What is Rescue-A-Raptor?

Between 600 and 800 injured or orphaned raptors are brought to Carolina Raptor Center each year. Since inception we have admitted over 13,000 patients.

The majority of birds come from a 12-county area centered on Charlotte, NC, but we receive birds from many other counties in NC and SC and occasionally from other states. Concerned citizens bring many birds directly to us, while others arrive in the capable hands of our dedicated transport volunteers.

New patients are weighed and examined for injuries. Blood tests and radiographs help identify injuries and determine treatment options. An extensive record-keeping system ensures that consistent care is provided to each bird by our volunteers, interns and staff.

Some birds require surgery to repair broken wings or legs. Our staff veterinarian and volunteer veterinarians from the community clean wounds and repair fractures. All of our patients require a high-quality and balanced diet to recover from their injuries. Many need fluids, antibiotics and other medications to help speed the healing process.

Carolina Raptor Center spends over $500 on the average patient. By supporting the Rescue-A-Raptor Program, you can help with the rehabilitation and release of a beautiful bird of prey back to a life in its natural environment.

How are Raptors Rehabilitated at Carolina Raptor Center?

Patients may spend anywhere from a few days to many weeks under our care. Trained volunteers and interns, supervised by our professional staff, provide intensive daily care to as many as 125 patients on site at any one time. Intensive care birds are housed indoors, some of them in incubators to help them maintain their high body temperature of 104 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. Birds graduate from indoor housing to outside cages once their injuries have healed. They will spend several weeks building up their flight muscles that have atrophied after a lengthy hospital stay.

Young birds and adult raptors with eye injuries must pass “Mouse School” by demonstrating their ability to catch live prey in a large outdoor enclosure. In “Flight School” all patients must demonstrate their flying skills.

Choose your support level

We invite you to support the medical care of our beautiful patients. Suggested donation levels are $30, $75 or $150. The benefits to you and to the patient vary among levels, but rest assured that all birds of prey admitted to Carolina Raptor Center receive the highest quality care for their needs. Your contribution helps underwrite selected aspects of their medical treatment and entitles you to certain benefits as outlined in the table below.

Choose your species

Listed below are some of the more common patients we routinely admit. By choosing one of these species, you will greatly increase the possibility of actually witnessing a release back into the wild. As our volunteers will tell you, it is a very memorable experience.

How do I participate?

You can register on-line, pick up information on your next visit to CRC, or call us and we can mail you a brochure.