On Saturday, June 27, the Central Virginia Chapter visited the Rockfish Wildlife Sanctuary in Shipman, Virginia, to learn more about the care of orphaned wild animals.
Sarah Cooperman, the RWS director, gave us a wonderful tour of the facility and showed us the many animals — ranging from turtles and snakes to opossums and vultures — being cared for by Sarah and her many volunteers.
A highlight was seeing “Rosie the Vulture,” who, because he was not around other vultures as a chick, thinks he is a human being.
Rosie the Vulture
This great tour was followed by a lunch at Three Notch’d Brewery in Nellysford, Virginia. It was a great Fulbright member outing!
Fred Borch and Sara Cooperman at Rockfish Wildlife Sanctuary on June 27, 2026
An RWS intern with a cookbook of meals for the animals
Fulbrighters listening to Sara Cooperman
John Walsh, Sara Cooperman, George Leaman, Marc Hogan and Jim Arnold
Sara Cooperman
A tortoise at Rockfish Wildlife Sanctuary
A Virginia opossum at the sanctuary