Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center’s neighbors file appeal to Virginia’s Supreme Court regarding permit to build on-site raptor facility

ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR) – The Supreme Court of Virginia will decide whether or not to hear a case that surrounds Roanoke’s Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center.

Back in March, the Circuit Court of Roanoke County ruled in favor of the Center to use a special permit to build a raptor facility for large birds of prey.

The lawsuit was brought on by neighbors who do not want the facility constructed.

The Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center argues that without the facility, rescued birds will need to be taken to another facility two hours away for rehabilitation and then brought back to be released into their original habitat which, they say, would cause unnecessary stress on the birds.