Today we’d like to introduce you to Alix Parks.
Hi Alix , it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Our Leader – Meet Alix Parks
Founder, HappiNest Raptor Rescue
From the time she was seven, Alix Parks has been caring for wildlife — starting with baby squirrels, opossums, raccoons, and birds at her aunt’s rehab center in Georgia. That early passion grew into a lifelong mission: rescuing, rehabilitating, and educating the public about birds of prey.
Today, Alix is a federally and state‑permitted wildlife rehabilitator on Tennessee’s Northern Plateau. She has worked with over 175 raptors annually, educated more than 3,000 people, and collaborated with organizations like the Clinch River Raptor Center and UTMT.
What She Does
Provides triage and critical care for injured raptors
Works with TWRA and other wildlife techs for rescue, migration, and training
Offers educational programs at schools, events, meetings
Supports disabled and wounded veterans through wildlife education
Why She Does It
Alix’s work is fueled by love, not a paycheck. Like many in wildlife rescue, she’s a volunteer — funding much of the work herself and with the help of donations and sponsorships. She’s also committed to correcting common misconceptions:
Wildlife rehabbers are not veterinarians
They are not government‑funded
They do not provide free “pest removal” services — but they do offer humane advice
Species Helped
Over the years, Alix has cared for: Barred Owls, Red‑tailed Hawks, Screech Owls, Red‑shouldered Hawks, Kestrels, Great Horned Owls, Cooper’s Hawks, Black Vultures, Turkey Vultures, Bald Eagles, Osprey, Sandhill Cranes, American Crows, Wild Turkeys — and more.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Funding is always a struggle and in the beginning, Alix rehabbed all animals. As you can imagine, this is very difficult to keep them fed with all the different kinds of food, housed with all the different needs for housing, separate, etc. It wasn’t until about 5 years ago Alix decided to specialize in raptors only. This streamlined her process, certifications, etc. And with the addition of the HappiNest Ambassador Red-tailed Hawk, Zena, Alix can now go out an educate and charge a small sum to for her visits. More about Zena later.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
What sets Alix apart from others is her undying love and dedication to raptors in the Chattanooga water shed region. She eats, sleeps and dreams of raptors all day every day and when she has 40-60 raptors in care during the spring and summer months, she works from sunup to sundown caring for them. It’s a thankless job. Most people don’t realize how much work goes in to caring for sick or injured raptors. If you are interested in what kinds of injuries or sickness comes in to care, please ask and we can explain in detail.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
Alix has little time to sit or listen because her phone rings off the hook with people reporting raptors that are sick or injured. She also gets many many calls about other animals which takes her away from her primary purpose, raptors.
Pricing:
- please refer to our sponsorship pages on our website.
- Individual: https://www.happinestraptorrescue.com/sponsor-a-raptor
- Corporate: https://www.happinestraptorrescue.com/digital-products-2-1
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.happinestraptorrescue.com/
- Instagram: @AlixParks
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/happinestraptorrescue
