Raptor Rehab of Kentucky, Incorporated, (RROKI), is an organization devoted to the rehabilitation and care of injured raptors and the educations of the public concerning a raptor's place in the ecosystem. As a volunteer with RROKI, you will have opportunities to participate in public and school presentations, medical treatment of sick or injured raptors, and the maintenance of birds used for educational programs.

There will be times of great joy and times of great sorrow. More than 50% of sick and injured raptors either die or must be euthanized. In most raptor rehablitation programs, a 35% release rate is considered oustanding.

Raptors can be aggresive and very dangerous. The training regimen at RROKI is necessarily strict and thorough to protect all parties involved. Training includes a minimum of 12 sessions lasting 4-5 hours, once a week, depending on previous experience and individual advancement. The more interest you show, the faster you advance!

The initial training regimen includes the following:

1. Care of rodents (cleaning cages, feeding, watering, and humane killing for food).

2. Maintenance of equipment (cleaning crates and perches, oiling jesses, etc.).

3. Maintenance of charts.

4. General knowledge and specific biographies of education birds.

5. Care of Raptors (cleaning areas, feeding, medical treatment and diagnosis).

6. Handling Raptors.

7. Educational Presentations.

After training is completed, volunteers should be capable of daily maintenance of raptors as well as the presentation of individual raptors in an educational program.

In order to maintain a professional appearance during public presentations, each volunteer will need to purchase a uniform. This uniform consists of a shirt, name badge and training manual at a total cost of approximately $30.00. Volunteers are required to wear tan or khaki pants with the uniform shirt. In addition to requiring a uniform, it is also necessary for all volunteers to be present at our monthly meeting. Our meetings are the 4th Friday of each month at 7:30 p.m. They are located at the Bon Aire Libary. Absences must be pre-arranged.

We hope that you are able to join us in our dedication to raptors, and that you become a part of the future of RROKI!

For more information, or an application, send a self-addressed stamped envelope to the address below, or view our on-line application.

Raptor Rehab of Kentucky, Incorporated
PO Box 18002
Louisville, Kentucky 40261
(502) 491-1393