RAPTOR REHABILITATION OF KENTUCKY, INC.

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During the mid 1980's our founders John and Eileen Wicker volunteered in the rehabilitation department at the Louisville Zoo. When the Zoo discontinued rehabilitation of native species, John and Eileen made the decision to open Raptor Rehabilitation of Kentucky Incorporated (RROKI). Created in the back yard of the Wicker's our first year we took in a total of seven birds. RROKI became incorporated as a nonprofit organization in 1990. More than three decades later we have vastly grown. Though Eileen is no longer with us, it is her memory that we use for inspiration in what we do everyday.

We take in between 450-500 sick, injured, and orphaned raptors every year, and release over 60% back into the wild. We count on the public to help get injured birds to our facility. The birds may have been hit by cars, flown into windows, or become entangled in barbed wire fences. Although protected by state and federal laws, we still receive raptors who have been shot and poisoned. The saddest cases are those young birds who have been "saved" by people and are now imprinted - they think they are people. Those unfortunate imprints cannot be released back into the wild although there is nothing physically wrong with them. Imprinted birds come to recognize humans as a parent, or other object of habitual trust, making them unable to survive on their own in the wild.

RROKI is a volunteer based organization, dedicated to the rehabilitation of sick, injured, and orphaned birds of prey. We rely solely on the dedication of our volunteers and the generosity of our supporters.

WE SPECIALIZE IN BIRDS OF PREY ONLY!
If you find a Songbird, Mammal, or Waterfowl or any other injured wildlife please use this link to find the right rehabber near you.
https://app.fw.ky.gov/rehabilitatorNew/