Raptor Rehabilitation and Conservation in Minnesota

Minnesota contains many areas of good raptor breeding habitat. The open agricultural lands, hardwood forests, coniferous forests, wetlands and combinations of these habitats provide the diversity and productivity necessary to support many species of hawks, owls, and falcons as well as the Bald Eagle and the Osprey. Additionally, the fall and spring migrations funnel thousands of birds through the state each year, and many overwinter. The encroachment of suburban sprawl upon these habitats and exhaustive year4ong recreational use of nearly all the state results in numerous human-raptor encounters. This is particularly true in the greater Minneapolis-St. Paul area which lies near the junction of several habitat types. The dense human population interacting with the raptor population has resulted in many birds being shot, illegally trapped, and taken from nests. Game farms and commercial hunting dubs with their concentration of game species, attract raptors. Shooting and pole trapping have caused the injury or death of many birds. People seeking hawks and owls for pets may take all the birds from a nest and then, with little knowledge of, or experience in caring for, raptors, end up with undernourished, ill, or injured birds. Diseased or injured raptors are often discovered by people hiking, hunting or driving. As a result of these factors a need has existed for a program involving the conservation and rehabilitation of raptors in Minnesota. In 1971 Fuller began conducting a radio-telemetry study of various aspects of raptor ecology in Minnesota. In order to test the effects of a new transmitter design on the behavior of hawks and owls, injured birds were sought at a local zoo and state game farm. It was readily apparent that there were several sources of injured raptors but that most birds would need professional veterinary care.