ANSC 1130

Captive Raptor Husbandry & Handling

Course Description

Course information provided by the 2025-2026 Catalog.

This course will provide students with an introduction to captive raptor management. The course structure will include a weekly classroom lecture and a complementary hands-on laboratory training session utilizing resident birds of prey and facilities of the Cornell Raptor Program. Topics of instruction will include natural history and adaptations of various birds of prey species, safe handling of captive raptors, and husbandry topics including nutritional requirements, health care, behavior and training, and the ethics of maintaining captive raptors. Course will include animal handling and chores related to raptor care.

Prerequisites ANSC 4940.

Enrollment Priority Enrollment limited to: first-year and sophomore students, or permission of instructor.

Last 4 Terms Offered 2024FA, 2023FA, 2022FA, 2022SU

Learning Outcomes

• Communicate basic knowledge of raptor physiology and North American species, adaptations, physiology, habitat, and conservation status.
• Demonstrate and communicate the safe handling of birds of prey to minimize stress and potential injury to the bird and injury to the handler.
• Use behavioral cues and basic gear in the capture, restraint, and handling of birds of prey.
• Implement feeding strategies using basic nutritional requirements of birds of prey and management of nutrition and basic health care in captivity.
• Communicate ethical concerns and debates in maintaining captive birds of prey.

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