
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, May 4, 1990                   TAG: 9005040310
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B1   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: KIM SUNDERLAND NEW RIVER VALLEY BUREAU
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG                                LENGTH: Medium

WILDLIFE REFUGE TO RELOCATE

The New River Wildlife Center, which cares for sick and injured birds and wild animals, almost became extinct after receiving eviction papers in March, but the situation has changed.

Thanks to a local donation, the non-profit center serving Southwest Virginia will relocate this month.

"We're just overwhelmed and thrilled," said Rose Norris, director and founder of the center. "We were getting desperate."

During the last week of March, the center was given until May 17 to vacate the premises at a 100-acre Blacksburg farm site, owned by John and Priscilla Guynn.

Priscilla Guynn said in an earlier interview that she rented the two-story home and surrounding yard, nestled off of Prices Fork Road, on a monthly basis to Norris, but did not know about the wildlife center.

Guynn said she was bothered by certain aspects of the wildlife center which were changing the property that has been in her family for generations. She has plans to renovate.

Norris said there has been nothing done to the property that cannot be undone. She also said the Guynns knew about the center, which specializes in rehabilitating injured animals and sending them back to the wild.

"But it's their land and they have the right to do what they wish," Norris said.

The center has become extremely busy in the past three years, said Lisa Olver of Blacksburg, a board member for the center.

In the midst of a major fund-raising campaign, the center had to direct its attention to moving. Roy K. Clark, a Christiansburg resident, came to the rescue.

"I'm very interested in those people and what they're doing," said Clark, supervisor of Virginia Tech's physical plant. "I think it's a very worthy cause and I wanted to help."

Clark owns about 65 acres in Montgomery County between Riner and Pilot that are eight miles from Interstate 81. He has leased six acres to the center, which it can use to build pens, plus a newly constructed duplex.

"But they can use all of the land for as long as they wish, provided it's for wildlife purposes," Clark said.

The duplex is divided into two units and will house not only the center, but a two-bedroom apartment where Norris will live.

The center area still needs work, Norris said. She is seeking donations of a refrigerator, stove and kitchen cabinets, which are all used to store food, medicine and utensils used in treating the wildlife.

Drywall, insulation and paint work are also needed as well as installation of electrical wiring, which will cost about $2,000.

Moving begins Monday. On May 12 and 13, some 100 birds of prey and small mammals will be relocated to the new center. The following weekend, May 19 and 20, flatbed trucks are needed move the pens.

Call 961-2656 for information on how to help.

by CNB