Rehabilitation
When a raptor faces illness, injury, or is orphaned, our dedicated Rehabilitation Team—including staff, interns, and volunteers—works tirelessly to restore these magnificent birds to health and release them back into the wild. Whether through physical rehabilitation or re-nesting, our goal is always to give these birds a second chance at freedom.
We also collaborate directly with concerned residents in Idaho and Wyoming who encounter injured raptors and need guidance on how to help.
The majority of birds brought to Teton Raptor Center suffer from human-caused challenges, including vehicle and window collisions, electrocution on powerlines, and pet attacks. Other common injuries stem from gunshot wounds, traps, lead and rodenticide poisoning, and similar threats.
Our Core Values for Rehabilitating Wild Birds
Rehabilitate for release
Birds are rehabilitated only when the prognosis for release is high. Birds that are returned to the wild must be able to hunt, breed, migrate, and show the appropriate fear of humans.
Value the quality of life and dignity of each patient
We ensure every animal has dignity in life and dignity in death. Birds that are not releasable and, at the end of their rehabilitation, are not suitable for education, foster-parenting, or captive breeding, have a right to euthanasia.
Maintain wildness
Being around humans is very stressful for wild animals and can be harmful as they recover. We only handle or interact with raptors in rehab when it’s completely necessary.
Research and educate
Every animal that comes to TRC is an opportunity both to learn and to teach others about its story. To aid in scientific research and avian conservation, we collect data on all birds brought into the clinic, both alive and dead. The majority of deceased raptors are sent to the University of Wyoming Museum of Vertebrates scientific study. All eagle flight feathers are sent to the National Eagle Repository, and all non-eagle flight feathers are collected and sent to the Non-eagle Feather Repository. Every animal has a purpose.
Produced, directed, edited and filmed by: Page Buono, Ariel Contreras, Fraser Jones, Sofia Martinez-Villalpando as part of the 2021 Jackson Wild Media Lab.