The Raptor Center is part of the University of Minnesota’s College of Veterinarian Medicine. With a mission to ensure the health of raptors and their environment, this non-profit organization often temporarily houses injured birds while they receive rehabilitation. They also have several ambassador birds that will never be released but stay on at the Raptor center as educational birds. Specializing in birds local to Minnesota, the center most often provides medical care, rehab, and conservation of eagles, hawks, owls, and falcons. Note: As a University run program, details regarding tours and visitors can change frequently. We recommend referring to the website for current details prior to any visit. (1) As of 2023, tour participants need register in advance. The kids and I were lucky enough to attend the last tour of the day on our visit and had the place to ourselves, complete with a personal tour guide who tailored the visit to the attention span of my children. They loved the opportunity to get up close to the resident raptors (birds of prey) and ask as many questions as they wanted. (2) More than 700 birds from bald eagles to peregrine falcons are treated each year at the facility. Veterinarians and vet students are trained onsite in avian medicine and surgery. Learn more about their work and what you can do to protect raptor habitats at special events offered throughout the year – both at the Raptor Center and in the community. (3) Once rehab is complete, the raptors are released back into the wild at one of two annual Raptor Release events. Held at Hyland Lake Park Reserve, this free program is filled with close encounters, teaching moments and the chance to bid the birds farewell as they head to the horizon (hopefully never to return!) This article was originally published by Anne Kingston May 2, 2013 The best time to visit the Raptor Center may be spring when baby chicks are hatching. Spring can bring eggs followed by chicks from owls, hawks, falcons, osprey and turkey vultures. Learn more about this years hatchlings: Where to Find the Minnesota Farm Babies & Fun Book a two-hour “hatchday party” for your raptor fan. Parties include a tour and a one-hour live raptor program followed by an hour for a private party. Families bring cake and refreshments and party supplies. Call (612) 624-2756 or email: raptored@umn.edu for more information. For more birthday party ideas like this: Twin Cities Birthday Parties for Kids: Animal Lovers Summer camps like Enraptured with Raptors, Grossology, and Soaring the World with Raptors are offered annually. Learn more about dates and prices in our annual summer camp guide: Twin Cities Summer Camps: Nature & Outdoor Adventure Camps.
Related Articles
A few fun facts you might not know about the University of Minnesota’s Raptor Center:
It has been updated with 2023 information.
Raptor Babies
Birthday Parties at the Raptor Center
Summer Camps at the Raptor Center
Useful Links:
The Family Fun Twin Cities Directory is the most extensive collection of companies, organizations, activities and places to find things to do with kids in the Twin Cities.