Emergency Prep · Wildlife
Raptor Nestlings
Baby Owls and Hawks
The fluffy owlet at the base of the oak is probably fine. The hawk on its back with talons up is not — for you. 10 modules on branchers, welder's gloves, the towel drop, why hot dogs kill, star-gazing head trauma, West Nile, and the federal law that makes keeping one a felony.
About this course
Baby owls leave the nest before they can fly and climb back up the trunk like it's a gym wall. Baby hawks flip onto their backs and present eight needle-sharp talons to anyone who reaches in. This course is about not getting hurt and not hurting the bird: how to tell a healthy brancher from a real emergency, welder's gloves and the towel drop, why no food at all beats a hot dog, how to spot dehydration and head trauma, and the mosquito-borne virus that kills young raptors every summer. It ends with the law — every native bird of prey is federally protected — and the only destination that counts: a permitted raptor center with flight aviaries.
What you'll learn
- Recognize a healthy owl brancher (alert, upright, beak-snapping) and leave it alone or lift it to a low branch
- Why garden gloves fail against talons, and the elbow-length welder's glove standard
- The towel drop: capture an injured hawk or owl without a puncture wound
- No food in the box — and why hot dogs, cold cuts and plain meat cause kidney failure or bone collapse
- Sunken eyes, stringy saliva, tented skin: spotting dehydration without pouring water in
- Star-gazing and eye-twitching after a fall: keep it dark, quiet and cool, and get to a wildlife vet
Who this is for
Anyone who has found a baby owl, hawk, kestrel or falcon on the ground; hikers, farmers and homeowners with nesting raptors nearby; and animal lovers who would rather be the calm, gloved person than the one with a talon through the hand.
Course outline (10 modules)
Quiz & Certificate
Knowledge quiz
After completing all lessons, take a short quiz to test your understanding.
Go to quiz →Completion certificate
Pass the quiz and earn a shareable certificate of completion.
View certificate →Frequently asked questions
Ready to get started?
$9.99 · Lifetime access · 10 lessons