You should NOT try to rehabilitate any animal on your own. Wild animals need specific diets and if they are dehydrated then they need to be rehydrated by a rehabilitator before eating solid foods. It is illegal to possess, own, or keep a raptor without the proper permits from the US Fish and Wildlife Service as well as your state's Division of Wildlife.

1. Determine that the raptor is in fact injured: Look for obviously broken bones or bleeding, if the raptor does not fly away when it is approached by humans and it does not have food (raptors may not fly away from people if they are protecting their food or babies), it is listless, there are obvious signs of external parasites, i.e. maggots or flies.

2. Do not touch the raptor. Ensure that it is safe from cars, cats, dogs and other people. If it is in the road you may have to move it to the side before it can be rescued, (see below for how to handle a raptor).

3. Call:

• The US Department of Fish and Wildlife
• Your state’s Division of Wildlife or Department of Natural Resources
• A wildlife rehabilitator in your area (see below)

4. Watch the raptor to make sure that cats, dogs and other animals stay away from it.

If you are required to transport the raptor to a rehabilitator:
Before you attempt to move a raptor be sure to have the following things ready: an old towel, thick work gloves, safety glasses, something to transport the bird in (cat or dog kennels work best, but a sturdy box will do).

1. Put the towel over the bird, the darkness will calm the bird more.

2. Wearing your gloves and safety glasses to protect you from their sharp beak and talons, gently take hold of the raptor by keeping the birds wings close to its body (unless the raptor has clearly suffered an injury to the wing), and keeping your hands out of reach of the raptors talons.

3. Place the raptor inside the kennel or box. Ensure that the box has plenty of air holes for ventilation. It is best to have a box that is slightly bigger than the raptor, if it is too small the raptor can do serious damage to its feathers and wings and if it is too large it is possible for the raptor to hurt itself by thrashing around.

4. Keep the box in a dark safe place away from animals and children until it is time for it to be transported.

Download PDF file on how to handle this situation
Courtesy of Healers of the Wild: People Who Care for Injured and Orphaned Wildlife by Shannon K. Jacobs

Download PDF file on how to handle this situation
Courtesy of Healers of the Wild: People Who Care for Injured and Orphaned Wildlife by Shannon K. Jacobs

You can find information about how you can help wildlife and the National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association's website.
Go There

For those trying to contact a rehabilitator in Utah, download a contact sheet in PDF or Word formats (6 pages). For animals other than raptors, see the full list of rehabilitators from Utah's Division of Wildlife Resources.

If you're outside Utah, try this page, courtesy of Ronda DeVold.