What are the basic requirements for maintaining a captive raptor?

Maintaining a captive raptor requires a combination of essential elements to ensure their well-being. A perch is crucial as it provides a resting place for the bird and is designed to meet their physical needs, allowing them to grip securely and maintain their talons. A proper food supply is vital for the raptor’s health, as they require a diet that meets their nutritional needs, typically consisting of whole prey or specially formulated diets. Scales are important for monitoring the bird's weight since maintaining a healthy weight is critical for both health and performance. A bath is also necessary for raptors, as it aids in feather maintenance and hydration, which is essential for their overall health.

The other options lack some of these fundamental requirements. While hoods are indeed important for handling and training purposes, they do not contribute to a raptor's basic needs in terms of habitat or health maintenance as much as a perch or a consistent food supply does. Similarly, while lures can be useful for training and exercise, they do not fulfill the nutritional or physical habitat requirements necessary for keeping a raptor healthy in captivity.