Cinnamon arrived at Carolina Raptor Center in 1999 from Bessemer City, North Carolina. Cinnamon’s injury is not obvious when you see her - her injury is inside her head. Someone found Cinnamon as a baby and decided to rehabilitate her on their own, which is not only illegal but can also be very dangerous for the bird. When American kestrels (and other raptors) hatch from their eggs, they learn what they are by seeing who is feeding them and caring for them. Unfortunately for Cinnamon, instead of being cared for by her American kestrel parents, she was cared for by people! Because Cinnamon never learned that she was an American kestrel, she would not be able to survive on her own in the wild. She is now one of our most popular education birds and has met hundreds of thousands of children from all over the Carolinas, teaching them about the importance of wildlife and the environment.

»Click to adopt Cinnamon!

Jake was sent to Carolina Raptor Center as an adult on August 28, 2006 from Raptor Recovery Nebraska. Jake had suffered a gunshot wound, and the tip of his right wing had to be removed to spare his life. As a result, Jake cannot fly well enough to be released back into the wild. He is now one of our raptor ambassadors, traveling all over the Carolinas for educational programs. Jake was appropriately named after Jake Delhomme, the quarterback of the Carolina Panthers. A member of the falcon family, American kestrels have a black stripe or malar mark under each eye that functions the same as the eye-black that football players use, absorbing the light that hits their face so it does not reflect into their eyes and blind them during a hunt.

»Click to adopt Jake!

Kramer was found on a wall at the Martin Marietta plant in Monroe, North Carolina in 2001. We are unsure of Kramer’s age, but we know that he is at least nine years old. An American kestrel’s lifespan in the wild typically would not exceed eight years, but in captivity, Kramer could live to be fourteen! Kramer has a fractured left humerus, and it is suspected that he was in some type of collision. Visitors can see Kramer out on Carolina Raptor Center’s Nature Trail.

Adler is one of Carolina Raptor Center's resident bald eagles. He arrived at our rehabilitation facility in the fall of 2005, not quite a year old, after being found on the ground in Stanly, North Carolina. When one of our transport volunteers got a call asking her to check on a large raptor that had been spotted on the ground, she had no idea what she might be in for! As she worked for over an hour to safely catch the eagle, a coyote was keeping his eyes on her AND the young bald eagle the entire time! Once in our facility, X-rays revealed that Adler had been shot, and his right wing had suffered permanent damage, leaving him unable to fly well enough to be returned to the wild. Many people mistakenly believe that these large birds are a threat to their pets or their children. Bald eagles, weighing between six and fourteen pounds, eat a diet consisting primarily of fish, and when they do go after something bigger, they typically cannot carry more than 2-4 pounds. So, family pets and small children are quite safe! Although Adler cannot be returned to the wild, he now has an important job: acting as an ambassador and teaching people throughout the Carolinas about the importance of raptors and the natural environment.

Dante is the newest eagle to join our education team. Dante came to Carolina Raptor Center in the summer of 2007, from a private rehabilitator and educator in Ohio. He was found in Ottawa County, Ohio, in 1997, after his nest fell out of a tree - with Dante and his sibling inside!! His sibling had only minor injuries and was able to be relocated to another nest where he fledged later that summer. Unfortunately, Dante was trapped underneath the nest when it fell (bald eagle nests can weigh several tons!), and his left wing was very badly injured. Back to the Wild, a rehabilitation center in Ohio, gave him the best treatment possible, and then sent him to the University of Minnesota Raptor Center for additional treatment for his wing, as they were hoping he might be releasable. Unfortunately, his wing injury was quite severe, and after many months of rehabilitation, the Minnesota Raptor Center sent him back to Ohio as a permanently non-releasable eagle. After returning to Ohio, Dante was continuing to struggle with his injured wing, and the decision was made to amputate nearly all of his left wing. Dante then spent several years as an education bird at Back to the Wild before being transferred to another Ohio rehabilitator for education purposes. After only a year in his new home, the educator decided to downsize the number of education birds at her facility and began to look for a new home for Dante. He was flown in to Charlotte from Cleveland, Ohio, this past summer, and we are very lucky to have him as part of our team!

Derek a male bald eagle, came to Carolina Raptor Center in August of 1998 from the South Carolina Center for Birds of Prey (now known as the International Center for Birds of Prey) in Charleston, SC. He was at least seven years old when he arrived. He had been found in December of 1995 with a gun shot injury that resulted in a broken left leg and a broken right wing. Although rehabilitators were able to treat his wing and his leg, Derek is not able to fly well enough to survive on his own in the wild. He lives on display at Carolina Raptor Center, where he acts as an ambassador for the 38,000 visitors that visit each year. For the past several years, he has bonded with Savannah, one of the bald eagles that shares his display aviary. Their offspring, Len and Lola, were hatched in March of 2006, and have been released to the wild. You can track their progress on our website. Click here for Eagle Journeys.

Derek is named after a very special boy that visited Carolina Raptor Center on many occasions. Derek Hageman loved raptors and could name almost every raptor. He pointed them out to his parents and would tell his classmates stories about the birds. When Derek passed away at the age of nine, Carolina Raptor Center became a place of remembrance for his family. His mother volunteered at CRC as she was learning to deal with her loss. At a memorial service at Derek's school, Carolina Raptor Center released a rehabilitated hawk as symbolic of Derek's spirit beginning a new journey. Derek was a special boy and it was a wonderful tribute to name one of our resident eagles after him.

»Click here to adopt Derek!

All of the birds at Carolina Raptor Center are lucky because they were rescued, but Garibaldi was lucky enough to be rescued twice! The first time he was rescued was in Florida in 1998. He had been found stuck in a tree, hanging by his wing for over 24 hours. He was treated at the Florida Audubon Center for Birds of Prey, but he had a hole in the skin of his wing so he couldn’t fly well or soar at all! He lived happily at the Carolina Raptor Center’s eagle aviary, until July 2005 when a severe storm caused the eagle aviary to collapse. Garibaldi was flying free once more. The problem was, he couldn’t fly well enough to hunt. He was able to scavenge for food until February 2006 (seven months later!) when he was located and recaptured near Beverly Hills Elementary School in Concord. He was very thin when he returned, but otherwise healthy. After monitoring him for a few weeks in our rehabilitation center, he was returned to take his high perch in the eagle aviary once again.

Luke was nine years old when he arrived at Carolina Raptor Center in June 1995 from the Virginia Tech. School of Forestry & Wildlife Resources. The tip of Luke’s right wing had to be amputated after a collision with a power line. Power line collisions and electrocutions are common causes of injury among bald and golden eagles due to the large wingspans of these birds and the short amount of space between power lines. As a result of his injury, Luke cannot fly well enough to hunt and survive on his own in the wild. For this reason he remains in our eagle aviary as an ambassador for his species.

Savannah came to CRC in 1998 from the South Carolina Center for Birds of Prey in Charleston, South Carolina. She was found in the wild with a fractured left wing, and although we are not sure exactly what caused her injury, it is most likely the result of a collision, whether with a vehicle or power line or something else we’ll never know. She has adjusted to life at CRC quite well, and has found a mate here. Savannah and Derek have raised two eaglets in our aviary, and we were able to successfully release those eaglets to the wild. You can check on the progress of the eaglets, Len and Lola, here.

Sir Raleigh is one of our oldest resident raptors, having arrived in April of 1986 from Nebraska when he was only a year old. His left wing was shot and the entire wing had to be amputated in order to save his life. While it is hard to tell the age of many raptors past their first year of life, bald eagles can be aged up to 5 years, as their head does not turn completely white until they are between five and seven years old. However, if a bald eagle arrives at CRC’s hospital as an adult, he or she may be as old as 25!

Emma, came to Carolina Raptor Center in June of 2004 from another wildlife rehabilitation facility. She was admitted with trauma to her left eye, and two broken wings. In one wing, only one bone was broken, but in the other wing two bones were broken. Emma was still a young bird, with a few remaining downy feathers on top of her head. We knew right away that she had just been hatched a few months before. Unfortunately for Emma, while her injuries healed, they did not heal well enough to allow her to fly well enough to be released. She quickly joined our educational team and has been a favorite for staff, volunteers and visitors ever since!

»Click here to adopt Emma!

Faye, our newest resident barn owl arrived at Carolina Raptor Center in August of 2007 after being found stuck in a barbed wire fence. Faye suffered tissue damage to her right wing, as well as bruising on her left wing and right leg. Faye was full grown when she was injured, but the lifespan of barn owls can often be quadrupled in captivity; while wild barn owls in the wild only live to be 2-3 years old, we had one resident who lived to be 14! Faye was named after the great-aunt of one of CRC’s volunteers. Visitors can see Faye our on our Nature Trail with her roommates Harvey and Spirit.

Harvey, was found in Buncombe County, North Carolina in 2001 and taken to a local rehabilitator. He had a fractured radius and ulna on his right wing. The cause of his injuries is unknown, but it is suspected that he was hit by a car. Harvey is paired with Spirit, and together they have raised several chicks that have been successfully released into the wild. Harvey was named by Hal Walker after the invisible rabbit in the Jimmy Stewart movie, Harvey.

Spirit, came to Carolina Raptor Center in December 1997. She was found on Christmas day in Statesville, North Carolina with a right wing injury. Part of her wing later had to be amputated. It is suspected that her injury is a result of a collision with a car. Spirit was a member of our education team for many years, before being moved onto the display trail. Spirit lays eggs and fosters orphaned barn owls several times a year.

Willow was found in a building being renovated near Albemarle, North Carolina. She was illegally given to someone who thought if she was raised on their property she would hunt the animals in the area. A friend was concerned about her behavior and so they called Carolina Raptor Center for advice, but by the time she was brought to our facility she was already imprinted on humans. When owls hatch, they look to their parents to learn that they are an owl. Unfortunately, because Willow was raised by people, she never had the opportunity to learn she was an owl, and therefore would not be able to survive on her own in the wild. She came to CRC in her hatching year and has been with us since July of 2007.

Bob O., came to us in October of 1999 with severe trauma to both eyes. Her injury was caused by a head-on car collision in Cumberland County, North Carolina. Because eyes take up roughly 75% of an owl’s skull, head injuries often cause eye damage, which is a problem for owls because keen vision is one of their essential tools for hunting and navigating the nighttime forest. Although Bob is a boy name, we suspect Bob O. is actually a girl; since raptor males and females are typically identical in color, we have to guess their gender based on size (the girls are larger). Bob O. was named after volunteer Toni O'Neil's father.

Guilford came to Carolina Raptor Center in April 2005 with a broken left wing. He was found in a wooded back yard in Statesville, North Carolina. The cause of Guilford’s injury is unknown, but because he still had a significant amount of downy feathers, we can assume that he fell out of his nest. It is not uncommon for baby birds to fall out of their nests when they are first learning how to fly. The parents of these birds will typically feed the birds while they live on the ground, until the point when the baby can fly back into the nest. Owls will also re-use the nests of other birds, such as falcons or hawks, without fixing the nest. These nests will often break apart as a result of age and use, causing the baby owls to fall to the ground. Although Guilford cannot be returned to the wild, he has an important job as an ambassador for barred owls, teaching thousands of children each year in schools across the Carolinas.

Hala, was admitted in her hatching year to Carolina Raptor Center on August 17, 1997. She was found in a yard in York, South Carolina, and the cause of her injury is unknown. Unfortunately, her left wing was injured, and she cannot fly well enough to survive in the wild. Hala is a permanent resident and an important part of Carolina Raptor Center's education programs.

»Click here to adopt Hala!

Jessie J., came to Carolina Raptor Center in March of 1996 from another rehabilitator. Jessie J. had been found on the side of the road in Stanley County North Carolina, where she had been hit by a car. She suffered extensive damage to both eyes and a concussion, and she was lucky she didn’t have any broken bones. We knew early on that the damage to her eyes would be irreversible and that she would spend the rest of her life in captivity. Over the last decade Jessie J. has traveled to hundreds of schools and seen thousands of people. As an educational ambassador for Carolina Raptor Center, Jessie J gives people a rare opportunity to see nature up-close and inspire awe.

Loki arrived at Carolina Raptor Center in 2004 after being found in Monroe, North Carolina. He suffered eye trauma and head trauma, and was likely hit by a car. Car collisions are the number one cause of injuries at Carolina Raptor Center’s Raptor Rehabilitation Facility. One way that everyone can help to make a difference to reduce the number of car-animal collisions is by not littering! Things like apple cores, banana peels and cigarette butts attract small animals to the side of the road. Those small animals then attract predators like barred owls and other raptors. By simply not littering, everyone can have a positive impact on the environment! Loki can be seen with his roommate Sophie on Carolina Raptor Center’s Nature Trail.

Omar, was 11 years old when he was admitted to Carolina Raptor Center June 20, 1997. He was sent to us from Piedmont Environmental Center, emaciated and exhibiting odd behavior such as imbalance, wing and head drooping and depression. Since then, he has adjusted nicely to his position on Carolina Raptor Center's display trail, where he is in frequent contact with people. With his social behavior around humans and vocal personality, he is a visitor and volunteer favorite. The reason for this apparent affinity of his for people is that Omar is imprinted on humans. Imprinting is an irreversible process that occurs in young birds when they are learning their social identity. Because he was raised illegally by humans, Omar came to view humans as his own species, and now he will not interact socially with other owls. He was never taught to hunt by his "owl" parents and would go to humans for food. Omar is a permanent resident and an important part of Carolina Raptor Center's education programs.

Sophie was found in 2001 in the woods near Lake Wylie, South Carolina with an injured wing. The cause of her injury is unknown. Barred owls are the most common type of owl in the Charlotte area. They can often be heard calling to each other at night with their signature hoot “who cooks for you, who cooks for you all!” Sophie can be seen on the Nature Trail with her roommate Loki.

Igor came to Carolina Raptor Center in April of 1995 as an orphan from Alamance County, North Carolina. Igor’s mother and sibling were presumably shot and killed, while she stayed hidden in her nest. The family who rescued Igor kept her for two days before turning her over to local rehabilitators. All injured or orphaned wildlife should be taken to a licensed rehabilitator as soon as possible, and this is especially important with young birds. When they hatch, young birds identify what they are with who is feeding and caring for them. Vultures are extremely clever birds, with some studies equating their learning curve to be similar to that of a three year old human child! Igor learned in a very short time to identify with humans and rely on people to feed her. She now lives on the public display trail with her roommate Tombstone where she entertains visitors daily with her antics.

Tombstone was found in Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina and was brought to Carolina Raptor Center by the Piedmont Wildlife Center in March of 2005. Rehabilitators suspected that he had been hit by a car, as he was found in someone’s yard with in juries to his wings. Because vultures are scavengers, they can often be seen near roadsides eating animals that have been hit by cars. Unfortunately, this leaves them vulnerable to being hit by cars themselves. Tombstone can be seen on the Nature Trail with his roommate Igor.

Zorro was found as a baby in a yard in South Carolina in 2004. The finders kept her for three weeks, feeding her dog food and lunchmeat, before bringing her to Carolina Raptor Center. By the time she arrived here, she was imprinted on humans. Because she was raised by humans instead of vultures, she doesn’t know how to survive in the wild. Zorro is now one of the stars of our summer free flight program Backyard Tails, where she successfully helps Carolina Raptor Center with their fundraising efforts by collecting donations from audience members!

»Click here to adopt Zorro!

D.C., a broad-winged hawk, came to Carolina Raptor Center in September of 2006. He was found in Lexington, North Carolina with a broken wing resulting from a suspected car collision. D.C.’s full name is Devin Cole. He was named after the two sons of one of Carolina Raptor Center’s docent volunteers. D.C.’s name sounds very much like his call, which sounds like a high pitched “D-Ceee!” D.C. is now a member of our education team and travels to schools in North and South Carolina to teach children about raptors and conservation.

»Click here to adopt D.C.!

Kobrey, came to us in 2005 after he was found in a dog-pen in South Carolina suffering from dehydration and a broken right wing. It is unclear whether the dogs caused the injury or if he flew into the fencing. Kobrey is one of our resident broad-winged hawks, so perhaps this bird was dehydrated from a tough migration; these hawks will migrate up to 10,000 miles round trip! Kobrey can be seen with his roommate Morgan on Carolina Raptor Center’s Nature Trail.

Morgan was found in someone’s yard in Charlotte in 2004. She had damage to the tip of her right wing, and permanent damage to her feather follicles. We do not know what caused her injuries. Broad-winged hawks are commonly seen in North Carolina during spring and fall migrations, where they will soar in large groups of 10 to 1,000s of birds. The large number of birds soaring around looks like water boiling in a kettle, so it called a kettle of hawks. Morgan can be seen on the Nature Trail with her roommate Kobrey.

Calusa, is one of Carolina Raptor Center's most interesting residents. Calusa came to Carolina Raptor Center in December 2007 from the Conservancy of Southwest Florida. He had been found in September 2007 after being hit by a car. Burrowing owls, while not native to North Carolina, are a species of special concern in Florida because of the destruction of their habitat and because large numbers of these owls are hit by cars. As their name suggests, these owls actually burrow in the ground, laying their eggs and hatching their young below the earth instead of in the trees. In most raptors females are significantly larger than the males, but in the case of the Florida subspecies of burrowing owls, the males are actually larger. This small, ground-dwelling owl with his long legs and big, yellow eyes is sure to delight visitors for years to come!

»Click here to adopt Calusa!

Draven was found in Charlotte after flying into a window. He came in his hatch year on July 15th, 2003 with a broken scapula. He was named after a volunteer’s grandson, and can now be seen on Carolina Raptor Center’s Nature Trail. Cooper’s hawk’s are known for their short bursts of speed. They will see the reflection of the trees in the window and they are so fast that they are unable to slow down before hitting the window. One way that people can help Cooper’s hawks and other birds from hitting their windows is to place their bird feeders within three feet of the window. This short distance doesn’t allow birds to build up enough speed to hurt themselves if they do fly into the window. Draven can be visited on the Nature Trail with his roommate Sybil.

Jet was transferred to CRC from another facility in January of 2000. He had a broken left humurus and is missing part of his upper beak, so he is not able to tear up his own food anymore. Jet is our only Cooper’s hawk used for education programs, as these birds are naturally very easily stressed and are not usually suited to sitting on a person’s glove. Thus, it is a rare opportunity to see a Cooper’s hawk like Jet up close.

Sybil was found in Newport, South Carolina, near a microwave tower in a honeysuckle shrub, next to a barbed wire fence. The cause of her injury is unknown, but she had a stiff right elbow that seemed to be from a collision of some kind. She came to Carolina Raptor Center on August 18th 1998 and is now 10 years old. Sybil can be seen on the Nature Trail with her roommate Draven.

Akai was transferred to Carolina Raptor Center in July of 2007 from another rehabilitation facility. Akai had been brought in as a baby from New Bern, North Carolina, and while the rehabilitator took precautions to prevent Akai from imprinting on humans, it was not successful. Akai was sent to Carolina Raptor Center for evaluation, where we determined that he had become imprinted on people and would not be able to survive on his own in the wild. He now stars in education programs, teaching people all over the Carolinas about the importance of wildlife and the environment. The name ‘Akai’ is Japanese for red, which is fitting for this red-phase Eastern screech owl.

Andi came to Carolina Raptor Center in December of 2003 after having been hit by a car in her hatching year. A veterinarian from Arden, North Carolina turned the bird over to us after a week, citing that the bird had vision problems. Sure enough, upon examination, we discovered the bird was blind in her right eye and had moderate damage to her left eye as well. We tested Andi in a specially designed flight cage to evaluate her vision, but she flew slowly, indicating she was having trouble finding her way around. It was concluded that she could not see well enough to be released back into the wild and has lived on our display trail ever since. She was named after a former Director of Education, Andi Burling. Andi serves as an excellent example of a gray-phase Eastern screech owl, meaning that she blends in better with gray colored trees. She lives on the Nature Trail with her roommate Peter-Joe, a red-phase screech owl.

Hermes arrived at Carolina Raptor Center in December of 2004, with a broken right wing caused by a suspected window collision. Millions of birds are killed each year due to window collisions, because instead of seeing the window, they see a reflection of the trees and the sky and they think there's more space to fly! You can help birds see your windows by placing stickers on the outside glass - this breaks up the reflection and shows the bird that a window is there. Unfortunately, Hermes' wing did not heal straight, so he could not be returned to the wild. He is now a raptor ambassador, helping Carolina Raptor Center staff and volunteers promote raptor conservation and education. Hermes was named after Percy Weasley’s owl in Harry Potter.

»Click here to adopt Hermes!

Jamie Bond came to Carolina Raptor Center in 2003 and she was the 10,007th bird to be admitted to our hospital. Thus, the number on her chart read as “007,” and so she was named in honor of James Bond, Agent 007. We believe she is a female because she is our largest eastern screech owl, and while sometimes it is hard to tell the boys from the girls, the largest raptors are typically female. Jamie Bond lost her vision as a result of a car accident. Although she cannot be released back to the wild, she is one of our raptor ambassadors and sees thousands of people each year on education programs.

Lana, came to Carolina Raptor Center in October of 2004. She was transferred from an animal hospital, where she had spent three weeks following a suspected car collision. She suffered damage to both of her eyes, and her right eye had to be removed. Lana is a red phase Eastern screech owl, which means that she blends in better with trees that have red bark; in areas with more gray trees, gray phase eastern screech owls are more common. Lana can be seen traveling to schools and community organizations all across the Carolinas, educating people about raptors and their importance to the environment.

»Click here to adopt Lana!

Peter-Joe came to Carolina Raptor Center in November of 2007 after a suspected car collision in which he suffered a broken wing and damage to both of his eyes. Peter-Joe is a red-phase eastern screech owl. Peter-Joe was named after a CRC volunteer’s heroic brother who died in 1969 after his fishing boat in Alaska sank and he gave his coat to another person to save her life. Peter-Joe can be seen with his roommate Andi on the Nature Trail.

Sozo arrived at Carolina Raptor Center in January of 2004. He was found on a roadside in Concord, North Carolina and it is likely that he was hit by a car. The collision caused trauma to both of Sozo’s eyes, and he is now blind. His vision impairment prevents him from being released back into the wild, as he would not be able to survive on his own. In Greek, the word sozo means “rescued and protected from danger.” Sozo is one of the stars of our traveling education programs, and is seen by thousands of people every year who have the unique opportunity to come face-to-beak with an Eastern screech owl!

While golden eagles are typically thought of as birds of the western United States, King Arthur was found near Asheboro, North Carolina in 1993. These large raptors do occasionally migrate through the Carolinas, which is what King Arthur was probably doing, before he collided with a power line and was electrocuted. The collision caused severe damage to his right wing, which later had to be removed in order to save his life. Although non-releasable, King Arthur is now part of our education team and can be seen in our weekend Weathering Area programs. He is named after long-time volunteers Chris and Jim Arthur.

Orion was found in a field in New Port Richey, Florida, by the Florida Fish & Game department. He was transferred to Carolina Raptor Center from the Audubon Center for Birds of Prey in Florida on December 17th, 1997. Golden eagles typically live to be 20-25 years old in the wild, but Orion could live to be 40-50 in captivity! The cause of injury is unknown, but he has a stiff right shoulder, which doesn’t allow him to fully extend his wing. Orion can be visited on the Nature Trail with his roommate Pioneer.

Pioneer joined Carolina Raptor Center’s resident raptors in December 1997. She was transferred from the Audubon Center for Birds of Prey in Florida along with a male golden eagle named Orion. Pioneer is missing her right eye due to a gunshot injury. Unfortunately, golden eagles and other raptors are often shot due to people’s misconceptions about the importance of these birds. Often, people are worried that eagles could hurt their livestock, pets and even their children. But, these birds more commonly prey on squirrels and rabbits, and very rarely hunt livestock! Farm animals, pets and children are simply too big for these birds to successfully catch and kill! Pioneer can be seen on CRC’s Nature Trail with her roommate Orion.

Zlaty is one of Carolina Raptor Center’s oldest residents, having arrived in 1985 from Liberty Wildlife Rehabilitation Foundation in Scottsdale, Arizona. He was found with a severely damaged left wing, and he had probably been shot. Zlaty is one of our most popular education birds, and has helped to educate thousands of people about the importance of top predators, like golden eagles, in the environment. Not only do raptors help to keep populations of mice, squirrels and other prey items at healthy levels, they also serve as indicator species - letting us know about the health of the environment.

Atticus came to Carolina Raptor Center from a rehabilitator in Greenville, North Carolina as a baby in May 2005. Atticus’ injury is not physical- it is a mental injury. He is a human imprint; he was raised by humans and learned to identify with humans rather than other great horned owls. Atticus does not know that he is a great horned owl and never learned that he needed to hunt and take care of himself out in the wild. If he were released into the wild he would starve and may even look for people to feed him. However, Atticus is now an excellent education bird- an ambassador for raptors and orphaned birds everywhere.

Betbait came to us as an orphan in April 1985 from an animal hospital in Concord, North Carolina. She was able to be released two months later, but unfortunately, was found again only two weeks after being released, injured and emaciated. It is also suspected that she has a healed fracture to her right wing causing her to fly crooked and making it difficult for her to hunt on her own. Betbait lives on the display trail with her mate, Myron, but she does more than just educate the public. Not only is she a good mother to her own young, she also fosters other orphaned great horned owls at CRC. Owls cannot count, so we can put extra babies that are brought into our rehabilitation facility into her nest and Betbait will raise them as her own. Over the last 22 years Betbait has raised over 200 orphans and 23 chicks of her own. In 2007 alone she raised 19 orphaned chicks and one of her own. She’s one busy mom!

Dudley came to Carolina Raptor Center in May of 1986 from Palmetto Animal Hospital in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Along with Dudley, came a letter. The letter stated that Dudley had been found originally in March of 1984 as a young chick. A well meaning, but ill-informed family took the bird in and attempted to raise him as a pet. They fed him chicken parts and snakes, mice and squirrels. What they didn’t know is that not only is keeping a raptor as a pet illegal, it is bad for their health. Dudley quickly developed a bone disease called rickets, which means his bones are weak from a lack of proper diet when he was young. Dudley also became imprinted on humans. This means he identifies and recognizes people as a source for food. Together, these conditions rendered Dudley non-releasable upon his arrival to Carolina Raptor Center. Throughout his 20+ years, he has been an ambassador to thousands and a favorite of staff and volunteers.

»Click here to adopt Dudley!

Dumbledore was raised by a rehabilitator, who unintentionally caused him to imprint on humans. He was named after the head of Hogwarts, Professor Dumbledore, of Harry Potter fame. He can be seen soaring over visitor's heads in our summer free flight program - “Backyard Tails.”

»Click here to adopt Dumbledore!

Matilda ("Mattie") came to Carolina Raptor Center on January 2, 2000. She was originally found in April of 1997 near Morganton, North Carolina, entangled in barbed wire. There was irreparable damage to her right wing, so she was taken to a wildlife rehabilitator who kept her until she was transferred to us. Mattie is an exceptionally large great horned owl, and while her size can be imposing at first, her personality makes her a staff and volunteer favorite. Mattie is also a popular subject at Carolina Raptor Center's annual photo shoots.

»Click here to adopt Mattie!

Myron came to us as a baby in April 1991 from a veterinarian in Hilton Head, South Carolina. He was very docile and habituated to humans, meaning he was dangerously comfortable around people. If released back into the wild, Myron would be likely to swoop down on people and beg for food - a dangerous situation for both Myron and the public. Myron now lives on our display trail at Carolina Raptor Center and is Betbait’s mate. Myron is a very protective father, and together they have raised 23 babies of their own.

One Eyed Jack was transferred to Carolina Raptor Center from Greenville, North Carolina in August 1990. He had suffered a concussion, bruising to his left side and head as well as trauma to both of his eyes. His left eye was so badly damaged that it had to be removed. His injuries were likely the result of a car collision. Although great horned owls have excellent vision, they are very focused on their prey during a hunt and are unlikely to notice oncoming traffic. For this reason great horned owls and other raptors are commonly hit by cars as they hunt on roadsides. One Eyed Jack is now living on the upper loop of our display trail with Myron and Betbait.

Circe is a female Harris’ hawk that came from a wildlife rehabilitation center in Tucson, AZ. She has a stiff right elbow and damage to her left wing from an electrocution injury. In order for a bird to be electrocuted a bird must touch in two places on a power line. Typically, one place is with their large talons and the second place is with their wings. Circe came to Carolina Raptor Center on December 06, 2007, and can now be seen on our Nature Trail with her roommate Sonora. Circe was named after the enchantress from the Odyssey.

Cody is one of Carolina Raptor Center's resident Harris' hawks - and has been seen flying in our summer free flight show Backyard Tails! Cody spent the first ten years of his life working as a falconry bird, before being transferred to CRC in the fall of 2006. Falconry, the sport of hunting with trained raptors, was started thousands of years ago in Asia, but did not become popular until the middle ages where it was practiced by thousands of people in Europe. Falconry continues to be practiced today, and is now the most regulated of all hunting activities. Cody had to give up his life as a falconry bird after meeting his match with a squirrel who succeeded in biting one of Cody’s toes! That toe had to be amputated, leaving Cody unable to successfully catch and kill his prey. Cody now spends much of his time educating the public with our traveling education programs.

Scout joined Carolina Raptor Center’s education team in the fall of 2005. He was hatched in captivity in 1995 at a raptor center in Missouri, where he was used as an education bird for several years before being transferred to another raptor center in New York. After spending only a couple of years in New York, Scout found a permanent home here at Carolina Raptor Center. Somewhere along Scout’s journey around the country, he was attacked by another animal, possibly a venomous snake! He suffered damage to his left wing, and later had to have part of that wing removed. This goes to show that being one of nature’s top predators can be dangerous - their prey are not happy to be eaten and will often fight to survive!

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Sonora is one of our resident Harris' hawks, and can be seen out on our nature trail with her companion Circe. Sonora arrived at CRC as an adult in 2002, from a wildlife center in Tucson, Arizona. Unfortunately, Sonora flew into power lines and was electrocuted, resulting in an injury to her left wing and her right foot. Birds and squirrels are often seen sitting on power lines, suffering no injuries. Electrocution occurs when an animal touches two lines at the same time, which is exactly what happened to Sonora. While flying, she touched one line with her left wing, and a different line with her right foot, causing her to be electrocuted. Although her foot has since healed, the injury to her wing has left her unable to fly. Out on our nature trail, Sonora allows visitors to see a Harris’ hawk up close and to admire the beauty of one of the southwestern United States’ most amazing raptors.

Snap was found in Mesa, AZ with an old fracture to her left wing and transferred to Carolina Raptor Center in August 2001. Her stiff left wrist limits her flight and she cannot be released back into the wild. Her name, short for O Snap!, describes the exclamatory expression that long-eared owls have when they are surprised or frightened. Snap lives on the lower loop of our display trail with Laurel, another long-eared owl.

Laurel was transferred to Carolina Raptor Center in August 2000 from the Raptor Recovery Center in Nebraska. Her left wing was injured when she became entangled in a barbed wire fence. The scar tissue that formed around the wound site reduced the flexibility of that wing and rendered her non-releasable. She is now living on the lower loop of our display trail at CRC with Snap. Long eared owls are not commonly seen in North Carolina but will migrate to the Carolinas for the winter.

Ivy was found in a backyard on Briardale Drive in Charlotte, North Carolina, with a broken right wing that eventually had to be amputated. She was most likely hit by a car. Ivy came to us as an adult bird, which means we don't know her exact age - once a raptor is full grown and has its adult plumage, age is almost impossible to know. However, Ivy has been with us since 1997, which means that she is at least 12 years old, which is pretty old in merlin years! Ivy has spent her time at Carolina Raptor Center educating the public about raptors and the environment.

Josie came to Carolina Raptor Center in 1998 from Minnesota. She was found outside of Minneapolis with an injured right wing and taken to the Raptor Center at the University of Minnesota. The cause of her injury is unknown. While it is difficult to tell the males from the females in many raptor species, we know that Josie is a girl because of her large size and brown feather coloration. Josie can be seen on our Nature Trail with her companions Minna and Tiger.

Minna was initially treated by another rehabilitator for injuries to her right eye and right wing. She was transferred to Carolina Raptor Center in March 2004 to evaluate her for release. It was determined that the trauma to her eye was minor and she did not appear to have trouble with flight. However, her right hallux (back toe) was non-functional and eventually had to be amputated due to bumble foot (a debilitative foot disease). Without her right hallux, Minna cannot be released into the wild but can now be seen on the lower loop of our display trail. “Minna” is a Teutonic name that means “in loving memory.”

Tiger came to Carolina Raptor Center in May of 2006 after he’d been hit by a golf-ball!! He’d been found on a golf-course injured in Spartanburg, South Carolina in April and had been treated by a veterinarian who discovered a badly fractured wing that needed partial amputation. In September 2006, Tiger made the transition out to our public display trail to be with his female counterparts, Josie and Minna. With raptors, it can be difficult to tell male from female just by looking at them. In many cases, raptors are considered to have reversed sexual dimorphism, which simply means that girls are bigger than boys. In the case of merlins however, not only are girls bigger than boys, but they’re a different color. Adult female merlins have wings that are brown in coloration, while adult male merlins have slate gray wings making them easy to identify. Tiger is named after the golfer Tiger Woods.

Jasper came to CRC in September of 2005 as a hatching year bird. Many of our hospital residents are first-year birds, because their first year is the most difficult year to survive. Between learning to hunt and defending themselves against other predators, raptor juveniles have it tough! Jasper suffered a broken right wing, and his wing was eventually removed. He hurt his wing in some type of collision. Jasper can be visited on the Nature Trail where he lives with his roommate Leia.

Leia came to Carolina Raptor Center in April of 2007 from the American Eagle Foundation in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Leia suffered from several fractures of her right wing that eventually led to a partial amputation. She had been used in educational programs for several years prior to her arrival at CRC, but she never seemed to acclimate very well to being the center of attention. Now Leia lives on the public display trail with her roommate Jasper. She is a beautifully unique bird with pink eyes instead of the usual cherry red eyes that usually come with age. Mississippi kites are designed to be insectivores, with short stubby toes and softer beaks. They are a migratory species that follows the populations of insects as they go south for the winter. At Carolina Raptor Center, Leia and Jasper have a heat lamp in their cage to help them stay warm through North Carolina’s chilly winter months.

Carolina Raptor Center is very fortunate to have Panya on our education team. She arrived at CRC in her hatching year in August of 2004 from the Schindler Wildlife Rehabilitation Center at the North Carolina Zoo. She had a fractured left wing that left her unable to fly well. We think that she may have fallen from her nest when she was a baby. Although she can not be returned to the wild, she now has an important job educating the public about Mississippi kites and their unique role in the environment.

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Romeo arrived at Carolina Raptor Center on September 3, 2007 after surviving an attack by a larger hawk. Someone who had seen the attack intervened in an effort to save Romeo and then brought him to our center to be treated. His injuries included fractures to both his right and left wing as well as a wound to the neck. His broken wings did not heal properly and he cannot be released back into the wild. Mississippi kites are a very social species of raptor and Romeo makes an excellent companion for Panya, one of our education kites.

Hergian Steeler was less than a year old when he taken to an Illinois veterinarian in 1999 with an injury to his right wing. He was transferred to Spring Brook Nature Center a few weeks later and it was determined that his wing would have to be amputated at the wrist. Hergian was an education bird before he was transferred to CRC in 2006, and is currently living here on our display trail. The word “Harrier” derives from the Old English word Hergian which means to harass, ravage or plunder. The volunteer that named Hergian Steeler happens to be a faithful fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers, and could not help but name a bird after his beloved football team. The cause of Hergian’s injury is unknown.

Gaylady, was transferred to Carolina Raptor Center from the Riverbanks Zoo in Columbia, South Carolina on January 19, 1988. Part of her right wing had been amputated due to her injury but the cause of the injury is unknown. When she arrived, Gaylady still had her juvenile plumage and was originally thought to be a male. As a result she was given the name Gaylord, which means “joyous and brave.” Northern Harrier males, as adults, are gray with black wing tips, but after molting her juvenile feathers it was clear that “Gaylord” was actually a female. Her chocolate brown plumage is characteristic of female Northern Harriers and her name was changed from “Gaylord” to “Gaylady.” Gaylady can be seen on the lower loop of our display trail with her roommate Hergian Steeler.

Back in the fall of 2004, Carolina Raptor Center received a call about an injured raptor on someone's front porch in Cleveland, North Carolina. We quickly dispatched one of our transport volunteers to investigate and bring the injured bird back to our hospital. The volunteer was shocked to discover a hatching year peregrine falcon - a bird that would later be named Aragorn. This bird had a very badly injured left wing, likely resulting from a collision. Upon arrival, part of his wing had to be amputated, leaving him unable to fly. Collision injuries are not uncommon for peregrine falcons. Peregrines are the fastest animals on the planet, and have been clocked at over 200 mph on a dive pursuing their prey. When falcons hunt, they cannot take their eyes off their food, which unfortunately results in them not noticing objects like tree branches, cars, and power lines. Aragorn is now one of our permanent resident raptor ambassadors, traveling throughout the Carolinas, inspiring people to make changes to help save wildlife and the environment.

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Lakota, a red-shouldered hawk, came to Carolina Raptor Center in May of 2003. A woman in Mt. Pleasant, North Carolina found the young bird lying on the ground next to a tree. She suspected the bird had fallen from her nest nearby. Upon examination, we discovered the young red-shouldered hawk was malnourished and suffered from trauma to both eyes, a concussion and was carrying a load of parasites. We knew immediately that Lakota was non-releasable because of her eye injuries. In August of 2003 she made the transition to become an educational ambassador for Carolina Raptor Center. In that time she has greeted thousands of visitors on our display trail with her characteristic call “keee-yar”. Now every summer you can see her flying over your head as she stars in our free-flight program “Backyard Tails.”

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Athena is a female red-tailed hawk that was transferred to Carolina Raptor Center in July of 1993 after spending almost a year as a raptor ambassador for the Piedmont Environmental Center. Athena has an old fracture to her left wing that has left her unable to fly and survive on her own. We think that she may have been shot! Unfortunately, dozens of raptors are brought in to CRC’s rehabilitation facility each year with gun shot wounds. Not only is it illegal to shoot birds of prey, it is also unnecessary. People often fear that these birds are dangerous to their pets, but it is very rare for a red-tailed hawk to attack a small dog or cat. While they look large, red-tailed hawks typically weigh only 2-4 pounds, and can only carry off a prey item weighing less than 1/3 of their body weight. Even puppies are quite safe! Athena can be seen in schools across the Carolinas acting as an ambassador for her species, helping children to understand the importance of raptors to the environment.

Cisco was transferred to Carolina Raptor Center from a private rehabilitator in 2005. Unfortunately, Cisco suffered damage to his wing, leaving him unable to fly as well enough to be released back into the wild. Because raptors are predators, they must be physically perfect (or near perfect!) to successfully fly, find their food, and catch their food. Cisco is part of our education team, traveling throughout the Carolinas, meeting thousands of children each year on education programs. Cisco got his name from Kevin Costner’s horse in the movie “Dances With Wolves.”

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Henry the 1st has been at Carolina Raptor Center since 1992. He was found near Asheboro, North Carolina with a fractured left wing. Upon arriving at Carolina Raptor Center, he had to have surgery to remove gunshot pellets from his left leg and back. Red-tailed hawks, like all raptors, are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, making it illegal to shoot them. Henry the 1st and his mate, Santigi, live together on Carolina Raptor Center’s Nature Trail and have successfully raised 16 chicks of their own over the past 16 years. Although Henry the 1st and Santigi cannot be returned to the wild, their chicks were perfectly healthy and released into the wild.

Honeysuckle was found in Mooresville, North Carolina and brought to Carolina Raptor Center on December 10, 1988. A local family was walking along a path in the woods when Honeysuckle fell out of a bush as they passed by. Her exam at Carolina Raptor Center revealed a fractured wing, that was most likely the result of a gunshot wound. The injury had occurred 4 to 5 days earlier and Honeysuckle was emaciated and very lethargic. After several days of carefully monitored treatment, Honeysuckle regained her strength and appetite, however her wing injury was not repairable and she had to have the wing amputated. When Honeysuckle first arrived at Carolina Raptor Center, her coloration was fairly typical of a red-tailed hawk, although a third of her feathers were lighter than average. However, with each molt (the normal process of shedding and regrowing feathers) Honeysuckle grew more and more white feathers. She is now a referred to as a partial albino, with beautiful white feathers. She is not technically an albino because her eyes and a few feathers retain pigment. This naturally-occurring genetic condition, known as leucism, would have probably meant her doom in the wild, making her more vulnerable because of her lack of camouflage. Honeysuckle's unusual coloration makes her popular with photographers and visitors. She is a permanent resident and an important part of Carolina Raptor Center's education programs.

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Oliver is a permanent resident at Carolina Raptor Center because of a gunshot wound. He came to us from Piedmont Environmental Center in 1993 with a badly injured left wing that later had to be amputated. He also has a lump on the side of his head which is due to scar tissue formed around a gunshot wound. Red-tailed hawks, like all raptors, are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, making it illegal to shoot them. Oliver now stars in onsite education programs, teaching visitors about his story and raptor conservation.

Russell came to Carolina Raptor Center in March, 2004. He had been found on the side of the road, with an eye injury that left him blind in his right eye. He was most likely hit by a car, the most common cause of injury for raptors at Carolina Raptor Center. Russell is a red-tailed hawk, but when he first came to Carolina Raptor Center he did not have a red tail. His brown tail marked him as a juvenile bird. He had hatched the previous spring. The majority of young raptors do not survive through their first winter, and Russell would have been one of the many unlucky ones if someone had not found him and brought him to our rehabilitation center. We were not able to repair the damage to his eye, but now he is living the life of a raptor ambassador at Carolina Raptor Center.

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Santigi is officially our oldest resident, having arrived in May of 1982 in her first year of life. Red-tailed hawks typically only live to be 12-15 years old in the wild, but in captivity we can often double their lifespan. Santigi was brought to us after her nest tree was cut down, and she has a wing deformity that was likely caused by falling from the tree. Santigi is mated with Henry the 1st, and together they have raised sixteen healthy chicks that have been successfully released back into the wild.

Skoshi was found in the Northlakes area of Hickory, North Carolina, and came to Carolina Raptor Center as a baby in March 1988. No history was available but an exam revealed a congenital defect to the left eye and a stiff left elbow. The cause of his injury is unknown, but it is thought that his sight impairment might have contributed to it. Skoshi is very vocal, and he loves to tear pine needles off a branch and often entertains visitors to the outdoor weathering area shows at Carolina Raptor Center. His name means "little" in Japanese because his left eye is smaller than his right, a result of his congenial eye defect. Skoshi is a permanent resident and an important part of Carolina Raptor Center's education programs.

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Aletta arrived at Carolina Raptor Center in April of 2007 from Raptor Recovery Nebraska. She was found in January of 2007 in a cattle ditch near Mason City, Nebraska, with an injury to her left wing. Unfortunately, Aletta does not fly well enough to be returned to the wild. But, she now has a very important job as a raptor ambassador and travels to schools all across North and South Carolina, teaching children and adults about the importance of raptors and other wildlife. Aletta can also be visited out on our Nature Trail.

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Galadriel came into Carolina Raptor Center in December 1996 as a hatching year bird. She had been found in a yard in Huntersville, North Carolina with a broken left wing that had to be amputated at the wrist. Although the cause of Galadriel’s injury is unknown, sharp-shinned hawks commonly prey upon small backyard birds and are sometimes injured by collisions with windows and other obstacles during a hunt. “Galadriel” is the name of a royal elf in J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings. She can be seen on our Nature Trail with her roommate Percy.

Percy is one of our resident sharp-shinned hawks. These birds love to hang out near your birdfeeder hunting songbirds, and they are known for their speed and agility. Percy arrived at CRC in December of 2000 with a broken left wing and a blind left eye. She most likely sustained these injuries as a result of a car collision. She can be seen on our Nature Trail with her roommate Galadriel.

Garuda was transferred to Carolina Raptor Center from The Raptor Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in May of 1999. He was found in Campfrey, Minnesota with an injury to his right wing. Rehabilitators in Minnesota suspected that he had a collision of some sort, but were unable to determine the exact cause of his injury. Garuda’s name comes from the Hindu deity Garuda, a mythological creature who is king of the birds. Garuda lives on the Nature Trail with his roommate Sierra, and can be identified by his white face (Sierra’s face is darker).

Sierra arrived at Carolina Raptor Center in 1999. She came from The Raptor Center in Minnesota with a fractured left wing. The tip of her wing had to be amputated. She was most likely hit by a car. Car collisions are the most common cause of injury to raptors, and are usually the result of raptors flying down to the rodents attracted to litter by the roadside. Sierra can be visited on the Nature Trail where she lives with her companion Garuda.

Oshem was found in the spring of 1987 with a broken and deformed left wing in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and brought to a local animal shelter. She was transferred to Carolina Raptor Center July 9, 1987. Rehabilitation staff first thought that Oshem might be releasable if her wing was rebroken and correctly set. But the wing healed at an odd angle with an abnormal elbow joint, making full extension impossible. Oshem has learned to accept people, becoming "habituated," but this doesn't mean she's friendly -- she is still a wild animal. Oshem is CRC’s own movie star! She was featured in "The Chase," a movie filmed in Wilmington, North Carolina. She is a permanent resident and can be visited on our nature trail.

Sadie, is a unique turkey vulture. She was found with a wing injury outside of Chicago and was brought to a rehabilitation center in Illinois. They found her wing damage was such that she would never be able to fly adequately again. They did not have the space to keep her, so she made her way to Charlotte, where she is now an education ambassador at Carolina Raptor Center. What makes Sadie so unique is that she is leucistic. Leucism is a condition similar to albinism, except instead of pure white feathers, like an albino bird would have, Sadie has a washed-out looking color to her feathers. This makes her a very beautiful bird, and a wonderful addition to our education team!

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