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Entry 04Filed under Breeding

How to Keep Yourself Safe Around an Injured Raptor

Keep your distance from an injured raptor, make the scene safe, and call a qualified local rehabilitator before attempting to move the bird.
3-minute read By Animalso Team
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Keep your distance, make sure the scene is safe, and call a qualified wildlife rehabilitator or raptor center before trying to move the bird. Raptors can injure people with their talons and beaks, and an alert bird may be harder to handle than it looks. Do not approach a bird in traffic, water, or another hazardous place; do not feed it or give it water.

First, decide whether help is needed—without approaching

A raptor on the ground is not necessarily injured: it may be eating, or a young bird may be at a normal fledgling stage. Observe from a safe distance rather than walking closer to test whether it will move. Signs that may indicate a problem include visible injury or bleeding, a drooping wing, inability to stand, or failure to move away when approached naturally. Do not crowd or provoke the bird to check its response.

Note the bird’s location, what it is doing, and any visible signs of injury. A photo taken from a safe distance may help a rehabilitator assess the situation. Keep children and pets away, and do not enter traffic, water, or other hazardous areas to reach the bird. Auburn University Raptor Center and UC Davis California Raptor Center provide guidance on recognizing when a raptor may need help: Auburn University Raptor Center and UC Davis California Raptor Center.

Call the right local professional

Contact a qualified wildlife rehabilitator or raptor center first. Tell them where the bird is, what you can see from a safe distance, how it is behaving, and whether there is an immediate hazard. Follow their directions; local services and procedures vary.

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If you cannot reach a rehabilitator, Auburn University Raptor Center lists animal control or a local game warden as possible alternatives. For a bald or golden eagle, it recommends contacting the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or the state wildlife authority. Local rules and protections differ, so use the relevant wildlife authority for your location. See Auburn’s injured-raptor guidance.

When not to attempt a rescue

Leave capture to trained responders if reaching the bird would put you in danger or if you are unsure how to handle it. The University of Minnesota’s Raptor Center specifically advises against attempting capture on a busy roadside, in water, or in another potentially dangerous location. It also cautions that large raptors need extra protection and should not be handled by someone without the necessary skill. Stay back and get professional help instead: University of Minnesota Raptor Center handling tips.

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Even with protective equipment, an alert bird can injure you. Auburn University Raptor Center notes that raptors’ sharp beaks and talons can make them difficult and dangerous to handle, and places the would-be rescuer’s safety first. Disease transmission is another reason to minimize contact. New South Wales government guidance discusses disease and care for licensed rehabilitators; it is not a public U.S. rescue protocol: NSW initial-care guidelines.

If a rehabilitator directs you to move the bird

Move it only if the professional says to do so, the setting is safe, and the task is within your ability. If any of those conditions is missing, tell the rehabilitator and wait for help from a safe distance.

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  • Use the protection the professional specifies. The University of Minnesota Raptor Center recommends safety glasses and gloves; its guidance specifies wrist-length leather gloves for small raptors and mid-arm welding gloves for medium raptors. This sizing advice is not an invitation to capture a bird on your own.
  • Follow the rehabilitator’s instructions for any temporary containment. Some guidance recommends a quiet, dark container, but the safe approach depends on the bird and circumstances.
  • Keep temporary containment brief and transfer the bird promptly to professional care.

See the University of Minnesota Raptor Center’s handling guidance for its equipment recommendations. Gloves do not remove the risks of approaching or handling an alert raptor.

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Do not feed, water, or treat the bird

Do not give food or water, medicate the bird, splint an injury, or try to rehabilitate it yourself. Arrange professional care and follow the rehabilitator’s directions about whether any temporary containment is appropriate. UC Davis, Audubon, and the University of Minnesota Raptor Center all advise against feeding or watering a found raptor: UC Davis California Raptor Center, Audubon, and The Raptor Center, University of Minnesota.

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