Teton Raptor Center

TW: Blood🩸

Have you ever wondered why blood can be so frightening?😱
Blood symbolizes life within our bodies, but once it leaves, it can signify injury or even death. In stories and horror themes, blood often represents mortality, sacrifice, or unnatural decay. However, for us at the Teton Raptor Center, it can also mean valuable insights.

Just as you have blood drawn during your annual physical, our patients and avian ambassadors receive blood tests as needed to provide objective, quantitative data about their health. Interestingly, it wasn’t until the late 1960s that blood biochemical reference ranges for healthy humans were established. For raptors, this challenge still exists, and reliable blood reference ranges remain limited.

Our research team is currently collecting samples to establish a reference range for nine raptor species that lack adequate data.

Blood chemistry tests can measure levels of electrolytes, glucose, kidney and liver function, proteins, fats, and minerals. Additional tests include complete blood cell counts (CBC), stained blood smears, and toxicology tests (like lead and coagulation panels). Utilizing these tests allows us to gain a comprehensive understanding of what is happening internally with each of our patients.

If you want to learn more about our raptor blood chemistry study and rehabilitation efforts, check out our website!👻

Cosmo, the Barn Owl’s day in the life👻🎃

Cosmo hatched in March of 2023 in Missouri at World Bird Sanctuary as a conservation bred owl. Conservation breeding programs provide critical benefits such a extinction prevention, population reintroduction, genetic diversity research, and educational purposes.

Cosmo is a calm presence during our programs, at least when he isn’t begging for food! Some imprinted birds never grow out of their nestling begging behavior. Since he was raised by people, he knows they bring him tasty mouse treats.

Cosmo is also a powerful presence, inspiring program visitors to place nest boxes and replace rodenticide with humane traps. Learn more about how make a nest box or safer pest control options through the link in our bio!

When Cosmo isn’t training with his caretakers, he’s doing flights outside or in the Roost, going for walks, and engaging with enrichment!

⁉️Did you know that in many cultures Barn Owls have been viewed in either awe or fear, and even considered as messengers of death, witchcraft or the weather?💀