Trends in Raptor Admittance to Urban and Rural Wildlife Rehabilitation Centers
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Date
2024-05
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The Ohio State University
Abstract
As top predators, raptors serve as indicator species of ecosystem health while also playing a regulatory role through their consumption of rodents. However, they are adversely impacted by threats associated with increased built-up land cover, habitat loss, and human interaction. Research examining the common causes of raptor injury and mortality is vital toward conservation efforts protecting the animals and their ecosystems, especially in areas with high urban land cover. One avenue for exploring these causes involves wildlife rehabilitation centers. Previous research on wildlife health indicates an abundance of orphaned animals and “trauma” injuries in the centers across the United States. However, there is a lack of raptor-specific analysis. The purpose of this study was to examine raptor admission records at urban and rural wildlife rehabilitation centers in the Midwest and Appalachian Mountain regions. The selected regions provide an abundance of resources for wildlife while acting as a migration corridor. The records from seven centers across Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and West Virginia were collected to analyze the relationships among species, their age, and the location, reason, and outcome of admittance, including release and mortality data. Results show that admissions were concentrated around areas of higher impervious surface with vehicle and building collision serving as the most frequent admission cause, highlighting the role humans play in wildlife health. More birds were admitted to the rural centers, whereas mortality was higher in the urban ones. The most common cause of mortality was multiple injuries, followed by those involving wings, legs, and hips contributing to decreased movement and prey hunting. Orphaned birds showed a lower probability of mortality compared to the birds admitted because of a disease, attack, or collision. Survival rates were higher in young birds compared to those for adults and juveniles. Most common species admitted were hawks followed by owls, reflecting the abundance of these animals in the region. Owls spent the most time in treatment compared to the other birds. This study offers important insights into targeted, species- and location-specific conservation efforts for raptors and provides wildlife rehabilitators with knowledge of the hotspots, admittance causes, and prognoses for individual species.
Description
Honorable Mention in Insect and Other Animal Sciences, 2024 Denman Undergraduate Research Forum
Keywords
raptor, human-wildlife interactions, urbanization, wildlife rehabilitation