Birds of prey require specialized rehabilitation care that minimizes human imprinting while supporting recovery, with welfare protocols developed over decades of specialist practice.
Raptor rehabilitation involves welfare trade-offs unique to wild animal care - minimizing human contact that impairs releasability while providing necessary treatment. Modern protocols minimize direct handling, use species-appropriate housing that allows expression of natural behaviors, and maximize time in pre-release flight conditioning. The goal is always successful release, and welfare assessments during rehabilitation focus on readiness for a return to wild conditions.