Take A Walk On The Wild Side At Carolina Raptor Center

Want to get an up-close look at nature, specifically predatory birds? Take a walk on the wild side at Carolina Raptor Center where you can see more than 30 species of raptors in the Latta Nature Preserve, an expansive area that also includes walking trails and a 6,000-gallon fish tank.

What You Will See

Starting with a broad-winged hawk in 1975, more than 25,000 birds have been admitted to the Carolina Raptor Center since it first opened. Today, you might expect to see some of the following raptors at their facility: barred owl, red-tailed hawk, red-shouldered hawk, eastern screech owl, great horned owl, cooper’s hawk, black vulture, broad-winged hawk, barn owl, American kestrel, turkey vulture, sharp-shinned hawk, osprey, bald eagle, and Mississippi kite. The top priority for the team at Carolina Raptor Center is to rehabilitate the birds and release them back into the wild. According to their numbers, they take in between 800 and 1,000 raptors per year and release more than 200.

Private Programs

Did you know that you can schedule on-site group education programs at Carolina Raptor Center? Between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., schools, organizations, or other parties can participate in a program that lasts approximately 45 minutes.  For K-12 students, the program complements the North Carolina Standard Course of Study curriculum standards.

Summer Camps

When school is out, you need to find something to occupy your kids’ time. The Carolina Raptor Center is already taking registrations for their summer camps. There are nine one-week camps between June 12 and August 18. Depending on your child’s age, here is what is covered:

• Raptor Rookies: Young campers get a chance to meet different raptors, learn about how to help them in the wild, and participate in various outdoor activities.
• Young Veterinarians Camp: Kids who think they may want to be a veterinarian one day can learn about avian medicine and participate in hands-on activities with Carolina Raptor Center’s hospital.
• Nature Games:  In this camp, kids will learn about nature through a series of themed games. They will also meet avian ambassadors and explore the Latta Nature Preserve.

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Support For Carolina Raptor Center

As a not-for-profit organization, Carolina Raptor Center relies heavily on donations and volunteers. From supporting a species to supporting the raptor trail to planned or corporate giving, there are many ways in which you can help them accomplish their mission. In addition, they utilize both adult and youth volunteers for a variety of jobs. Finally, as always, Carolina Raptor Center asks that you contact their hospital at 704-875-6521 ext. 125 if you see an injured raptor.

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