An alternative therapy for veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder is being developed in Largo.
The Avian Veteran Alliance, or AVA, uses birds of prey to help vets learn how to control their emotions.
Patrick Bradley, the Director of Raptors at George C. McDough Nature Park, helped develop the program after seeing positive changes in his son Skyler Bradley, who served 13 years in the United States Army.
“I did multiple tours over in both Iraq and Afghanistan,” Skyler said. “And that’s about all I can say about that.”
It’s still difficult for Skyler, 36, to talk about his combat experience. When he left the service two years ago, Skyler said he struggled with the transition back to civilian life.
That’s when his father asked him to come to the park and spend some time with the birds of prey.
Soon, Skyler was stopping by up to six days a week, first walking with the birds perched on his arm, and later training them himself.
“You have to remain in control. You cannot allow the PTSD or the bad affect you,” Skyler said.
Patrick said it didn’t take long to notice a difference in his son.
“He started relaxing,” Patrick said. “Just something as simple as relaxing.”
That’s when the father-son team knew they had something. The pair teamed up with another volunteer, USF St. Petersburg student Kaleigh Hoyt, to form the Avian Veteran Alliance.
Through a partnership with Bay Pines VA Medical Center, more than a dozen veterans have used the program.
Hoyt has been keeping track of their progress while working toward her bachelor’s degree in anthropology.
“It all comes under the heading of just remaining calm and taking into consideration the feelings of the bird,” she said. “And by doing that, you calm yourself down.”
Now, Skyler is holding down a full time job and working towards a business degree. Thanks to the birds, he said he feels in control again.
And while he still has a long way to go, he’s confident AVA will continue to help him and other veterans heal.