Tamarack Wildlife Rehabilitation & Education Center

Raptors

The type of birds usually considered raptors include hawks, eagles, ospreys, falcons, owls, and vultures.

Habitat: Habitat varies depending on the type of bird.

• Hawks: open country,
scrub woodlands, or wide, rocky canyons

• Eagles: mountains, foothills, and prairies

• Ospreys: widely scattered near lakes, rivers, and seacoasts

• Falcons: open country, prairies, desert, wooded streams, farmland, and urban areas

• Owls: generally prefer dense woodlands and coniferous forests

Diet: Raptors feed on small mammals such as mice, rats, and squirrels. They also eat birds, snakes, fish, and carrion of all animals.

Problem: If natural food sources are greatly reduced, hawks, falcons, and occasionally owls may take young poultry.

Solution: Enclose poultry in pens with wire or solid stops that prevent entry from above.

Problem: In urban settings, raptors will often nest on buildings or homes and prey heavily on songbirds.

Solution: Attempt to prevent nesting by using netting and other nesting guards. If this does not help, call your local wildlife agency.

Additional Notes

• Owls, hawks, and eagles will often scavenge. Sometimes the food they find is on the road. They will not leave their food, as a crow will, and thus they are often struck by vehicles.

• If you find an injured bird of prey, be very careful of its talons (claws). Be careful that you do not get injured attempting to rescue an animal.

• If a box is handy, place it over the bird and slide something flat under the box and the bird. Move the box to a safe place and put a heavy object on it so that the bird cannot knock the box over. Call a wildlife rehabilitator.

• If you are comfortable putting the box and bird in your car, place it on the floor or seat. Never put it in the trunk of a car or in the open bed of a truck. Transport the bird to the nearest rehabilitator.

• If no box is available, cover the bird with a jacket, sheet, blanket, etc.

• As you pick up the bird, make sure you grab hold of its ankles or knees.

• If the bird is an eagle, do not attempt to pick it up. Stay where you are and keep an eye on the eagle. If you have a cell phone, call someone who can call the Pennsylvania Game Commission or a wildlife rehabilitator and give your phone number and location. If you have to, use your vehicle to prevent others from hitting the eagle. Put your flashers on.

• Hawks - usually Cooper or Sharpshin hawks - sometimes fly into windows. If this happens, prepare a box by poking holes in it. Place it over the hawk and slide a flat piece of wood or cardboard under the box and bird. Tie or tape the two pieces together. Place one hand on top of the box and the other under it. Bring the box into a dark, warm, quiet place and leave it for 45 minutes. Then take the box outside and remove the tie or tape. If the hawk has recovered from the stun, it will fly up and away. If it does not, it needs help. Call a rehabilitator immediately.

• Some owls burrow (find holes to nest or rest in) and may choose your chimney. Once in a chimney, an owl cannot fly out and it may damage its wings attempting to do so. If this happens, do not light a fire. Call a wildlife rehabilitator.

• If an owl falls into hot coals, remove it as safely as possible. Use your ash shovel to scoop the owl out, then place it in a box and cover it. Call a wildlife rehabilitator immediately.

• Installing a chimney cap will prevent owls from becoming trapped in your chimney. Always have your chimney checked before installing a cap.