Wildlife Center to host tours of hospital

In a five-day open-to-the-public event, The Wildlife Center of Virginia announced plans Monday to host weekend open houses starting March 7.

“As a hospital we’re not generally open [to] the public,” said Randy Huwa, vice president of the center. “The open house is a chance for a behind-the-scenes tour.”

Tour groups with as many as 50 people will get to see all the different animals treated at the hospital, Huwa said. Those include the four-legged, two-legged and even no-legged snakes, he said.

The center admitted more than 2,500 animals in 2009, Huwa said the most since 2004.

During the hourlong tours, people will watch videos, see animals, talk to Wildlife Center employees and examine the case studies of resident animals, Huwa said.

“We are a wildlife hospital, we are an emergency room,” he said. “We treat sick, orphaned and injured animals from all across Virginia, from bald eagles to black bears to chipmunks.”

The events at the wildlife hospital will be free, but on a reservation basis, Huwa said.

“This is a chance for people to come out and see what we do,” Huwa said.