Raptor Repair Topic At Farragut State Park

Farragut State Park on Sunday will host a free class on caring for sick or injured birds of prey.

Each year, about 100 raptors are injured by cars, power lines or guns, said park interpreter Kris Buchler. More than half are euthanized.

To increase the birds’ survival rate, Buchler and other workers will train interested volunteers in immobilizing, examining and treating the birds. Farragut has two new enclosures for recovering birds of prey. Most of the birds are eventually returned to the wild.

“The idea is to get the bird healthy, but to keep the bird as wild as possible,” said Buchler.

The class is from 8:30 a.m. to noon at park headquarters. Farragut is north of Coeur d’Alene, east of Athol.

The park is also seeking volunteers to go to Spokane’s Walk in the Wild zoo Saturday to help dismantle the zoo’s wire and net raptor enclosures. The structures will be set up at Farragut in the future.

Anyone interested in the class or helping with the shelters should call Buchler at 683-2425, ext. 22.