Rehabilitation Volunteers

The staff is comprised mainly of volunteers from the Auburn community. The majority of volunteers are college students with a variety of interests, but most are majors in an animal-related field. Many student volunteers work at the center throughout their undergraduate years.

Volunteers are responsible for the Raptor Center’s daily husbandry and upkeep. At one time, there can be from 60 to over 100 birds in the rehabilitation section. Volunteers clean cages and flight aviaries, prepare the daily diet, administer medications, and handle and restrain raptors for diagnostics. Many have experience with restraining and handling very large birds of prey such as a Bald Eagle.

The rehabilitation section has a tier system for volunteers granting more responsibilities to those who contribute the most. As volunteers advance, they assist the medical staff with phlebotomy or collecting samples of blood, radiographs, physical therapy, fluid therapy, triaging emergency cases, bandaging, and administering medications. As they progress further, volunteers are able to assist the staff with medical procedures.

Volunteers also participate in releasing the rehabilitated raptors back into their natural habitat. The Southeastern Raptor Center administers private and public releases in Alabama and Georgia.