All wildlife that can be returned to the wild, should be. That is the ultimate goal of the rehabilitator. Raptors should not be beholden to (wo)man. However, in some instances, fate intervenes. The raptors that live with me have come from various sources. Some have physical injuries, whether direct or indirect human persecution, that have precluded them from being returned to the wild. Some were taken as babies (eyass') and did not learn the socialization skills necessary to survive in the wild. (It takes more than just being able to kill something). And a few of the birds were captive bred for educational purposes. Captive breeding is of the utmost importance. In the event of an unthinkable catastrophy, there will be a genetically sound nucleus from which young may be properly reared and re-introduced to the wild.

All of the raptors that live with me justify their captivity, with the exception of the geriatrics. To those, I am happy to offer sanctuary. None of these creatures has asked to be brought into captivity. I believe with all my heart that it is incumbent upon the permit holder to give their birds the best quality life possible, which can be MANY years. Don't launch yourself into this lifestyle unless you are prepared to sacrifice many things. Never look back. Live your soul's desire.

A number of people have ask about castings, that "stuff" the raptors regurgitate.

Castings are very cool. They come out at about 104 degrees (body temp. of a raptor), so they are literally steaming on cold winter mornings. The regurgitation of the casting sets in motion yet another chain of events in the food chain. What has now become useless to the raptor now provides sustenance for lower organisms, like beetles and various unsundry bugs. Cool, huh? Who woodda thunk it? The fur and feathers of the prey is like fiber for us, a crucial part of their digestive system. I LOVE mashed potatoes, but I would die if I tried to live on them. In the beginning, raptors had to be sacrificed in order to determine what they had eaten, but now all the biologists have to do is find the mandibles in the castings and compare the indentions as they are slightly different between the rodent species.