09/05/2026
Happy National Wildlife Day! National Wildlife Day was established to raise awareness of native threatened and endangered species and to promote their conservation.
One way that the Ararat Ridge Zoo contributes to conservation efforts is by housing native, non-releasable birds of prey! All native birds of prey are regulated by the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). When a native raptor is found sick or injured, licensed rehabbers care for the bird with the goal of releasing it back into the wild. Unfortunately, some birds are unable to be released due to long-term injuries or conditions. These birds are deemed non-releasable and can be placed with facilities that hold proper USFWS permits to provide them with a permanent home. Some of these birds reside in habitats for guests to see, while others are trained for animal programs to teach visitors about the importance of native wildlife!
Because we have permits from USFWS, we are able to provide a home for five non-releasable native raptors at the zoo, each of whom has a unique story:
🦅 General Boone, the bald eagle, was found on the ground in Eastern Kentucky, unable to fly; a severe wing injury limits his flight.
🦉Eclipse, the great horned owl, was found on a porch in Ohio with a wing injury that made release impossible.
🦅Havoc, the red-tailed hawk, suffered severe frostbite on his feet, preventing his return to the wild.
🦉Pluto, the barred owl, has limited vision that prevents him from hunting on his own.
🦅Sirius, our black vulture, was brought to a rehabber as a chick. Because of his young age, he imprinted on humans and could not be successfully released.
We are so thankful to care for these amazing birds at Ararat Ridge Zoo as godly stewards of creation! If you want to meet some of these birds, check out our Behind-the-Scenes Bird of Prey Experience. A portion of each ticket goes to Grit and Grace Wildlife Rehab to support their work in rehabilitating native Kentucky wildlife!
