How to rescue a sick, injured or baby raptor

Please note that all wild birds, including raptors are protected under state and federal laws, it is illegal to harm, harass or possess any wild bird. You are allowed to rescue a wild bird but you must get it to a permitted facility as soon as possible. The quicker the bird is in qualified care the better its chances are for release. 


Raptors can be very dangerous, even sick, injured and/or young birds. They have very sharp talons and beaks! BE CAREFUL! 


Please note the location where the bird was found, this information will be necessary in order to return the bird to its home once it has recovered 


For baby raptors, please note the exact location it was found, mark the spot if possible. Look up into the trees to see if the nest and/or adults are there. Every attempt should be made to reunite families. 


Get a box that is slightly larger than the bird. Poke lots of air holes into the sides. Place the box over the bird. Carefully slide something flat under the box in order to contain the bird. 


If you do not have a box, throw a towel or blanket over the bird. BEWARE of their talons and beaks! 


Do not attempt to give the bird food or water. Transport it to a wildlife rehabilitator right away in a dark, warm (room temperature) container with breathing holes in it.

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April 25, 2025
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February 12, 2025
Pedro Lopez, a previous TIOF grant recipient, has provided an excellent video from the environmental organization BIOS CV depicting the cross-fostering of a juvenile osprey in Boa Vista in the Cape Verde Islands. Z24 was severely injured due to sibling aggression by its older and larger nestmates. Brood reduction, mediated by sibling aggression, is quite common in the Boa Vista osprey population. To aid in his survival, the near-fledging Z24, at 7 weeks old, was placed into another nest for a cross-fostering attempt. Typically, cross-fostering is done into nests with other nestlings but this was the first time that a near fledgling osprey had been transferred to a nest without nestlings. Watch the video of the successful cross-fostering of Z24!
January 24, 2025
View the 2024 International Osprey Foundation newsletter by clicking the download button below.
April 3, 2024
The calls started coming to TIOF fast and furious. The issue, a broken nesting pole by the Sanibel Lighthouse that was home to a very popular and productive pair of ospreys. “The birds are back!” While this was great news, the situation wasn’t. The pole was in no shape to support a huge osprey nest. But nobody told the birds that. They started building right away. Beachgoers and Sanibel residents let us know of their concerns. TIOF, along with Ned Bruha, THE WILDLIFE WHISPERER, (our main installer) and Sanibel Fire and Rescue Assistant Chief Chris Jackson started planning the installation. Firefighters Ron Petito and Arian Moore under the direction of Chief Mike Martin, got straight to work removing the nesting materials. Ned wrangled the new platform into place and added back the nesting materials while the birds kept an eye on things from the air. As the sun descended into the western sky, our ospreys re-established residency on the new platform. HOME-SWEET-HOME!
October 18, 2023
View the 2023 International Osprey Foundation newsletter by clicking the download button below.
March 10, 2023
Did you know there is an International Osprey Foundation headquartered on Sanibel Island in Florida? Today, we speak with Kathryn Brintnall, president of the foundation, about ongoing efforts to protect the Osprey. We also discuss the effects of Hurricane Ian on Osprey populations. Go to the International Osprey Foundation at www.ospreys.com; go to the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF) at https://sccf.org/; go to the J.N. Ding Darling National Refuge website at https://www.fws.gov/refuge/jn-ding-darling; go to the Clinic For The Rehabilitation of Wildlife (C.R.O.W.) website at https://crowclinic.org. Join Catherine Greenleaf, a certified wildlife rehabilitator with 20 years of experience rescuing and rehabilitating injured wildlife, for twice-monthly discussions about restoring native habitat and helping the birds in your backyard. Access the BIRD HUGGER Newsletter here: www.birdhuggerpodcast.com. Send your questions about birds and native gardening to birdhuggerpodcast@gmail.com. (PG-13) St. Dymphna Press, LLC.
February 10, 2023
For more information view / download the contest PDF and click on the links for details and to enter.
November 8, 2022
View the 2022 International Osprey Foundation newsletter by clicking the download button below.
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