Our Mission

The Alaska Raptor Center's mission is threefold:

  • To provide medical treatment for injured bald eagles and other birds
  • To teach people about Alaska's birds and environmental conservation
  • To conduct bald eagle research.

Each year, the Alaska Raptor Center provides medical treatment to 100- 200 injured bald eagles and other birds. Our goal is to release our patients back into the wild; some, however, are injured so severely they could not survive in the wild even after rehabilitation. These birds may join our Raptors-in-Residence, providing excitement and education for more than 36,000 annual visitors and for the 15,000 schoolchildren we reach through the Adopt-A-Raptor program and classroom presentations around the country.


Location

The Alaska Raptor Center is located on 17 acres in Sitka, Alaska. Situated on the outside of Alaska's Inside Passage, Sitka is a seaside town rich with history and beauty. Outdoor adventures abound, from mountain hiking to deep sea fishing to wildlife watching. Bald eagles, bears and whales are indigenous to the area, as are deer, otters, puffins and seals.

Like most Southeast Alaska communities, Sitka is accessible only by air and by sea. Downtown is centrally located, and the Alaska Raptor Center - along with most points of interest - is within walking distance of downtown. Many residents travel by foot or bicycle as well as by car.

View Map of the Area
Visit the Sitka Convention & Visitor's Bureau

History

The Alaska Raptor Center was established in 1980 in the backyard of two concerned Sitkans, starting with one injured bald eagle. The effort grew, and volunteers treated eagles at their homes until 1983, when they moved to a small shed on the campus of Sheldon Jackson College. In 1991 the Center moved to its present location on 17 acres bordered by the Indian River.


The Center is an IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation. The Center does not receive any federal, state or local tax money. Funding is provided through visitor programs, donations, memberships, gift shop and catalog sales, grants and private contributions. Approximately 2,500 members worldwide help the Center accomplish its mission of rehabilitation, education and research.