WASHBURN, Tenn. (WATE) — In East Tennessee and beyond, when birds of prey are born in the wild and get injured, many are sent to the Owl Ridge Raptor Center in Grainger County.
“Mainly, we run a hospital for injured birds of prey. So, we do bald eagles all the way down to the little guys like eastern screech owls and kestrels, all the owls, all the hawks, ospreys and vultures,” said Lisa Thomison, co-founder of the center.
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She, along with Laura Best, who oversees facilities and maintenance, gave 6 News a tour, showing off the smallest and largest of these stunning birds. Many of the raptors will be sent back into the wild, but others who cannot be released serve as ambassadors when youth groups tour the center.
“I watched a group of inner-city kids that came, and everyone got off the vans with their heads down, a lot of hoods up, not engaging with each other or with us. And after an hour and a half of being exposed to everything here, being in nature, you know, feet on the earth, this close to the owls and the different birds, they were engaged with each other. They were laughing and asking great questions. Great questions! And it just touched my heart. That’s by far the best tour we’ve had — for me,” said Best.
The mission has always been big, but now Owl Ridge needs to spread its wings – so to speak…