Birds of Prey Rehabilitation

 

What to do if you find an injured raptor?


Here at the CRC, we often receive calls from people who happened to find an injured or sick bird of prey and are wondering what to do, where to put it, where to bring it, etc.

We thought we would put this information together to help people help birds of prey!

So, if you find a raptor that appears injured or sick, follow these steps:

1.    Have a jacket, blanket or towel in hand, or wear heavy gloves.

2.    Approach the bird slowly.

3.    Cover the bird with the blanket, towel or jacket and pick it up from behind by gently but firmly wrapping your hands around the body making sure to enclose the wings to the body. BEWARE OF THE TALONS (claws)! Even a week bird may attempt to defend itself.

4.    Place the bird in a sturdy cardboard box. The box should be just slightly larger than the bird, with ventilation holes and a blanket or towel on the bottom. Be mindful of damage to long tails when choosing a box. If you don't have a box you can wrap the bird in a towel or sheet as you would a baby. Have someone hold the bird while you find a large box.

5.    Contact a wildlife centre for assistance. Here are some centers that you could contact:

•    Canadian Raptor Conservancy
519-428-2637
thebirdnerd@on.aibn.com

•    Toronto Wildlife Centre
416-631-0662

•    The Owl Foundation
905-562-5986
owlmail@sympatico.ca

•    Wild Bird Clinic – University of Guelph
519-824-4120 ext 4082, 4622
weep@uoguelph.ca

•    Conservation Halton
905-336-1158
905-847-7430

•    Ontario SPCA Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre
705-534-4350
1-888-668-7722 ext 386
wildlife.midland@ospca.on.ca

6.    Keep the box in a dark, quiet, warm place free from kids, pets and any disturbance until help arrives, or until you drive the bird to the rescue centre. Do not disturb the bird once placed inside the box.

7.    Do not try to feed the bird anything or offer it water.

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