Rescue and Rehabilitation

Injured, sick and orphaned raptor are brought to the Blackland Prairie Raptor Center in a variety of ways and for a variety of reasons.  Most of the birds brought to the Center have experienced vehicle or window collisions, electrocution, gunshots, injuries from traps, lead and rodenticide poisoning, pet attacks, methane burns, and many more human-caused issues.

Our skilled and compassionate medical team – consisting of a veterinarian, rehabilitation manager, interns and volunteers – provides thorough treatment and care to more than 800 sick, injured, and orphaned raptors annually.  Of the treatable birds we receive, more than 75% are released back into the wild. 

Blackland Prairie Raptor Center has state and federal permits to receive injured birds of prey for rehabilitation. The facility is designed based on federal regulations to admit, treat and release raptors safely and as quickly as possible. Our small, but efficient Glotzbach Raptor Hospital includes an exam room, large and small bird intensive care units, an isolation room and nursery. Additionally, our medical facility includes flight cages to provide a spacious area for flight reconditioning, strength and stamina. Enclosures vary in size ranging from small, for small and baby raptors, to large, for hawks, owls and eagles.