RAPID CITY S.D. (KELO) — A turkey vulture that was injured near Belle Fourche is now in the care of the Black Hills Raptor Center.
Maggie Engler, the executive director at the Black Hills Raptor Center, shared how the recovery process for a bird like this can go for them.
“We bring it in, we do a complete examination. Trying to make sure of the birds overall bodily condition,” said Engler.
Animal control in Belle Fourche got the injured bird and kept it overnight as it was waiting to be transported to the Black Hills Raptor Center.
David Swanson, a bird expert, describes why this vulture may have been injured.
“They play a really important role in cleaning up dead stuff,” Swanson said. “But that can predispose them to injury because they tend to search along roads in search of roadkill which then puts them in danger of being hit by cars they are also at risk for running into powerlines which can also injure them.”
Swanson is a biology professor at the University of South Dakota.
Engler said that turkey vultures are a protected species and that they typically get 2-3 turkey vultures into their office each year. She added that recovery can be quite different from injury to injury.
“It may need to go somewhere where it can practice flying. You figure it out bird by bird,” said Engler.
Engler added that while the bird is with them and can now start recovery process not all injuries are recoverable.
“In the case of a broken wing bone which is what this bird has it may not be a recoverable situation and the bird might have to be euthanized,” said Engler.
Engler said that although some people might perceive them as unsightly turkey vultures have a very important role to play.
“I really want people to know that they might perceive turkey vultures as being unpleasant to look at but they are natures garbagemen. They clean up the dead. I would like people to know they perform a vital service for humankind,” said Engler.
