Rocky Mountain Raptor Program Offers Volunteer Orientation

The Rocky Mountain Raptor Program provides an opportunity for the public to interact and gain hands-on experience with wild raptors. The program is holding a new volunteer orientation from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. March 2 at the Raptor Center north of Colorado State University’s James L. Voss Veterinary Teaching Hospital. The session is open to the public. Children 16 and under must be accompanied by an adult for all training sessions.

Volunteers provide medical care to injured birds, hold environmental education presentations and exhibits and participate in facility maintenance, office operations and fundraising. They learn about proper handling techniques, methods of physical therapy necessary to rehabilitate injured raptors and receive information on current environmental concerns.

The RMRP has a structured training program, and volunteers progress through levels of training depending on their interests, abilities and availability. Volunteers are trained in the most efficient and safest ways to handle potentially dangerous birds. All levels of training stress interpretation of bird behavior, overall health and how to handle potential emergency situations.

Training ranges from how to safely feed birds, how to handle permanently disabled educational birds and how to handle active birds of prey.

The RMRP, a non-profit organization of community and university volunteers, has been dedicated to rehabilitating injured birds of prey and providing environmental education to the public since 1979.

To reserve a space or for more information, please call 970-297-0398.

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