The storm's timing meant that many of the old-growth hardwoods that encompass the center's exhibits still had leaves left on them, which made them even more likely to break under the weight of 3 feet of wet snow.

The only major bird of prey remaining at the West Virginia Wildlife Center is the facility's bald eagle. Center superintendent Gene Thorn said the eagle cannot fly; if it had, it would have escaped like 12 other birds that flew away after their cages were torn open by falling trees during October's superstorm Sandy.

The wild turkeys' pen also sustained significant storm damage, but the center's two turkeys didn't wander away.

Snow and branches collapsed the steel structure that holds the raccoon cage's roof aloft. Almost all the center's enclosures will need to repaired to some extent.

Because European wild boars aren't particularly agile, they weren't able to escape even when the front fence to their enclosure was mashed by a falling treetop.

Quick action by the center's staff kept all of the large predators from escaping. The wolf pen sustained only minor damage, but the mountain lion and black bear enclosures took heavy hits.