Cascades Raptor Center
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A short video done by Travel Lane County. CRC was awarded the 2009 Enrichment Award at the Visitor Industry Celebration on June 23. See our Media page for other CRC and raptor videos. |
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Cascades Raptor Center is a 501c3 non-profit Nature Center and Wildlife Hospital for birds of prey in Eugene, Oregon. Through wildlife rehabilitation and public education, CRC fosters a connection between people and birds of prey. Our goal is to help the human part of the natural community learn to value, understand, and honor the role of wildlife in preserving the natural and cultural heritage of the Pacific Northwest.
Nature Center - Enhancing Appreciation, Respect and Stewardship through Public Education. With over 60 non-releasable birds of 33 native species - hawks, owls, eagles and more - our Nature Center has an unparalleled ability to engage visitors of all ages. These permanent resident birds are housed in large outdoor aviaries on our wooded hillside property and are an integral part of our educational mission to create awareness and respect, and to foster care of the wild world. School groups, scout troops, hikers, birders and the general public come from all over Oregon and the western US to see the wide variety of native raptors here on display. Wildlife Hospital - Rescue, Rehabilitation, Release. CRC works with up to 200 orphaned sick, and injured raptors each year, using the highest standards of medical treatment and care possible. Most birds presented for care are suffering from injuries either directly or indirectly human-caused. They collide with vehicles, power lines, windows and fences. They are caught in traps, barbed wire, or fishing line. They are shot, poisoned (either directly or through eating poisoned prey), or had their nest sites destroyed by landscaping, logging, or construction. CRC's goal is to release them back to the wild: healthy and strong, ready to take their place in the wild population. We've worked with over 2500 birds in the last 17 years, returning nearly 1300 to the wild. What is a Raptor? - "Raptor" is another word for bird of prey: eagles, hawks, falcons, owls, osprey and kites ... hunting birds with keen eyesight and hearing, strong feet with sharp talons for grasping and killing prey, and curved beaks for ripping up their food. Raptors are not the only predators of the bird world, but they are the only ones that hunt with their feet! The word 'raptor' comes from the Latin raptor (plunderer) and the French raptus (to seize and transport). The English words 'rapt,' 'rapture,' or 'enraptured' share these same roots. Why a Raptor Center? - As predators, raptors play an important role in maintaining the delicate balance of nature. At the top of their food web, they provide a critical early warning system for environmental contaminants or population declines anywhere within that web. Misunderstood and persecuted in the past (and, in some places, the present), raptors are protected by state, federal, and international laws, and are considered a critical factor in the larger ecological picture of which we are all a part. These birds have specialized dietary, housing, and handling needs - and, as consummate athletes, need to be in top physical condition in order to survive in the wild. CRC was founded to meet the unique needs of these birds and to help humans better understand and appreciate them and their role in the natural order. Our experienced hospital staff care for the sick, injured and orphaned raptors of Lane County (and occasionally beyond) with the goal of returning as many as possible to the wild. We care for these wonderful birds and offer exciting ways to learn about them. A great way to stay in touch is the Raptor e-News. |
More for the Money - CRC is supported with highly motivated volunteers and lots of donated labor that enables us to offer great education and rehabilitation services at lower cost. This means your support goes a really long way. Donations, sponsorships, and annual memberships are all tax deductible to the full extent of the law. Click here if you would like to help. |
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