Partners
At Talon Ridge Raptor Institute, we believe that conservation thrives when communities and partners come together. Our work is rooted in the understanding that protecting raptors is inseparable from supporting the people and places who share their landscapes. By fostering community, regional, and national partnerships, we expand access to education, inspire stewardship, and strengthen the ties between culture and conservation. Through collaboration, we create a network of shared responsibility, where knowledge, resources, and passion combine to ensure raptors and their habitats are protected for generations to come. Together, we transform conservation from an individual effort into a collective movement grounded in community.
Andes-Straley Veterinary Hospital
Andes-Straley Veterinary Hospital was first established in 1947 and has continuously served the Tri-Cities community since! They are dedicated to serving pets with high-quality, compassionate care while also providing other key services such as pet boarding and grooming. Additionally, the Doctors at Andes-Straley Veterinary Hospital are trained in exotic veterinary care, and the hospital even operates their own wildlife rehabilitation program.
"We are excited to partner with Talon Ridge Raptor Institute in vetting their raptors, as it’s a fantastic opportunity to support their conservation and care of these incredible birds of prey. Collaborating with such a dedicated organization allows us to contribute to their mission, ensure the health and well-being of the raptors, and deepen our understanding of these majestic creatures. We look forward to a successful partnership that benefits both the raptors and our shared commitment to wildlife preservation," said the staff at Andes-Straley.
Providing high quality veterinary care is of the utmost importance here at Talon Ridge. It was imperative to establish a trusting relationship with a team of veterinary professionals that provide care that aligns with our standards. “Partnering with Andes-Straley was a no brainer,” said John Simcox, President and Executive Director of Talon Ridge Raptor Institute. “They are already a prominent figure within the community, and their commitment to our native wildlife falls directly in line with our mission to protect raptors. We are excited to work closely with the team at Andes-Straley to provide Wicca and our future raptor ambassadors the highest quality of veterinary care possible. We are incredibly grateful for their support and their efforts in veterinary excellence.”
Owl Ridge Raptor Center, located in Washburn, TN, is a 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofit and a state and federally permitted raptor rehabilitation facility dedicated to supporting our native raptor species. Currently, Owl Ridge Raptor Center serves 150+ birds of prey per year and they are the only facility in the region licensed to rehabilitate bald eagles, our nations living symbol. They provide critical care to injured raptors, provide developmental training for young or orphaned birds that require necessary skills for release, and it is their goal to save all native species of raptors.
The partnership comes at pivotal moment where both organizations, who share a common goal, can come together for the betterment of their staff, volunteers, patients, and raptor ambassadors. Our partnership works to provide critical professional development opportunities for each organization to continue developing industry leading skills and techniques. “What makes this partnership so exciting is while our organizations are similar in nature, we both have our own specific niche areas of work,” said John Simcox, President and Executive Director of Talon Ridge Raptor Institute. “While TRRI’s expertise heavily falls in the areas of raptor training and behavior modification, Owl Ridge’s expertise falls in raptor rehabilitation. We are excited to share our knowledge and we look forward to how this partnership will grow in the coming years.” Additionally, this partnership continues to support our mission to amplify Appalachian-based communities and organizations! Lisa Thomison, Director of Owl Ridge Raptor Center stated, “Owl Ridge would like to continue to help build bridges and educational opportunities with our folks of Appalachia!”