The Rockfish Wildlife Sanctuary helps wild animals and their habitats thrive through a unique harmony of wildlife rehabilitation, public education, and community collaboration. 

Nestled in the foothills of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains, the Sanctuary cares for over 1,000 injured and orphaned wild animals each year with the goal of returning them to the wild once recovered. Our team of professionally licensed rehabilitators provides scientifically-informed, compassionate care for every patient, from a white-footed mouse to a Great Horned Owl. The Sanctuary sits on 20 forested acres dotted with over 50 outdoor enclosures, creating a peaceful and realistic setting for our patients to recover in. Our highly individualized approach to patient care and our authentically “wild” setting make our facility a true Sanctuary for the animals in our care. 

RWS also offers education outreach programming throughout the year to help our human neighbors forge stronger connections to our wild ones. In addition, the Sanctuary educates the next generation of conservationists through our paid summer internship program and our year-round volunteering program, providing a hands-on environment for students to gain critical patient care skills and a deeper understanding of our complex natural world.
It's this combination of animal care and public outreach that constitutes the Rockfish Wildlife Sanctuary's commitment to a vibrant, compassionate future for wildlife in Virginia and beyond.