Stories of Impact: Carolina Raptor Center

This Story of Impact highlights the Carolina Raptor Center, a Women’s Impact Fund grantee. Carolina Raptor Center’ mission is to ignite a passion for raptors and a responsibility for our shared natural world.

The Carolina Raptor Center is a nonprofit in Huntersville, NC, dedicated to igniting a passion for raptors and a responsibility for our shared natural world. Each year, more than 40,000 people visit their Raptor Trail, a zoo highlighting birds of prey, to meet more than two dozen avian ambassadors. Through educational programs and interactive experiences, they inspire visitors to appreciate and protect these powerful birds.

In December, Carolina Raptor Center welcomed a new Executive Director, Gabor Zsuppan. A seasoned science museum leader, he brings more than 25 years of experience in formal and informal learning, visitor-centered design, exhibit development, and cross-functional leadership. In just his first two months, his leadership has helped build a strong foundation to ensure Carolina Raptor Center soars into a bright future.

Spring is the busiest season at Carolina Raptor Center. Over just a few months, they will welcome thousands of students through on-site programs, outreach visits, and field trips. These hands-on educational experiences introduce young learners to birds of prey, their role in healthy ecosystems, and the importance of protecting wildlife. For many students, this is their first close encounter with a raptor, and often a moment that sparks a lifelong interest in conservation.

The Center’s Raptor Hospital admits up to 1,000 sick and injured birds of prey annually with the goal of successfully rehabilitating and releasing them back to the wild. The Raptor Hospital typically experiences an influx of young birds in the spring. They admit dozens of young birds that have fallen from nests, been orphaned, or suffered injuries. These fragile patients require specialized care, frequent feedings, and close monitoring from the experienced veterinary team and trained rehabilitators.

Carolina Raptor Center staff says that caring for baby raptors is resource-intensive, but it is also some of the most rewarding work they do. They work very hard to provide the young birds the best possible chance to grow strong and eventually thrive in the wild. 

To help prepare for this critical season, they invite you and the public to join their annual Baby Shower on March 7. This special event features opportunities to learn more about how we care for baby raptors from their Raptor Hospital team. It also welcomes local wildlife rehabilitators who will share how they care for other species in our region, highlighting the broader network of care needed during baby season.