WSU veterinary college opens refurbished raptor rehabilitation facility
The grand opening of the refurbished Raptor Rehabilitation Center in
the WSU College of Veterinary Medicine on June 3 included Piper, a Peregrine
Falcon, held by Heather Brurud of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Left to
right, Dr. Erik Stauber of the school’s small animal medicine faculty, talks
to Potlatch Corporation’s Dr. Terrance Cundy, Idaho Region environmental and
technical services manager, and Matt Van Vleet, corporate communication
director. Potlatch was a major donor to the refurbishment project.
Ironically, a building that once protected poultry from birds of prey has
been refurbished to care for the very same predators. WSU's College of
Veterinary Medicine hosted a grand opening for the completion of Phase 1 of
its refurbished raptor center facilities. WSU’s veterinary college treats
100 or more birds of prey annually. As many as possible are rehabilitated
and released back to the wild.
Funds for refurbishing the old turkey house came from generous donations
and some university resources. Most notably, Potlatch Corporation gave
$25,000 for the effort, as did a private foundation along with numerous
private donors.
The WSU Raptor Rehabilitation Club open to all students has earned more
than $11,000 through their fundraising efforts and endowed funds contributed
$31,000 in interest earnings.
Phase 1 completed much needed flight cages and optimal enclosures for the
birds. Phase 2 will follow with donations to replace siding and finish out
an office, food preparation area, and small examination room. The building
was originally part of then Washington State College’s world renowned
poultry husbandry program and housed turkeys. It was part of the larger
Carver Poultry Farm, named after John S. Carver, long-time chair of the
poultry husbandry program and a nationally known poultry nutritionist.
There was a time when poultry husbandry was vital to the budgets of most
farm families and the prosperity of most commercial producers across the
state.
The farm was closed decades ago and the buildings have had various uses
before being identified for the raptor center.
Right click to play movie of the Opening
Ceremony
Last Edited: Jun 11, 2008 4:40 PM
