How wildlife rehabilitators care for injured raptors and what welfare-centred raptor rehabilitation looks like.
Raptor rehabilitation requires understanding animals with extremely acute stress responses to human presence. Unlike some wildlife species that can habituate to handling, many raptors — particularly eagles and falcons — maintain high physiological stress responses throughout their rehabilitation period. Minimising handling time, using appropriate coverings to reduce visual stimulation, and housing birds in quiet areas are all important welfare provisions. The goal of rehabilitation is return to the wild, which means maintaining appropriate fear of humans while allowing sufficient recovery for survival. Welfare during rehabilitation and welfare in the wild post-release are both important dimensions of the rehabilitation mission.