Riverside Raptor Rescue

“To provide wild Owls, Hawks, Falcons and Eagles the emergency care needed due to urban sprawl, and to foster not only the birds themselves, but a more respectful and harmonious relationship between humans and raptors alike.”

Riverside Raptor Rescue and its dedicated volunteers provide orphaned and recovering birds of prey experienced and specialized care as they prepare to re-engage their lives in the wild.

Tom Goldsmith is Riverside Raptor Rescue’s founder and principal facility manager. Tom’s relationships with virtually all of Ontario's native raptor species span well over four decades and include conservation-driven initiatives like public education, banding, nest site conservation, injured raptor rescue and recovery, and the foster care of raptors for release back to the wild. Tom’s decades-long experience as a licensed falconer has given him intimate knowledge of handling raptors and the specialized care these apex predators require. Through all of his raptor-related endeavors, Tom has gained a unique and comprehensive understanding of what raptors require to live a wild life.

Professionally, Tom works as a successful magazine and book illustrator from his home studio on Riversides Raptor Rescue’s property. This allows Tom the ability to provide around-the-clock care and support to any foster raptors in for care or conditioning.

What (we do and don’t do)

We Will

-Transport Raptors to and from licensed and reputable wildlife rehabilitation facilities.

-Recover injured raptors and those in distress from the field.

-Triage, immobilize, and treat for dehydration and pain as per the Rehabilitation partner's specific instructions.

-Foster Care for orphaned raptors and those requiring convalescence before release back to the wild.

-Educate the public on conservation initiatives through entertaining and informative presentations. When requested educate rehab facilities, and municipal animal control on species Identification and best practices for raptor care and handling.

-Repair/Replace flight feathers. Riverside has the experience and equipment at our facility to imp essential feathers. Additionally, we can provide this service off-site when required. (*subject to available donor feathers)

*Note. All outreach and education services are conducted offsite of our facility to allow our foster care patients as much isolation from human influence as possible.

We Do Not:

-Medically treat injuries or illnesses other than stabilizing care for transport to reputable Rehab partners.

-Allow the public to visit/view the birds in our care at our facility. As much as we appreciate our many conservation initiatives by zoos and aviaries, our expressed goal is to separate wild raptors from human influence and facilitate getting raptors back into the wild from where they came and quite frankly, belong.

Our Facility

Riverside Raptor Rescue is a ten-acre facility located in central Ontario east of Orillia. Because we are unwaveringly determined to separate wild raptors from humans and ultimately human care, we are closed to the public.

Our Facility features private settings protected on three sides by a river. The pine forest to the east is a typical accipiter and merlin habitat, and the lower flood plain is rich in raptor life. Bald Eagles are regularly seen flying over and fishing in the surrounding river and lakes. The surrounding country to the north is remote Canadian Shield and to the south are small farm parcels and mixed hardwood forest.

Funding

While we work tirelessly to provide optimal care for our foster raptors and those requiring our services, we are continuously seeking financial help to offset the day-to-day expenses like specialized food, travel costs (related to transporting birds), and constant upgrades and development of specially designed enclosures to house birds while in our care.

Riverside, and all it offers, is a much-needed raptor recovery facility in the province of Ontario. Any help that a donor can provide, however small, will go a long way in helping these majestic birds return to the wild existence they were meant to live.

THANK YOU