Raptor Center of Southeast Michigan

Raptor Center of Southeast Michigan Rehabilitating sick, injured, or orphaned raptors and returning them to the wild. It is best to text us at 734-221-0176 and send a photo of the bird.

The Raptor Center of Southeast Michigan (RCSM) is a non-profit 501c3 whose mission is to rehabilitate sick, injured, or orphaned raptors and return them to the wild in a healthy, fit condition. If you find an injured bird of prey, you should always consult with a licensed wildlife rehabilitator before removing the bird from the wild. If the bird needs to be removed from the wild, you will need a b

ox, an old towel, and work gloves (for your protection). The box should be slightly larger than the bird. Gently drape the old towel over the bird and its head. Once the towel is in place, scoop up the bird by its wings and gently place it into the box. Close the box and keep it in a warm, dark, and quiet place like a basement, closet, or garage. Raptors can be dangerous, even when sick, injured, and/or young, so be cautious of their sharp talons and beaks. Your safety is of utmost importance! Do not attempt to give the bird food or water, and transport it to a wildlife rehabilitator. Take note of the location where the bird was found, especially baby birds that can be returned to their families once they are well. Please note, it is illegal to possess, own, or keep a wild raptor or native bird without the proper state and federal permits. If you ever have questions about handling or owning a wild bird, contact your state's department of wildlife resources.

Not all intakes end with releases, and to be honest, we see far more heartbreaking cases than happy endings.This week, w...
06/19/2026

Not all intakes end with releases, and to be honest, we see far more heartbreaking cases than happy endings.

This week, we worked closely with concerned finders and our incredible transport volunteers to rescue several injured birds, including a Turkey Vulture found along the side of the road.

Unfortunately, upon intake, we discovered the vulture had suffered a severely fractured right wing along with significant head trauma. Due to the extent of his injuries and poor prognosis, the difficult decision was made to humanely euthanize him.

While this wasn’t the outcome anyone hoped for, the finder and her daughters created this beautiful image in his memory. It serves as a reminder of why we do this work, not only to rehabilitate wildlife when possible, but also to educate people about these incredible birds, the challenges they face, and what it means when a wild animal is found grounded and in distress.

Every bird matters. Every rescue attempt matters. And every person who stops to help makes a difference!

Big thanks to Selene, Dave Hogan, and the team at Michigan Falcon Project⁠ for coming out to band the three peregrine f...
06/17/2026

Big thanks to Selene, Dave Hogan, and the team at Michigan Falcon Project⁠ for coming out to band the three peregrine falcon siblings!

These young falcons are doing fantastic, flying strongly, hitting all the perches, and showing us every day that they’re getting closer to life back in the wild. Watching them develop the skills they’ll need to survive on their own has been incredible, and we’re excited to see them released soon!

Every successful release is only possible because of the support of our community. We rely on donations to provide food, medical care, medications, housing, and rehabilitation for injured, orphaned, and sick birds of prey that come through our doors.

🦅 Want to help these falcons and future patients soar? Please consider making a tax-deductible donation today: https://secure.givelively.org/donate/raptor-center-of-southeast-michigan

Every dollar helps give a raptor a second chance at freedom. Thank you for being part of their journey! ❤️🦅

Our newest patients are three fledgling peregrine falcons whose feathers are not yet fully developed for the demanding f...
06/11/2026

Our newest patients are three fledgling peregrine falcons whose feathers are not yet fully developed for the demanding flight skills they need to survive on their own.

A huge thank you goes out to our amazing transport volunteers, Anna and Kari, for bringing one youngster to us each day this week, and to finder Jean, who has gone above and beyond helping us locate the nest site and monitor the parents. Their dedication is making a real difference for these young falcons.

These little ones will remain in our care until they are strong, skilled fliers. Once they’re ready, we’ll return them to their family so they can continue learning the critical survival skills only their parents can teach.

Every patient that comes through our doors requires specialized housing, medical care, food, medications, and countless hours of dedicated rehabilitation. If you’d like to help us continue providing lifesaving care to Michigan’s birds of prey, please consider making a donation today.

❤️ Donate at: raptorcentermi.org

Your support makes stories like these possible. Thank you for standing with us as we give these incredible birds a second chance.

🦅 Eagle Update: Thank you for your patience as we’ve been extremely busy here at the Raptor Center of Southeast Michigan...
06/11/2026

🦅 Eagle Update: Thank you for your patience as we’ve been extremely busy here at the Raptor Center of Southeast Michigan. Wildlife season is in full swing, and new patients have been arriving daily, along with filtering multiple phone calls a day.

Unfortunately, we have some difficult news to share about one of the two bald eagles we recently admitted.

Despite our best efforts, eagle 26-17 had to be humanely euthanized due to severe neurological and balance issues resulting from a high-voltage electrocution injury. While this outcome is heartbreaking, we are grateful that we were able to provide compassionate care and prevent further suffering.

On a brighter note, eagle 26-16 continues to make encouraging progress! After suffering a wing fractured in three places, he is now flying very well in our flight pen and continues to build strength and endurance every day. We remain hopeful that he may be a candidate for release in the future. Stay tuned for more updates as his rehabilitation continues!

As we’ve been caring for these eagles, we’ve also been busy reuniting and renesting young birds whenever possible. Thank you for your support!

05/25/2026

Open house dates for 2026 are set! Mark your calendars. We look forward to seeing you and introducing you to all our feathered coworkers! Check back for more details.

Earl the Turkey Vulture has officially made it to his forever home as of April 26! 💚🪶 If you’re just joining us on Earl...
04/30/2026

Earl the Turkey Vulture has officially made it to his forever home as of April 26! 💚🪶

If you’re just joining us on Earl’s journey, he was found in Howell, Michigan in the spring of 2025. Due to his abnormal, what we believed is human-imprinted behaviors, he was not a candidate for release.

Now, Earl is beginning his next chapter as an education ambassador at Long Branch Nature Center, where he’ll help inspire both children and adults to learn just how incredible Turkey Vultures truly are.

While we will miss him dearly, we’re so excited for the impact he’s going to make. Fly on, Earl—we’re so proud of you! 💚

📸 Pictured here: Erin from Long Branch Nature Center, Earl’s personal chauffeur for the final leg of his journey to his forever home, alongside Raptor Center of Southeast Michigan Board Member Angela Hebert, Executive Director Alysha Albrecht, and of course, Earl himself. 🪶

If you find value in our volunteer work, please consider supporting our small, but mighty mission at raptorcentermi.org.

Monthly donations go a long way in helping us provide critical care, rehabilitation, and second chances for the birds that need us most. Every contribution truly makes a difference. 💚🦅

🌿 LAST CALL! 🌿 We have just THREE succulent plants left from our Succulents & Raptor Fundraiser this past weekend—and we...
04/29/2026

🌿 LAST CALL! 🌿 We have just THREE succulent plants left from our Succulents & Raptor Fundraiser this past weekend—and we need them gone!

These beautiful, low-maintenance plants make the perfect Mother’s Day gift 💚

📍 Pickup: Lapeer area
💵 Suggested donation: $25
🦅 Every dollar goes directly to support our small but mighty nonprofit and the raptors in our care

Once they’re gone, they’re gone! Message us to claim yours 🌱

We had an incredible Earth Day, highlighted by some truly special milestones! 🌎🦉 We celebrated our first release of 202...
04/28/2026

We had an incredible Earth Day, highlighted by some truly special milestones! 🌎🦉

We celebrated our first release of 2026, a Barred Owl that came to us in early March (see the video a few posts down), and also successfully reunited a Barred Owl chick through a renesting, both in Saginaw.

These moments are why we do what we do. Thank you to everyone who played a role in making these returns to the wild possible, we’re so grateful for your continued support! 💚

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our Succulents & Raptors event! We had an amazing turnout at Five Solas Homestea...
04/27/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our Succulents & Raptors event! We had an amazing turnout at Five Solas Homestead and Farm and truly loved the opportunity to connect with so many of you.

It was a wonderful day of sharing, learning, and raising awareness about raptor rehabilitation and the important work it takes to give these incredible birds a second chance. We’re so grateful for your support and enthusiasm, we couldn’t do this without our community! 🦅💚

03/24/2025

🦉 Bird Update & Spring Reminder! As spring arrives, we’d like to remind everyone to hold off on tree trimming until fall. Baby season has begun, and owls are nesting in cavities—laying eggs, incubating, or caring for their young. Many raptors, including owls and some falcons, rely on old and dead trees for nesting and roosting. If it's safe to do so, we encourage keeping these trees intact to provide essential habitat for these birds of prey. If a tree must be removed for safety reasons, consider waiting until fall when all young birds have fledged.

Now, an update on our patients:
🦅 Turkey Vulture – Patient 24-42 is making slow but steady progress. While X-rays showed no fractures, the bird initially struggled to lift its wing fully. Rehabilitation has been gradual, but he is now reconditioning in our flight pen at Michigan Avian Experience, and we remain hopeful for a future release. Check out this video of him swooping down for dinner!

🦉 Eastern Screech Owl – Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, this little owl did not survive. Likely struck by a vehicle, we believe he suffered a severe brain injury and passed away a few days after arriving in our care.

Your support makes all the difference in helping these birds recover and return to the wild. 👉 Become a second chance hero by donating today! https://raptorcentermi.org/

Thank you for being part of our mission! 🦉🦅🌳

Address

Lapeer, MI
48446

Telephone

+17342210176

Website

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