Carolina Raptor Center Receives USDA License 

On March 15, 2024 the United States Department of Agriculture certified the Carolina Raptor Center as a licensed Class C – Exhibitor under the Animal Welfare Act. 

The Animal Welfare Act, passed by Congress in 1966, addresses the treatment of animals kept captive for research and exhibition purposes, and includes provisions for transporting animals for commercial purposes. The act is enforced by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services (APHIS) departments. It also falls within the legislative jurisdiction of the Agriculture Committees of the House and Senate. 

While the USDA has for decades certified zoological parks, marine mammal shows, animal shelters, and other businesses, this is the first time avian-focused facilities are being reviewed. This is due to a new bird law from February 21, 2023 – APHIS published a final rule in the Federal Register establishing new welfare standards for birds. These regulations ensure the humane handling, care, treatment, and transportation of birds regulated under the Animal Welfare Act (AWA). 

The Carolina Raptor Center will keep this USDA license for three years, pending continued compliance with federal and state laws during activities on campus at Latta Nature Preserve and with off-site programs. 

To prepare for the review this past spring Kristin Dean, Director of Avian Operations, lead a team completing projects over the past year, including ensuring that all animal enclosures are safe, sanitary, and species appropriate.  

A 74-page report was published detailing operational procedures focused on veterinary care, biosecurity, animal training, animal enrichment, transportation, euthanasia, nutrition, and emergency procedures.  

Kristin Dean shared, “I am so proud of our robust animal welfare procedures and how everyone across the organization worked together to secure this licensure , including DPR Construction building 49 wooden boxes of varying sizes so that birds can escape the wind and rain. We learned about this requirement during our initial inspection with our licensing agent and were only able to complete the task with the help of volunteers. Thank you to Board Member Riley Clements for quickly activating colleagues to build these boxes for each of our enclosures!”