Injured, Rare Falcon Recovering At Wildlife Rescue Center In Burlingame

BURLINGAME (CBS SF) -- A rare falcon that was recently attacked is recovering at the Wildlife Rescue Center in Burlingame and is expected to be released back into the wild in February.

The Merlin falcon was brought to the Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA's Tom & Annette Lantos Center for Compassion, at 1450 Rollins Road, earlier this month, center officials said.

Only one or two Merlin falcons are treated by the center annually.

Someone found the falcon in Palo Alto. It arrived with significant tearing on the underside of its right wing, according to the center. Wildlife staff members believe it was attacked by a large raptor.

Its wounds have been stitched up and they expect the falcon will be released by about mid-February.

Today and Sunday, the SPCA is hosting an open house for their newly completed wildlife enclosures at the Center for Compassion. There will be refreshments and crafts and projects for kids. Visitors will not, however, be able to see the injured falcon, which is being moved to a quieter space for the weekend to ensure its care is not compromised.

(Copyright 2012 by CBS San Francisco and Bay City News Service. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)