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AERO Animal Education and Rescue Organization

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United States
Gainesville, VA
AERO Animal Education and Rescue Organization

We are an organization dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and release of native wildlife
(1)

08/31/2026

🐰 We got to watch something pretty special unfold right in our own backyard.

Recently, a cottontail nest was discovered on the property of A.E.R.O.’s founder, Olivia — after the family dog had found it first and disturbed the nest. Naturally, everyone immediately worried: Would mom come back?

It gave us the perfect opportunity to document what actually happens.

We repaired the nest as best we could, placed a laundry basket over it with an opening large enough for mom to come and go, and kept the dog confined to the other side of the yard. Then we set up a wildlife camera and waited.

And mom came back almost immediately. ❤️

Not only did she return, she got right to work repairing her nest and caring for her babies. Over the next week and a half, our camera captured her returning to feed them while the babies grew bigger and more independent.

And then, in our final footage... an empty nest. 🥹🐰 They had grown up and headed out into the world exactly as they were supposed to.

This was such a special little story to document, but it also demonstrates something we tell people ALL THE TIME:

A disturbed bunny nest does not automatically mean an abandoned bunny nest!

Mother cottontails are incredibly devoted, but they intentionally spend very little time at their nests to avoid attracting predators. Even after a dog, lawn mower, or person accidentally disturbs a nest, mom may very well return if she's given the opportunity.

Repair the nest. Keep pets away. Give mom a chance. 💚

Sometimes the best wildlife rescue is simply helping a family stay together.

08/29/2026

“So… how are they going to learn to climb trees if there aren’t any trees in their pre-release enclosure?” 🤔

The raccoons:

🌳🦝💨

Yeah… apparently nobody has to teach a raccoon how to raccoon. 😂

After months of growing, learning, wilding up, and preparing for independence, these guys are finally back where they belong. And judging by their tree-climbing skills, they seem to have the whole “being a wild raccoon” thing figured out just fine.

Some things you practice.

Some things you’re just born knowing.

Way to go, little trash pandas. ❤️🦝🌳

08/28/2026

🎉 A HUGE Milestone for A.E.R.O.! 🎉

This morning, we received some pretty exciting news — our 50th volunteer of the year officially received their wildlife rehabilitation license! That brings A.E.R.O. to 117 active volunteers, with 50 team members now licensed through the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, with some of our rehabilitators also holding federal wildlife rehabilitation permits.

When we look at the chart showing everyone who now makes up A.E.R.O., it's pretty incredible to see how much this organization has grown. 💚

And we're not just focused on growing our numbers. We've worked hard to build an entire support system around our rehabbers and volunteers — including a comprehensive training curriculum, hands-on education, resources and tools, a volunteer portal, mentorship, and a network of people who can help one another.

Wildlife rehabilitation is hard work. Our goal is to make becoming and staying a rehabilitator a little easier, while ultimately providing better, faster, and more knowledgeable assistance to the public and the wildlife that needs us.

Fifty licensed team members. 117 active volunteers. Thousands of animals and members of the public helped along the way.

We're incredibly proud of what this team has built — and we're nowhere near finished! 🎉🐢🐿️🦝🦉

Want to help us keep growing and supporting wildlife throughout Northern Virginia? Join us at our upcoming Annual Cocktail Fundraiser! Every ticket helps support the programs, supplies, training, and resources that make this work possible.

🥂 Get your tickets here:
https://aeroanimalrescue.org/annual-event/

Thank you to every volunteer, caregiver, rehabber, transporter, educator, donor, and supporter who has helped us get here. This milestone belongs to all of you. 💚

08/27/2026

🐣 Baby Bird Season Isn’t Over Yet! 🐣

Some things may finally be slowing down around A.E.R.O., but apparently no one told the baby birds! 😂 They are STILL pouring in.

The good news is that many of the baby birds people find don’t actually need to come into rehabilitation. Depending on their age, they may be perfectly healthy fledglings learning how to navigate the world while mom and dad continue caring for them nearby.

Before you scoop up a baby bird, take a few minutes to figure out whether it truly needs help. A little information can prevent a perfectly healthy baby from being accidentally “kidnapped” from its parents!

Our website walks you through what to look for, when to intervene, and when it’s best to leave that little bird exactly where it is:

🐦 A.E.R.O. Baby Bird Guide:
https://aeroanimalrescue.org/found/babybird/

When in doubt, reach out before intervening. Keeping babies with their parents whenever possible is always our first choice! 💚

08/25/2026

👏 A HUGE Round of Applause for Jonathan! 🦝

We have to take a moment to recognize Jonathan for the incredible work he did for his Eagle Scout project benefiting A.E.R.O.!

Jonathan took on the project of building raccoon hide boxes for our rehabbers, and the timing couldn't be better. As our raccoons get bigger and we head into release season, these boxes give them important places to hide, sleep, and feel secure while they're living in their outdoor enclosures and preparing for life back in the wild.

But Jonathan didn't stop at building the boxes. He also took the initiative to do a considerable amount of fundraising on his own to help support the project and make it happen! From start to finish, Jonathan truly took charge. He was organized, communicative, prompt, and incredibly responsible throughout the entire process. We wish everyone made projects this easy! 😂

Check out the photos of all his hard work, and please help us give Jonathan a BIG round of applause for an Eagle Scout project very well done! 👏👏👏 You can also check out the photos of our raccoons promptly knocking over the boxes, hiding food in them, and making them home.

Thank you, Jonathan, for choosing to support A.E.R.O. and our wildlife. These boxes will be put to very good use by a lot of little masked faces! 🦝💚

08/23/2026

📣 A Quick A.E.R.O. Intake Update

Our rehabbers are working hard to play catch-up after an incredibly busy stretch of baby season. Because of that, we’ll be operating with limited intake availability and may be slower than usual responding to calls and messages over the next few days.

If you need help with wildlife, please be patient with us and consider reaching out to multiple licensed rehabilitators in your area, as we may not be able to accommodate every animal right away.

Our team is feeding babies, cleaning cages, administering medications, preparing animals for release, and trying to catch up on everything that comes along with a very busy summer!

We’re hoping to get caught up soon and appreciate everyone’s patience and understanding while our rehabbers get a little breathing room. 💚

08/19/2026

🪤 There’s More to a Glue Trap Rescue Than You Might Think

A lot of people don’t realize just how much work — and how many supplies — go into safely removing an animal from a glue trap.

A quick Google search might tell you to grab some olive oil and start working, but unfortunately, real-life glue trap cases are rarely that simple. This is especially true with mammals and delicate songbirds, where feathers, fur, skin, feet, and wings can become completely coated in incredibly strong adhesive.

These rescues take time, patience, specialized supplies, and almost always, follow-up rehabilitation before an animal is ready to return to the wild.

That’s why we want to give a HUGE thank you to the Animal Welfare League of Arlington! ❤️

After sending several glue-trapped wildlife patients our way, they recognized just how much our rehabbers were going through to care for these animals and generously supplied our team with giant bottles of adhesive remover spray so our rehabbers could each have their own.

It may seem like a small thing, but it makes a BIG difference.

We talk a lot about how traumatic and cruel glue traps can be for wildlife, but there’s another side people don’t always see: these cases can also be expensive for the rehabilitators who have to purchase all of the supplies necessary to safely get these animals unstuck, cleaned up, stabilized, and eventually back into the wild. Having another animal welfare organization recognize that need and step in to help means so much to us.

Thank you, Animal Welfare League of Arlington, for supporting not only the wildlife coming through our doors, but the rehabbers working hard to save them. 💚

And as always, if you can avoid using glue traps altogether, please do. Wildlife will thank you!

08/17/2026

🐿️ Just When We Thought Baby Season Was Winding Down... 🐿️

Here comes the second wave of baby squirrels and Opossums! 😂

Just when we start thinking we might be getting ahead, the squirrel calls start pouring in again. Between our newest squirrel babies, baby opossums, and songbirds that are still making their way into care, things at A.E.R.O. are staying VERY busy!

But thankfully, while new babies are coming through the door, some of our older patients are getting ready to head out of it. ❤️

We're already planning our next round of releases, including our growing baby raccoons and some of our older opossums who will soon be heading back into the wild where they belong!

That's wildlife rehabilitation for you—feed the babies, grow the babies, release the big kids... and make room for the next group. 😂

There is ALWAYS something happening at A.E.R.O., and we wouldn't have it any other way. 💚

08/16/2026

☀️🦔 A Little Stompy Appreciation Post! 💚

This time of year, we're working hard to keep everyone growing, healthy, and moving toward that all-important RELEASE DAY!!! Between feedings, cleaning, medications, and moving animals through the different stages of rehabilitation, the days stay pretty busy!

So we wanted to take a moment to highlight one of our favorite animal advocates — Stompy!!!

Stompy may not be heading toward a release of her own, but she plays an important role in helping us teach the public about animals, responsible pet ownership, and why our native wildlife belongs in the wild and why pets don't!

And when she's off duty? Stompy is living her best life. 😂 She LOVES her daily lettuce treats, soaking up the heat, and spending as much time as possible outside in the sunshine.

Believe it or not, even a summer rainstorm doesn't deter her. She'll happily march right out of her house into the rain like it's no big deal at all!

Thanks for always being one of A.E.R.O.'s cutest—and most opinionated—animal advocates, Stompy. We love you! 💚☀️🌿

07/31/2026

📣 A.E.R.O. Travel Notice 📣

From July 31 through August 8, several members of our team will be out of town, so A.E.R.O. will be operating with a skeleton crew. We are still open and responding, but please expect slower response times than usual while our remaining volunteers keep things running.

🦉 If you have a wildlife emergency:
• Please contact Blue Ridge Wildlife Center at (540) 837-9000.
• You can also use the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources’ Find a Licensed Wildlife Rehabilitator page to locate the closest licensed rehabber in your area: https://dwr.virginia.gov/wildlife/injured/rehabilitators/

📱 You’re always welcome to send us a text, and we’ll get back to you as soon as we’re able. We truly appreciate your patience and understanding while our team works through a busy wildlife season with limited staffing.

*cute Opossum just for show*

Thank you for your continued support of A.E.R.O. and the wildlife we care for! ❤️🦊🐢🦉

Address

Gainesville, VA

Opening Hours

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

Telephone

+17034930554

Website

http://aeroanimalrescue.org/

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