The Big Day for the Draper Museum Raptor Experience

Once we had the painting done I called the Game Warden to schedule our mews inspection for the Draper Museum Raptor Experience. Wyoming requires that your facility be inspected and approved before you can even apply to have birds for an education program. They take their job of ensuring the safety and humane treatment of these animals very seriously—for which I am very grateful.

At 4 p.m. on June 28 our Game Warden arrived for our inspection. I was sooooo nervous. I knew we had an amazing facility, but since the future of the entire program was riding on us passing this inspection, I couldn’t help but be nervous. I knew the warden was coming that afternoon, but we didn’t have an exact time. I honestly felt like vomiting most of that day. When he finally arrived, Pat and I took him out to the mews to show him what we had.

We passed with flying colors!!!! An enormous weight was lifted from my shoulders! At that moment I handed him my application for state permits for our birds and he said he’d sign them and send them on to the state office that evening. I headed straight back to my office and got my application for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service put together to get mailed right away as well (couldn’t send those off until we had passed our inspection as well).

And now…we wait. UGH!