Teton Raptor Center

ADVANCING RAPTOR CONSERVATION THROUGH EDUCATION, RESEARCH, AND REHABILITATION.

EDUCATION: TETON RAPTOR CENTER'S EDUCATION TEAM PROVIDES PURPOSE FOR THIRTEEN NON-RELEASABLE RAPTORS THROUGH OUTREACH IN A VARIETY OF SETTINGS INCLUDING SCHOOLS, COMMUNITY EVENTS, AND PUBLIC VENUES SUCH AS LODGES AND PARKS. THESE EDUCATIONAL AND ENTERTAINING PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED FOR AUDIENCES OF ALL AGES WITH THE INTENT TO HIGHLIGHT THE IMPORTANCE OF RAPTORS WITHIN AN ECOSYSTEM, TO EXPLORE WAYS IN WHICH OUR CHOICES CAN HELP WILDLIFE, AND TO SHARE DETAILS ABOUT ALL OF THE WORK DONE BY THE 3 PILLARS OF TRC (RESEARCH, REHABILITATION, AND EDUCATION). IN FY 2021-22, TETON RAPTOR CENTER'S STAFF, WITH THE HELP OF OUR AVIAN AMBASSADORS AND A TEAM OF INCREDIBLY DEDICATED VOLUNTEERS, CONDUCTED 502 PROGRAMS FOR 19,335 PARTICIPANTS.

RESEARCH/CONSERVATION: TETON RAPTOR CENTER SUPPORTS AND LEADS ON-THE-GROUND CONSERVATION INITIATIVES TO PROTECT BIRDS OF PREY AND THEIR HABITAT. IN FY 2021-22, TRC'S STUDIES INCLUDE FIELD RESEARCH AND CONSERVATION PLANNING ON 13 DISTINCT PROJECTS ACROSS THE INTERMOUNTAIN WEST AND GREAT PLAINS, WITH ACTIVE PARTNERSHIPS WITH 21 AGENCIES AND ORGANIZATIONS. TRC'S RESEARCH TEAM FOCUSES ON DEVELOPING FUTURE ECOLOGISTS AND ACTIVELY SUPPORTED THREE GRADUATE STUDENTS THIS YEAR. IN FY 2021-22 TRC CONTINUED WORK ON SEVERAL KEY CONSERVATION INITIATIVES, INCLUDING A CONSERVATION PLANNING TOOL FOR GOLDEN EAGLES ACROSS WYOMING, THE SPORTING LEAD-FREE INITIATIVE AND CONSTRUCTION OF ARTIFICIAL NESTING STRUCTURES FOR GOLDEN EAGLES IN THE GREAT PLAINS AND FERRUGINOUS HAWKS IN WESTERN WYOMING. THE CONSERVATION TEAM DEEPENED THEIR CONNECTIONS WITH SEVERAL KEY COLLABORATORS BY ADDING SEVERAL CONSERVATION ASSOCIATES AND THEIR PROJECTS WITHIN TRC, INCLUDING A LONG-TERM GOLDEN EAGLE MONITORING PROJECT IN THE BIGHORN BASIN AND A COLLABORATIVE PROJECT TO BETTER DEFINE EAGLE AND HAWK ABUNDANCE ACROSS WYOMING. TETON RAPTOR CENTER'S PORT-O-POTTY OWL PROJECT, AIMED AT PROTECTING CAVITY-NESTING WILDLIFE FROM ENTRAPMENT IN VAULT TOILETS, HAS REACHED ALL 50 STATES, THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS AND CANADA. SINCE 2013, TRC HAS DISTRIBUTED 18,543 SCREENS TO 652 PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS AND AGENCIES. AND, OUR SPORTING LEAD-FREE INITIATIVE HAS HAD A BROAD REACH IN EDUCATING HUNTERS AND ANGLERS ABOUT ALTERNATIVES TO LEAD AMMUNITION AND TACKLE, THROUGH DEMONSTRATIONS, PODCASTS, EVENTS, AND AN INTERVIEW IN THE NEW YORK TIMES.

REHABILITATION: ALL OF TETON RAPTOR CENTER'S PROGRAMMING IS LARGELY DEPENDENT ON THE TIME AND TALENT OF VOLUNTEERS, ESPECIALLY IN THE REHABILITATION DEPARTMENT. IN FY 2021-22, TRC VOLUNTEERS DONATED A TOTAL OF 9,776 HOURS TO SUPPORT RAPTOR CONSERVATION IN THE CLINIC, IN THE FIELD, AND IN THE CLASSROOM. TETON RAPTOR CENTER OFFERS RESCUE, EMERGENCY MEDICAL TREATMENT, AND REHABILITATIVE CARE TO INJURED, ILL, AND ORPHANED BIRDS OF PREY IN AN EFFORT TO RETURN THESE BIRDS TO THE WILD. TRC IS ONE OF ONLY THREE FACILITIES IN THE STATE OF WYOMING OFFERING THIS SCOPE FOR BIRDS OF PREY. IN FY 21-22, TRC ADMITTED 135 RAPTORS REPRESENTING 20 SPECIES FROM IDAHO AND WYOMING. TRC EXPANDED OUR PERMITS IN FY 21-22 TO PROVIDE LONG-TERM CARE AND REHABILITATION TO CORVIDS. WE CARED FOR 14 CORVIDS, AND SHORT-TERM STABILIZATION AND PROVIDE TREATMENT TO 22 OTHER AVIAN SPECIES, FOR A A TOTAL OF 171 PATIENTS ADMITTED IN FY 21-22. CAR STRIKES, WINDOW STRIKES, AND DISPLACEMENT WERE THE LEADING CAUSES FOR ADMISSION. GREAT HORNED OWLS WERE THE MOST COMMON SPECIES ADMITTED. WORKING WITH OUR PRIMARY VETERINARIANS AND VETERINARY ADVISERS, TRC ADVANCES TREATMENTS, PROTOCOLS, AND MEDICAL TECHNIQUES THAT IMPROVE PATIENT CARE.