Raptors including hawks, eagles, and owls are commonly injured by vehicles, windows, and rodenticide poisoning. Rehabilitation facilities face unique welfare challenges in caring for these highly sensitive birds.
Raptor rehabilitation requires specialized expertise because these birds are physiologically demanding patients that must maintain wild behaviors to survive release. Welfare during care includes pain management, appropriate housing to minimize human imprinting, and gradual conditioning for release. Long-term captivity of non-releasable raptors requires substantial space and enrichment.