Raptor Rehab of Kentucky, Inc.

For the love of birds...

Raptor Rehabiliation of Kentucky, Inc. (RROKI) is a non-profit all volunteer organization dedicated to helping sick, injured or orphaned birds of prey...raptors.
RROKI was founded in 1987 by a small but dedicated group of people who were volunteering with the local zoo, but wanted to focus on the rehabilitation of native raptor species, and to make a more aggressive education effort throughout the state. So, armed with two federal permits and four non-releaseable birds of prey, these volunteers began to do their work in the private home of one founding member.
We've come a long way since our beginnings in that home. We obtained the federal permits necessary to do more education work with a larger variety of native raptors. Further, by soliciting donations of supplies, equipment, labor, building materials and money, RROKI has realized the goal of establishing our own building and grounds, complete with clinic, large outdoor bird housing areas, and flight cages
Each year we get calls from people all over Kentucky who have a "sick hawk in the field" near their house, "an owl by the side of the road with a broken wing", a "baby owl fell out of the nest".... you name it. Chimneys, cars, barbed wire fences, gunshots, predators, poison, even poor hunting skills are cause for a raptor to end up at the RROKI clinic.
RROKI volunteers go pick up the bird, have it examined by our volunteer veterinarian, Dr. Robin Shelden of Jefferson Animal Hospital East in Fern Creek, and attempt to set it on the road to recovery. In many cases there's a happy ending. In some cases there isn't.
The other big focus of Raptor Rehab of Kentucky is education. RROKI volunteers travel all over Kentucky with the birds to speak to schools, scout groups, civic groups, even private company functions. Allowing people to see our native birds of prey up close helps them to appreciate how magnificent and special they are. RROKI education programs are designed to give information about the species, but more importantly information about the value of predators in the balance of nature.
We also point out to people about the laws, both state and federal, which protect these birds. A surprisingly large number of citizens do not know that there are stiff fines and federal prison sentences for interfering with birds of prey. Each year RROKI sets up a booth in the east wing of the Kentucky State Fair. We bring the birds out and talk to thousands of people about them and about our work. This is the largest single fundraising effort we make all year.

RROKI operates with no corporate funding, no large grants, nothing from any government entity. It is supported by volunteer effort and donations from private citizens.