Maleena's Wildlife Rescue

Maleena's Wildlife Rescue A 501c3 wildlife rehab facility that rescues, rehabilitates & releases Virginia’s native wildlife 💕 Wildlife Rescue Facility
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05/31/2026

Oreo has snack time all figured out…if she listens out for mama Sharon while everyone else sleeps, she can get first dibs on the baby carrots and fresh mulberries.
She definitely doesn’t look like she’s missed many snacking opportunities! 😆

🌳This group will be ready for release next week🌳

There are moments in wildlife rehabilitation that the public never sees. The moments where there is no “right” answer… o...
05/27/2026

There are moments in wildlife rehabilitation that the public never sees. The moments where there is no “right” answer… only the least heartbreaking one.

Every single day, rehabbers are forced to make ethical decisions that weigh heavily on our hearts and minds. Decisions between suffering and peace. Between intervention and nature. Between hope and reality. Decisions that follow us to bed at night and replay in our heads long after everyone else has gone to sleep.

People often see the happy videos- babies playing, releases, etc. But what they don’t see are the tears shed behind closed doors. The guilt. The second guessing. The endless “what ifs.”

Did we do enough? Did we make the right call?Could we have tried something different? Why didn’t we try this..or that? Should we have let go sooner?

And sometimes the stress becomes so intense… so emotionally overwhelming… that you have to quietly step away for a moment. You find yourself sitting alone in a quiet room, in your vehicle, or in some corner of the yard just trying to collect your thoughts and get a grip on your emotions before walking back into the chaos again.

You sit there trying to steady your breathing while your mind races. Trying to hold yourself together while it feels like your world- and theirs- is crashing down around you.

And then you give yourself a pep talk. Because nobody else can do it for you in that moment.

You remind yourself that the animals still need you. That even exhausted, heartbroken, overwhelmed versions of us still matter to them. That we cannot fall apart completely because there are tiny lives depending on us to keep going.

This work constantly asks us to choose between breaking our own hearts or carrying the haunting weight of another outcome. And after enough sleepless nights, enough losses, enough impossible choices… you start to wonder why you keep putting yourself through it.

But then… a baby survives against all odds. An injured animal finally returns to the wild. A scared, suffering animal feels comfort and safety in its final moments instead of fear and pain.

And somehow, despite the heartbreak, we continue.

Not because it’s easy. Not because we are unaffected. But because the animals deserve someone willing to carry the emotional burden for them.

Wildlife rehabilitation is not just feeding babies and posting cute pictures. It is sacrifice, grief, compassion, exhaustion, and moral responsibility wrapped together into one very heavy calling.

So if you know a rehabber… be gentle. Most of us are carrying far more heartbreak than we’ll ever admit.

✨💫✨💫✨

With love & hope for a brighter tomorrow, not only for myself, but for all my fellow rehabbers,

- Sharon

This little boy fell off his finder’s roof, hitting the hard ground quite a ways down. Oddly enough, his fall “saved” hi...
05/23/2026

This little boy fell off his finder’s roof, hitting the hard ground quite a ways down. Oddly enough, his fall “saved” him. After being found, his finders decided to go up on the roof to see if any other babies might’ve been up there. They ended up finding 3 others, but sadly, they had all had passed away.

His finders immediately drove him well over an hour to me. They also took the time to respectfully give his siblings the burial they deserved.

Though his first week here on earth was rough & undeserving, I will do everything I can to make sure his future will be just the opposite.

His finders named him Rocco ❤️

Rocco is a baby raccoon, approximately 5-6 days old 🦝

Thank you Alana, Toni & Toni’s daughter, for giving little Rocco the second chance he deserves.

🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍

If you’d like to contribute to Rocco’s care:

🦝Cash App: https://cash.app/$MaleenasWLRescue
🐿️Venmo: https://venmo.com/MaleenasWildlifeRescue
🐇PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/MaleenasWLRescue
🦨 Apple Pay or Zelle: 804-366-7120
📬465 Eastern View Rd. Dunnsville, VA 22454

Baby season has officially EXPLODED here at Maleena’s Wildlife Rescue. As difficult as it is for me to say this, I will ...
05/20/2026

Baby season has officially EXPLODED here at Maleena’s Wildlife Rescue.

As difficult as it is for me to say this, I will need to temporarily close to new intakes- just for a short while. I hate having to make this decision because every single call matters to me, and every animal deserves help, but if I continue taking in more right now, I risk stretching myself too thin and compromising the care of the babies already depending on me. I’m literally working 20+ hours a day to keep up.

Another huge reason for this temporary pause is that many of these babies are growing quickly and will soon need larger cages and outdoor enclosures prepared for them. Space must constantly be rearranged, cleaned, expanded, and set up appropriately to safely accommodate their growth and developmental needs. That process alone takes an enormous amount of time and physical work, and right now I desperately need time to focus on getting those larger setups ready.

At the same time, the financial strain is becoming incredibly heavy. Formula, food, medications, vet care, electricity for incubators and cooling, laundry, gas, and everyday rescue supplies are adding up faster than I can keep up with. Monetary donations are greatly needed right now to help keep the rescue operating and these babies cared for properly during one of the busiest seasons I’ve ever faced.

I know times are hard for many people right now. Please know I don’t like getting on here begging for help as often as I do, but your support is what keeps MWR running- it’s what keep these babies cared for properly. Every donation, no matter the amount, truly helps more than most people realize.

Thank you to everyone who continues to support, donate, share posts, transport animals, send supplies, and simply understand how exhausting and emotional this work can be. Your kindness is what keeps this rescue going during the heaviest moments 🤍

I promise to post pictures of some of the babies soon!

🌺✨🌺✨🌺✨🌺

If you’d like to contribute to their care:

🦝Cash App: https://cash.app/$MaleenasWLRescue
🐿️Venmo: https://venmo.com/MaleenasWildlifeRescue
🐇PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/MaleenasWLRescue
🦨 Apple Pay or Zelle: 804-366-7120
📬465 Eastern View Rd. Dunnsville, VA 22454

Mother’s Day looks a little different for these 9 baby opossums… 💔Today, while so many were celebrating with their mothe...
05/11/2026

Mother’s Day looks a little different for these 9 baby opossums… 💔

Today, while so many were celebrating with their mothers, these babies became orphans after their mama was struck and killed by a vehicle. One moment, they had the safety and warmth of their mother… and the next, they were alone in the world.

People often don’t realize that when an opossum is hit, there may still be babies alive inside her pouch or clinging tightly to her body. Their tiny cries are easy to miss. And to some, their lives are easy to overlook.

But today, thanks to the lady who stopped to help them, these 9 little souls were given a second chance.

They are safe tonight… but their mama should still be here. Please let this be a gentle reminder to slow down and stay alert, especially during baby season. One moment of awareness can save an entire family.

And tonight, if you think of it, send a little extra love toward the wildlife mamas out there doing their best to protect their babies every single day. 🖤

🌿🌿🌿🌿🌿

If you’d like to contribute to their care:

🦝Cash App: https://cash.app/$MaleenasWLRescue
🐿️Venmo: https://venmo.com/MaleenasWildlifeRescue
🐇PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/MaleenasWLRescue

Happy Mother’s Day to every mama — whether your babies have two legs, four paws, feathers, fur, or wings. 💕Today is for ...
05/10/2026

Happy Mother’s Day to every mama — whether your babies have two legs, four paws, feathers, fur, or wings. 💕

Today is for the women who nurture with gentle hands and tired hearts… the ones who stay up late worrying, sacrifice without hesitation, and love with every piece of themselves.

To the mothers raising children, the grandmothers holding families together, the women grieving children they’ve lost, the ones longing to become mothers, and the rescuers bottle-feeding tiny orphaned lives through sleepless nights… you are seen today.

Motherhood is love in its purest form.
And the world is softer because of women like you.

Wishing you a day filled with love, peace, hugs, happy memories, and reminders of just how deeply you matter. 🌸💕

🌿🌿🌿🌿

💜💜Sending out a very special Happy Mother’s Day wish to my daughter, celebrating her first Mother’s Day ✨💜💜

Today’s intakes: 🦝🦝🐇🦝🦝These 2 poor little girls suddenly became orphans today when a piece of heavy machinery crushed th...
05/09/2026

Today’s intakes: 🦝🦝🐇

🦝🦝These 2 poor little girls suddenly became orphans today when a piece of heavy machinery crushed their mama at a job site. They were covered in fleas and scared to death at intake, but after a nice warm bath, some flea meds, and a little loving, they’re settling in for the night. Their finders named them Lillie & Rose.

🐇 This little bunny is suffering from multiple degloving(scalping) areas all over its body after being attacked by a cat. For now, she’s resting in a warm and quiet area. I caught her munching on some clover and dandelions a few minutes ago- I’m hoping that’s a good sign.

🦝Cash App: https://cash.app/$MaleenasWLRescue
🐿️Venmo: https://venmo.com/MaleenasWildlifeRescue
🐇PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/MaleenasWLRescue

Thank you to everyone who made sure all these babies got the help they needed today.

Here are just some of the donations that have come in over the last few weeks ❤️Not all are pictured as some were put aw...
05/08/2026

Here are just some of the donations that have come in over the last few weeks ❤️Not all are pictured as some were put away or used before I could take pictures.
Thank you SO MUCH to everyone that either shopped one of our online wishlists, used the donate button to donate here on FB, donated through PayPal/Venmo/Cashapp, or dropped off donations to me personally.

This is a tough time of the year. Babies are coming in nonstop around the clock, supplies are getting used faster than we can replace them, and rehabbers are running off of caffeine and very little sleep. Receiving this type of support helps to alleviate us from so much stress. I can’t say thank you enough.

Y’all never cease to amaze me. Thank you so very much 💞

Sharon

Address

465 Eastern View Road
Dunnsville, VA
22454

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 8pm
Tuesday 8am - 8pm
Wednesday 8am - 8pm
Thursday 8am - 8pm
Friday 8am - 8pm
Saturday 8am - 8pm
Sunday 8am - 8pm

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