Birds of prey face numerous human-caused injuries including vehicle strikes, poisoning, and electrocution. Wildlife rehabilitation plays a crucial role in their survival and welfare.
Rehabilitating raptors presents unique welfare challenges. These birds are highly sensitive to human presence and confinement causes significant stress. Handling must be minimized and skilled. Imprinting on humans during rehabilitation renders birds unreleasable, creating lifetime captive individuals. The goal of rehabilitation is always return to the wild — where the bird belongs. For raptors that cannot be released, permanent captivity in appropriate facilities with enrichment represents a welfare compromise. The widespread use of lead ammunition and rodenticides continues to generate unnecessary suffering at scale.