry group, a member shared that they had removed a baby mouse from the coop to prevent their chickens from killing it, and she posted that she had fed the young mouse overnight. In response, Melissa repeatedly taunted and abused the woman, to the point of calling the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, who were then compelled to spend their valuable time and resources to send an officer to confiscate a juvenile house mouse from someone who would rather see it alive than eaten by chickens. Her complete lack of professionalism and judgement are telling of the priorities of this organization as a whole. I would advise anyone in a wild animal rescue situation to steer well clear of this organization.

Edit: Caleb's review below does a great job of summarizing this issue. It is unacceptable that the Executive Director of an organization acts in this manner. Unfortunately all responses to these reviews are likely from the Executive Director herself, as it otherwise appears to be an all-volunteer organization.Unfortunately I saw a very disappointing Facebook thread regarding a woman who rescued a mouse interacting with Melissa, the Founder & Executive Director of Richmond Wildlife Center. It was then made clear that Melissa reported this woman for blatantly disregard(ing) our laws and taunt(ing) conservation officers"