Progress toward The Raptor Sanctuary (TRS) continues, and thanks to early supporters we are already one tenth of the way toward funding our first enclosure. Our first goal is to build a dedicated sanctuary habitat for non-releasable birds of prey – a project estimated at $10,000 USD.
This enclosure will allow us to provide long-term care for raptors who cannot return to the wild but still deserve space, safety, and a high quality of life.
A recent arrival shows exactly why this project is so important. Our newest patient is a Black-and-white Owl that was admitted with head trauma and a wing fracture. After weeks of care and rehabilitation, his wing has healed well and he is now flying strongly again – a wonderful recovery.
Unfortunately, the impact left him without his left eye.
Vision is extremely important for birds of prey, but raptors also have remarkable hearing and spatial awareness. Owls in particular rely heavily on sound, allowing them to locate prey and navigate their surroundings even in darkness. With time, some birds are able to compensate surprisingly well for the loss of vision in one eye.
For this owl, the next stage of rehabilitation will focus on giving him time to adjust and observing how well he can navigate, perch, and orient himself using the vision he still has along with his hearing.
This kind of long evaluation period is exactly why the Raptor Sanctuary is needed.
If he proves able to adapt fully, he may still be released. But if he cannot safely return to the wild, a purpose-built sanctuary enclosure would allow him to live safely while still flying, perching, and expressing natural behaviors.
He is not the only bird who benefits.
Our Roadside Hawk, already living permanently in sanctuary care, is another reminder that some raptors simply cannot return to the wild. A dedicated sanctuary environment would greatly improve the long-term welfare of birds like her.
Our goal for 2026 is to construct the first Raptor Sanctuary enclosure, estimated to cost $10,000 USD. Thanks to early supporters, we are already one tenth of the way toward that goal.
Every step forward brings us closer to creating a safe and enriching space for raptors who cannot return to the wild but still deserve the opportunity to live full lives.
Thank you for helping us move closer to making the Raptor Sanctuary a reality.
