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People can sponsor center's animals

March 8, 2007 12:35 am

YOU CAN trace Sheri and Larry Pedersen's support for education animals at the Wildlife Center of Virginia to a possum with a taste for cat food.

The Orange County residents said it all started when a possum raided their barn for kitten kibble.

"I snapped a picture and sent it to my mother," said Sheri Pedersen.

Wanting to follow up on that interest, the couple sought to find out about a program called "Caring for Critters" at the Wildlife Center in Waynesboro.

Through the program, one or more of the 20 or so animals used in the the wildlife hospital's educational programs can be "adopted" with donations.

"For Christmas that year, we adopted a possum named Lucille in [my mother's] name," said Pedersen. "She was thrilled to get a picture of Lucille, a certificate of adoption and a handout filled with all kinds of basic information about possums."

But wait, as the popular commercial pitches, there's more.

Not long after that, the Pedersens got wind that their grandson had developed a slightly unusual fear of outdoor swimming pools.

"For some reason, he was afraid they might have possums in them," said Pedersen. "We adopted Lucille a second time, for him, thinking that the information on possums would help. So much of any fear can be a basic lack of knowledge."

It's safe to say that Lucille and the package of knowledge that came with her adoption put an end to the fear of swimming pool possums.

Ed Clark, president and co-founder of the Wildlife Center of Virginia, said the Caring For Critters program has been around for years, but has been formalized and ramped up recently.

Its purpose is simple: giving the public a way to connect, in a personal way, to the medical and educational mission of the nationally known wildlife center.

"We have people who support us in a host of different ways," said Clark, "but this program lets people feel a direct connection."

He noted that when people hear about the thousands of animals treated at the center each year, it's hard to visualize any particular animal.

"But when they adopt a red-tailed hawk named Scarlette and get her picture in the mail, along with some good information about that species and its habitat, diet and much more, it's more personal," he said.

The sponsorships range from a basic $25, six-month adoption to a $70, yearlong sponsorship that comes with a green or white T-shirt.

If possums aren't your thing, don't fret.

You can adopt a python named Monty, a tortoise named Emma, a crow named Wesley, a screech owl named Hazel, a young American bald eagle named Justus and more.

Clark said the donations go into the center's general fund to help defray expenses that range from caring for injured animals to offering wildlife education classes to thousands of students each year.

That's where Monty, Emma, Justus and the gang come in.

These animals go out to schools and other sites throughout Virginia and beyond.

For reasons that range from human imprinting to injuries to eyes, beaks or wings, they can't be released into the wild.

Randy Huwa, executive vice president at the center, said the sponsorships have proved popular with many as gifts.

"With one phone call, you can wipe out much of your shopping," he said.

He noted that school classes, like one at Brock Road Elementary in Spotsylvania, have adopted animals they use in class discussions.

Chuck Boyer, who lives in King George County, said he and his wife have purchased scholarships sponsoring a flying squirrel and an owl, and followed up by underwriting the cost of a visit by that owl and others to a local school, where their daughter-in-law was a teacher.

"The program really has such a great value, to learn about the animals and know that you're helping support the Wildlife Center," said Boyer. "It's an especially good way to get children excited about wildlife."