Meet TRC's Veterinary Resident, Dr. Dana Franzen-Klein

Dr. Dana Franzen-Klein with a red-tailed hawk patient.

We would like you to meet TRC's veterinary resident, Dr. Dana Franzen-Klein.  She wrote a few lines about herself.  As you can see, she is a perfect fit with TRC, and we look forward to working with her.

Background information:
            I grew up in northeast Iowa, completed my undergraduate studies at Luther College, and graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine in 2013. During veterinary school I spent time at the National Wildlife Health Center, the International Crane Foundation, the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, the Indianapolis Zoo, and the Georgia Sea Turtle Center in order to learn more about wildlife medicine.  Immediately prior to coming to The Raptor Center, I spent a year as the veterinary intern at the Wildlife Center of Virginia. 

Why I was interested in The Raptor Center:
            I am completing a three year clinical residency and a master’s degree program during my time at The Raptor Center. The Raptor Center is a world renowned leader in clinical avian medicine, and provides an ideal learning environment. I am passionate about wildlife rehabilitation, and very much enjoy that aspect of my work. The Raptor Center also devotes time to wildlife conservation and public health focused research, which is an area I want to become more actively involved in. Education is a vital component of wildlife conservation efforts, and I admire the educational component of The Raptor Center’s mission. The Raptor Center provides educational opportunities not only for the general public, but also for veterinarians, veterinary students, and wildlife rehabilitators. 

What I hope to learn:
            I am very grateful to have the opportunity to learn from some of the best clinicians and scientists in the field. I am looking forward to building my clinical skills, improving my teaching abilities, and developing my research skills. 

Meet the Record-Breaking TRC Patient

Barred owl patient 16-915 resting in a
patient cage.

This barred owl patient, admitted to our clinic from Rogers, MN, is case number 16-915.  That is significant because it means that this bird “broke” our record for most wild raptor patients admitted in one year to our clinic.  The record was set in 2013 at 914 patients.

The bird has a coracoid (similar to a human collarbone) fracture on its left side, and several small lesions on the left eye, from unknown trauma.  It was hatched this year, so it is only a few months old, though it is as big as it will get (between 1 ½ and 2 pounds.)

You can see the coracoid fracture at the arrow mark.

This is one lucky bird since TRC’s clinic staff has extensive experience with injuries such as this.  More often than not, immobilizing the wing and giving supportive care while the injury heals has been successful.  This is one of the few fractures in wild birds that actually have better outcomes without surgery. 

The Raptor Center depends on public support to continue work such as this.  We anticipate many more sick and injured patients to arrive in our clinic as the winter season approaches.  Can we depend on you to help us be there? You can give a gift here. 

Care and Management of Captive Raptors Workshop

Before working on handling the education raptors,
a tutorial is done on the fine points using a
stuffed hawk.

This week, The Raptor Center is hosting 24 participants from 15 states and one Canadian province for our Care and Management of Captive Raptors Workshop.  Behavioral training techniques for education, handling, enhance your organization's message through live education animals, and basic exam procedures were just a few of the topics covered with our world-renowned staff.

Workshop participants practice and ask questions before
handling TRC education birds. 

Artemis the peregrine falcon is a terrific teacher!

Youth RaptorCorp Serves Up Enrichment and Supper for Nero the Turkey Vulture

Dan Hnilicka, TRC Interpretive Naturalist, talks to YRC.

It's October, and that means two things at The Raptor Center; the start of our youth service program, Youth RaptorCorp, and locally sourced pumpkins!  What do they have to do with one another?

Youth RaptorCorps is our long-standing program where young naturalists (grade 5-8) learn about raptor natural history, the environment we share, and how we can impact them.  They also complete service learning projects.

Pumpkins, which are now easy to find, are great for enrichment for our education raptors.  They can be carved, with strategic openings, and the raptors' food can be placed inside.  This encourages Nero's natural behavior to put his head inside "cavities" (carrion) to find his food. 

Last night was our first meeting of the 2016/2017 Youth RaptorCorp.  They carved pumpkins for Nero and other education raptors, and watched as Nero then obtained his supper from inside.  Thank you to YRC, and to Nickie M for the photos.

Nero approaches the pumpkin.

Nero has to pull his supper out of one of the
"cavities" created in the pumpkin.