Spring 2019
Eagles released back to Red Wing habitat
Kelly Auxier, digital communications specialist on the Advancement team at the College of Veterinary Medicine, prepares to release a juvenile bald eagle in Red Wing, Minn., on December 20.
Onward and upward
Raptors have always served as a collective barometer of ecological health, and in recent decades, the news is increasingly concerning—and sending an environmental wake-up call
Raptor Spotlight: Nero the Turkey Vulture
Since Nero was raised by people and does not have the skills required to be released back to the wild, he became an education ambassador. He has since taught thousands of people about turkey vultures and the importance of scavengers in our environment. He has been one of our main display birds since 1993
The cream of the crop
The Raptor Center staff has been teaching and learning from interns and residents since 1990. The center has had 10 residents and 16 interns.
Oh, baby!
In a typical year The Raptor Center see 120 young raptors which require TRC’s specialized care and treatment. The knowledge and experience our clinic staff and volunteers provide gives raptor babies the best chance of survival in the early and often most different months of their lives.
It takes two
The Trauma Center received two birds, three weeks apart from within a block of each other on the same road in Stearns County. The Trauma Center rarely admits two raptors from the same area in such a short period of time.
A cascade effect
Diclofenac is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) used in veterinary medicine to treat various types of inflammation. It’s also known to cause harm to vulture populations who become exposed to it through the carrion they consume.
Partnering for wildlife
The Raptor Center launched a new three-year initiative aiming to improve animal welfare in wildlife rehabilitation across all species—not just raptors. This first-of-its-kind program, called Partners for Wildlife (P4W), is being piloted in Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Washington, and Alaska.
A sooty rescue
When a Minnesota resident went to light a fire in her fireplace, the sound of a distressed bird in her chimney gave her pause. Suspecting the bird was an owl, she knew to call The Raptor Center (TRC) to perform a rescue.
Wildlife care and handling: A mission-driven minor
The 15-credit minor is delivered both in-classroom and through a field practicum. The core program of the minor includes a managed captive wildlife course, a wildlife care and handling externship, and a choice between a course in principles of conservation biology or principles in wildlife management.