A Museum member sent me a post about "bumblefoot" from the Teton Raptor Center, and asked if we ever encounter this problem with our birds. The post pictured a gnarly sore on the bottom of an eagle's foot and described the time-intensive treatment to heal the foot. Bumblefoot, a generic term for these foot sores or injuries, are caused by bearing weight unevenly or persistently in one spot. It can become a serious problem since raptors spend almost all of their time on their feet. These sores can grow quickly, heal slowly, and sometimes become infected.
Luckily our birds haven't had any problems with bumblefoot historically, but we are always vigilant about maintaining good foot health. The best bumblefoot prevention is providing a variety of perches. Aldo the kestrel can choose to sit at his window on a wood dowel wrapped with rope. Or he might spend time on a natural branch perch, a swinging rope, or a flat square of astroturf. With so many options, Aldo uses his feet differently throughout the day and avoids putting pressure on one spot.
Коментарі