A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY OF MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY OF RAPTORS IN FLORIDA - 1988-1994

retrospective study was conducted on 390 raptors admitted to the Unive rsity of Florida Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital (VMTH) during 19 88-1994. Representatives of 20 species were admitted; the five most co mmon species were the barred owl (Strix varia, 72), eastern sreech owl (Otus asio, 63), red-shouldered hawk (Buteo lineatus, 49), bald eagle (Haleaeetus leucocephalus, 43), and red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensi s, 38). A primary clinical diagnosis was determined in 340 (87%) of th e 390 raptors admitted to the VMTH; a diagnosis was not made for the r emaining 50 birds. Eighty-two percent (279) had traumatic injuries, an d 87% (243) of those were directly related to human activity. The prim ary clinical diagnoses in the remaining 61 raptors included toxicosis (21), poor nutrition (15), infectious disease (11), orphaned young (11 ), and electrocution (3). The disposition of the 390 raptors was as fo llows: 61% (237) died or euthanized, 21% (80) released to the wild, 15 % (57) outcome unknown, and 4% (16) permanent captives. Necropsies wer e performed on 32 of the 237 raptors that died.