Rehabilitation
Whan a raptor suffers from illness, injury or after being orphaned, our Rehab Team consisting of staff, interns and volunteers works tirelessly to return these majestic birds back into the wild as soon as possible through physical rehabilitation or re-nesting. We also connect directly with concerned residents from Idaho and Wyoming that have come across an injured raptor and aren’t sure what to do.
Most of the birds brought to Teton Raptor Center have experienced vehicle and window collisions, electrocution on powerlines, or pet attacks. Other common incidents include gunshot wounds, injuries from traps, lead and rodenticide poisoning, and many more human-caused issues.
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.