The Carolina Raptor Center began in 1975 when a Broad-winged Hawk was brought to UNC Charlotte ornithologist Dr. Richard Brown who rehabilitated the bird’s injuries and released it back into the wild. Since then, we have rehabilitated and released over 10,000 raptors back into the wild!  

No matter the species or how long they stay, releasing a patient in our Raptor Hospital back into the wild is a magical experience!  

Donors can give directly in RaptorMed to support the daily rehabilitation work or make a donation of $500 or more to experience the joy of a raptor's release back into the wild.  

Each Release a Raptor program is designed to be a private experience or an intimate gathering where attendees learn about the rehabilitation of the particular patient and the impact of that species on the surrounding environment. Most raptors are released from a secure box, and participants can capture pictures and video of the experience.  

Interested in experiencing the joy of our Release a Raptor program? Complete the Release a Raptor Request Form. Our Medical Coordinator, Milan Staff, will get in touch with you with more details about the release. For all other inquiries, please email Matt Lake, Director of Special Projects at [email protected].

A few things to please keep in mind:

• Hawks and Owls represent the most frequent species available for release and are the most likely candidate for your release. 
• Birds become available for release as they finish recovering, so we cannot guarantee a particular species will be ready on a particular day. 
• The more flexible you are with your date, the more accommodating we can try to be. 

Not sure your event is right to Release a Raptor? We have had releases at Birthday Parties, Graduation Celebrations, Weddings, Anniversaries, and Memorial Services. Send us an email and we can assist you in planning.