Incidence and risk factors for bumblefoot (pododermatitis) in rehabilitated raptors

A retrospective cohort study was conducted on 821 raptors of 12 representative species, admitted to the California Raptor Center (CRC), during 1980–1990. The incidence rate for bumblefoot was 52 cases per 100 bird-years at risk. Eagles and hawks (buteos) were more likely to develop bumblefoot, and did so earlier during their captivity than other species. Also, raptors admitted with a limb fracture had the greatest risk (OR = 4.2) of developing bumblefoot than any other condition on entry. Median time from admission to development of bumblefoot was 52 days, and median duration of bumblefoot was 23 days.