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

DATE: MONDAY, April 24, 1995                   TAG: 9504240078
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: WAYNESBORO                                LENGTH: Short

WILDLIFE CENTER SOON TO MOVE TO LARGER SITE

The Wildlife Center of Virginia, which has operated from three trailers in Weyers Cave since 1982, will move to a new $1.1 million building in Waynesboro on May 8.

``This will be the first time in 10 years we won't be on wheels,'' said Ed Clark, the center's president and director.

The hospital's size will more than triple to 5,700 square feet, making it the largest wildlife research and teaching hospital in the nation.

Clark said the hospital also will be ``the leading facility of its type in North America, if not the world'' in terms of equipment and staff.

The administrative offices will be moved Saturday. The hospital itself, including about 150 animal patients, will be moved the following weekend.

A bear cub, squirrels, rabbits, baby groundhogs, snakes and turtles, four eagles, about 20 hawks and other injured wild animals will be transported in small carriers by vans to their new home. The animals have suffered a variety of injuries, including pesticide poisonings and being hit by cars.

The 13-member staff will include two veterinarians and two veterinary technicians.

The hospital is on more than 7 acres donated by Waynesboro's DuPont plant. The tract abuts the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests. The cages for the animals will be on national forest land.

The wooden cages will include a 184-foot flight cage constructed of lattice and electric power poles.

by CNB