Virginia Living Museum

Fuel Discovery. Care for Wildlife.

Every day at the Virginia Living Museum, wildlife stories unfold through the care of the animals and habitats that bring Virginia’s natural world to life. From preparing specialized diets to maintaining habitats and providing enrichment, our team works behind the scenes to ensure every animal receives exceptional care.

During GiveLocal757, your support helps sustain this daily work - caring for hundreds of native species and creating meaningful encounters that inspire people of all ages to value and protect the natural world. Together, we can continue connecting our community to the wildlife that lives all around us.
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Behind every exhibit is a dedicated team of animal care professionals ensuring the health and wellbeing of the animals that call the Museum home. These daily efforts make it possible for thousands of guests each year to experience wildlife up close and develop a deeper understanding of the ecosystems around them.

Many of the animals in our care share a common story: they cannot return to the wild.

Whether due to injury, human interaction, or other circumstances, these animals would not survive on their own. At the Virginia Living Museum, they are given a second chance, receiving lifelong care while helping us educate guests about their wild counterparts.
Animals like Sarge the bobcat serve as powerful ambassadors for wildlife in our region. Through them, visitors gain a deeper understanding of the challenges native species face and the role we all play in protecting the natural world.

For many visitors, especially children, seeing these animals up close sparks a moment of realization: wildlife isn’t somewhere far away. It’s right here, sharing our neighborhoods, roads, and waterways.

And that moment of connection is where conservation begins.
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Your support through GiveLocal757 helps make those moments possible. Donations provide the resources needed for daily animal care, habitat maintenance, veterinary support, and the behind-the-scenes work that keeps the Museum thriving.

Together, we can ensure that these animals, and the stories they help us tell, continue to inspire curiosity, compassion, and conservation for generations to come.

Impact Levels
$25 — Daily Diets
Helps provide fresh fruits, vegetables, and specialized diets for Sarge and other animals in our care.
$50 — Enrichment & Wellbeing
Supports enrichment activities that keep Sarge and other animals mentally and physically stimulated.
$100 — Habitat Care
Helps maintain naturalistic habitats where animals like Sarge can thrive and guests can experience wildlife up close.
$250 — Wildlife Ambassadors
Supports animals like Sarge the bobcat, who inspire conservation through their stories.
$500 — Veterinary Support
Helps provide essential health monitoring and veterinary care for Sarge and our other resident animals.
$1,000 — Powering Discovery
Supports the daily operations that make it possible for families and students to connect with wildlife and science.

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The Virginia Living Museum inspires people to value and protect the natural world through immersive living exhibits and dynamic family experiences. Our vision is to be the most impactful discovery institution in Virginia - where science education, conservation, and curiosity come to life.

Home to hundreds of native species of Virginia plants and animals, the Museum connects people with the wildlife and ecosystems found right in their own backyard. From playful river otters and curious bobcats to delicate pollinators and towering forest habitats, every exhibit tells a story about the wild places we share.

Through these educational experiences, the Museum fosters a deeper connection between people and nature, inspiring the next generation of environmental stewards.