What must happen to a raptor possessed under rehabilitation if it cannot be permanently released?

When a raptor in rehabilitation cannot be permanently released back into the wild, the appropriate course of action involves returning the bird to the rehabilitator. This is because the rehabilitator is responsible for the raptor's care and must ensure the animal continues to receive proper treatment, monitoring, and housing. The rehabilitator may decide to keep the bird for further evaluation, to explore the possibility of additional rehabilitation, or to provide a suitable environment where it can live out its life safely.

Returning the raptor to the rehabilitator maintains the continuity of care and allows for informed decisions regarding the bird's welfare. The rehabilitator typically holds the necessary permits and expertise to provide for the bird's needs. Other options, such as transferring the bird to a falconer, a wildlife sanctuary, or permanently keeping it by the rehabilitator, do not adequately ensure compliance with regulations surrounding the care of rehabilitated wildlife unless they meet specific criteria.