Rehabbed raptors to be freed today

The University of Minnesota's Raptor Center will release several rehabilitated birds of prey back into the wild later today.

Lori Arent, who manages the Center's clinic, says even a simple fracture can land hawks in rehab for at least three months. She says many birds run into windows or cars, leading to broken wings, legs and collarbones.

"We also see birds that are shot, and it's not legal to do that," she said. "Raptors are federally protected and protected by the state as well. Certainly in the fall, we see a fair amount of lead poisoning in bald eagles, and they get that from ingesting lead or lead fragments."

Treated birds are released in public twice every year to show people how bird, human and environmental health are connected.

The Raptor Center treats around 800 injured birds each year to get them strong enough to migrate and catch their own food again.

The birds are to be released at 11:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.