Injured Birds Get A Helping Hand From The Raptor Center | University of Minnesota

August 13, 2025 I recently traveled to The Twin Cities (Minneapolis-St.Paul) of Minnesota earlier this month and had the opportunity to visit The Raptor Center at The University of Minnesota. The Raptor Center is located on the St.Paul campus of the University. Run by the University’s School of Veterinary Science, this rescue and rehabilitation center focuses on both educating the public about our nation’s raptors/birds of prey, as well as treating injured birds that are brought in for specific care. The Center is responsible for saving countless birds brought to them and giving them a second chance at life. They are a nationally-renowned hub known for their veterinary services to the Raptor population by providing both preventative care and life-saving measures when an injured bird is brought to their center. Rescued raptors undergo comprehensive treatment with the long-term goal of rehabilitation and release. Vital information is gathered from these injured birds that ultimately shine a light on the dangers they face living and moving through a co-existence with our man made world. Through hands-on work with birds of prey that come through the center, ever evolving research, and continued advocacy, The Raptor Center gives us an opportunity to learn how we impact the well-being of our North American raptors and how we may help. Habitat preservation and conservation play an important role in their overall work as they help guide lawmakers, companies and private citizens with information about the impact of their projects and potential harmful byproducts/consequences that may impact our Raptor population. The Raptors featured in this video are resident birds. The goal is always to rescue, rehabilitate and release back into the wild. But that is not always possible. Many causes include blindness, inability to fly successfully for survival or permanent disability. In which case, if the few that are unable to be released, The Raptor Center creates a home specifically designed to improve their quality of life, continue their development, encourage and support their special needs so they retain much of their wild instincts. They are also critical for education. The Raptor Center offers visitors an up-close view of resident/rehabilitating raptors who have been rescued. They include the American Bald Eagle, American Kestrel, Barr Owl, Great Horned Owl, Peregrine Falcon, Red-Tailed Hawk, Eastern Screech Owl, Turkey Vulture, and more. The educational displays inside this beautiful center are fascinating for people of all ages, including kids, and geared towards a greater understanding of not only the habitats the raptors call home, but the challenges they meet living in our world. The Raptor Center is open daily from 10am-4pm. Visitors are required to make on-line reservations as space is limited. 30-minute Guided tours by Center volunteers are available every hour. Safeguards are put in place to protect the Raptors housed in the center through measures such as hand and shoe sanitation prior to entering the wildlife enclosures. The Raptor Center also offers off-site education with their resident raptors available to schools and other interested organizations. They also hold events. Donations are welcome. Please donate if you plan to visit. More information may be found at The Raptor Center, University of Minnesota website. Visit and subscribe to ‪@TheRaptorCenter‬ channel on YouTube. The Raptor Center is a non-profit operating within the University’s School of Veterinary Medicine. Visiting is a unique and rewarding experience. One that will last a lifetime and warrant future visits. I highly recommend a visit if you are in the area and seeking something interesting to do. Whether you are an enthusiast, expert or simply curious, The Raptor Center will deliver in very profound ways. I walked away with a greater understanding of our raptors. Special thanks to The Raptor Center for making this unforgettable and humbling. ​⁠‪@universityofminnesota‬ https://theraptorcenter.umn.edu (612) 624-4745 To see more Raptor videos, please visit my channel and subscribe for upcoming content. Thank you for watching. I hope to see you soon! ​⁠‪@PlanetPrinda‬ If you’d like to support my work: https://buymeacoffee.com/prindadons #raptor #baldeagle #owl #falcon #birds #hawk #americankestrel #wildlife #rescue #rehabilitation #eaglecam #theraptorcenter #universityofminnesota #birdofprey #education #inspiring #veterinaryscience