Retrospective study of morbidity and mortality of raptors admitted to Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital during 1995 to 1998

Abstract

A retrospective study was conducted to identify causes of morbidity and mortality of free-living raptors in northeast Colorado and the surrounding areas of Nebraska and Wyoming. The study included 409 raptors, representing 23 species, admitted to the Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA, from 1995 to 1998. Causes of morbidity and mortality were identified as trauma (66.3%), orphaned young (15.6%), unknown (9.0%), infectious disease (4.4%), metabolic and nutritional disease (2.2%), toxicosis (2.0%), and degenerative disease (0.5%). Trauma was the most frequent cause of morbidity and mortality for all species and during all seasons.