Raptor Rescue

Raptor Rescue
May 25, 2015 Christina Mullin

I recently visited the wonderful Ojai Raptor Center, in Southern California. Raptors are really important because they maintain nature’s balance by helping control animal populations. If raptor prey such as mice, rabbits, rats and prairie dogs become too abundant, they can damage crops and lands and transmit diseases to humans, domestic livestock and pets. As with all wildlife, loss of habitat is the most significant problem facing raptors, followed by illegal shooting, trapping and poisoning.

We all benefit from helping these majestic birds.

*All photos by me except for the first one of the orphaned Great Horned Owls.

To learn more: Ojai Raptor Center

These young Great Horned Owls were raised at Ojai Raptor Center in the spring of 2013 when they were orphaned or displaced from their nest. All were released in the summer of 2013.

The Ojai Raptor Center (ORC) is a state and federally licensed 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and release of birds of prey and other wildlife, and to providing educational programs about wildlife and our shared environment.

THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT WAYS YOU CAN SUPPORT ORC, HELP PROTECT YOUR LOCAL WILDLIFE AND BIRDS OF PREY.  YOU CAN BECOME A MEMBERMAKE A DONATIONSPONSOR ONE OF OUR UNRELEASABLE AMBASSADORS, OR BOOK ONE OF OUR WILDLIFE EDUCATION PROGRAMS.

WE ARE 100% VOLUNTEER AND DONATION BASED, SO IF YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO HELP FINANCIALLY, YOU CAN GET INVOLVED AND VOLUNTEER WITH US.

Another way to take action to help save birds of prey is to educate yourself! Read about the different species of birds of prey that live in your area. Find out about how humans are impacting the natural habitats of raptors and share your knowledge! 80% of the patients we receive are admitted because of human impact, so as we say in the rehabilitation community, “more education = less rehabilitation.”

Below is a list of great links to help get you started. . .

LOS ANGELES AUDUBON SOCIETY GUIDE TO BIRD FRIENDLY TREE TRIMMING

RAPTORS ARE THE SOLUTION- WORKING TO SAVE WILDLIFE FROM RODENTICIDES

NATIONAL WILDLIFE REHABILITATORS ASSOCIATION

CALIFORNIA COUNCIL FOR WILDLIFE REHABILITATORS

THE PEREGRINE FUND

RAPTOR RESEARCH FOUNDATION

CORNELL LAB OF ORNITHOLOGY

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA RAPTOR CENTER

HAWKWATCH INTERNATIONAL 

DEFENDERS OF WILDLIFE

THINGS YOU CAN DO TO PROTECT WILDLIFE

LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

“At the ORC, we strive to both rehabilitate and release injured and orphaned birds of prey as well as develop educational outreach programs through our many appearances with our non-releasable birds of prey- our ambassadors.  Each ambassador serves as a beacon of hope as they help us educate the public on wildlife laws, environmental preservation and co-habitation with the nature around us.  I hope that you will join us in our mission to preserve our wildlife.”

-Kim Stroud