As an environmental nonprofit, Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden is committed to supporting the mission of our partner organizations working hard to create a sustainable future for the Carolinas. This week, we’re highlighting our friends at the Carolina Raptor Center.

What is the Carolina Raptor Center?
The Carolina Raptor Center is a nonprofit dedicated to igniting a passion for raptors and our shared natural world. Its Raptor Hospital has treated more than 26,000 birds of prey over the last four decades. On its zoological Raptor Trail, visitors can connect with bird species from across the globe, gaining an appreciation for the role raptors play in the environment. Since its founding in 1981, the Carolina Raptor Center has worked to foster communities where raptors and people thrive thanks to a unique blend of innovation, research and education.
CRC’s mission is to ignite a passion for raptors and a responsibility for our shared world. Their facility in Huntersville, NC includes The Raptor Trail, a zoo highlighting birds of prey in Latta Nature Preserve and The Raptor Hospital, which provides medical care for sick, injured or orphaned raptor patients. The Raptor Hospital treats 800-1,000 raptors each year and has treated over 26,000 raptors total. They are part of active research to conserve raptors, including hosting 28 Black Vultures as part of a vaccine trial to help protect critically endangered California Condors from Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI).

CRC strives for trusted leadership in raptor rehabilitation, exceptional welfare for resident birds and transformational experiences for visitors. They value sustainability and employ operational practices that benefit the environment. Visitors are empowered to positively impact the world through effective educational experiences.
CRC began in 1981 when UNC Charlotte ornithologist Dr. Richard Brown and student Deb Sue Griffin co-founded the nonprofit that would become CRC. In 1984, CRC moved to its current location within Latta Nature Preserve and expanded to include the Raptor Trail, which has become a premiere destination to learn about raptors. Today, CRC is regarded as a leader in raptor rehabilitation, education and research, with around 35,000 visitors each year and over 10,000 students who let their imaginations take flight through educational programs where they learn about what makes raptors special and why they are important to protect.
Sunny Cooper, the Hospital Manager, speaks on why being part of the CRC is so rewarding: “Getting to release an injured raptor back to the wild is magical. As the Raptor Hospital Manager, I play a small role in this magical moment. My staff, volunteers, and members of our community are the real reason the magic happens.”


How to Get Involved
The Raptor Trail is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. to allow visitors to walk the 0.75 mile trail and get to know more than 30 avian ambassadors from all over the world. CRC also offers several programs each week to get to know these incredible birds up close:
- Fly-By: Experience the exhilaration of flight as a free-flighted avian ambassador shows off the natural behaviors that make them special.
- Bird Show: Watch a team of avian ambassadors showcase their incredible talents and learn facts about these majestic creatures from CRC trainers.
- Keeper Chat: Chat with a member of CRC expert staff about their daily work.
- Meet a Raptor: This seated educational program is engaging for all ages and provides the opportunity to learn more about the avian ambassadors in a unique setting.
- Behind the Scenes Hospital Tour: Learn how CRC prepares food, provides treatment and ensures every patient receives the best possible care.
Kate Shaner, CRC’s Education Manager, let us know how education programs at CRC serve the community and facilitate a passion for raptors: “Watching young learners meet a raptor for the first time and hearing stories about how our center has helped birds in the community fills me with purpose and joy. Every day, I’m reminded of the impact we have on both the animals we care for and the people we educate, making this work incredibly rewarding.”

Want to take a deeper dive into Raptor Care? Explore the CRC Volunteer Program! They have opportunities for volunteer projects as a docent, avian ambassador feeder, member of the Raptor Rescue team and more!
The Raptor Hospital
CRC’s Raptor Hospital is open seven days a week to provide medical care and rehabilitation for over 800 injured, ill and orphaned wild raptors each year. We encourage you to browse the Raptor Hospital webpage for great information on what to do if you find an injured raptor.

If you see a raptor that:
- Can’t fly or run away when you approach
- Is unconscious, tangled, trapped, bleeding or limping
- Is in immediate danger
Call CRC at 704-875-6521×125 right away and talk to their team before bringing the bird in.
CRC has many incredible online resources, such as Capture Tips, Identifying Raptors, Do’s and Don’ts of Raptor Rescue and Information on Baby Raptors. We encourage you to check them out to increase your raptor knowledge!
Upcoming Events
CRC and the Schiele Museum are inviting the general public to witness an awe-inspiring event on Saturday, January 25: the release of a rare, rehabilitated Merlin back into the wild at Crowders Mountain State Park! Merlins are agile falcons commonly found in North America, Asia and Europe that are not easily spotted due to their small size and quick speed. As a result, CRC has not treated a Merlin since 2016, making this a monumental release and a victory for avian care.
This particular Merlin was admitted to CRC after colliding with a window, injuring its eye. As powerful hunters, Merlins rely heavily on their eyesight, so the Raptor Hospital team immediately began providing care to ensure the bird would survive and thrive. After a final eye exam from an animal ophthalmologist, the Merlin was cleared for release!
Witness its triumphant flight to freedom on Saturday, January 25 promptly at 10 a.m. at Crowders Mountain State Park.


CRC is hosting its annual Raptor Baby Shower on February 8 to support the dozens of baby raptors who need a little help growing big and strong before returning to the wild. This year’s baby shower include a feeding demonstration, a fly-by and raptor observation sessions. Attendees can purchase items from CRC’s Baby Registry to help keep these baby raptors healthy!
DSBG is a proud partner to the CRC. Their mission starts with raptors, but it extends into the rest of our shared natural world. When people walk the Raptor Trail, they meet birds from all over the world, like an Andean Condor, the largest species of raptor, and Bald Eagles, our nation’s symbol. These birds are inspirational, but as apex predators, they are critical to their environments. By connecting to raptors, CRC hopes people connect with, and want to protect, the ecosystems that rely on these majestic creatures.