Cascades Raptor Center facts for kids
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| Date opened | 1987 |
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| Location | Eugene, Oregon, United States |
| Coordinates | 43°59′15″N 123°04′47″W / 43.987438°N 123.079764°W |
| No. of animals | 37 |
| No. of species | 21 |
| Annual visitors | 25,000 |
The Cascades Raptor Center is a special place in Eugene, Oregon. It's a nature center and a hospital for wild birds. This center helps birds of prey, also known as raptors, get better after they are hurt or sick. As of early 2025, about 30 amazing birds from 21 different species live permanently at the center.
How the Center Started
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The Cascades Raptor Center began in 1987. It started as a non-profit group that helped nature and wildlife. At first, they took birds to schools and public events. Visitors could not come to the center itself.
In early 1994, the center moved to its current home. Since then, it has been open for everyone to visit. The center's main goal is to rescue, heal, and then release sick, hurt, or orphaned birds back into the wild. Some birds cannot go back to the wild because of their injuries or if they got too used to humans. These birds find a forever home at the center.
Amazing Birds of Prey
The center is a permanent home for about 30 individual birds. These birds represent 21 different kinds of raptors that live in Oregon. Raptors are birds of prey, meaning they hunt and eat other animals.
In 2014, the center treated almost 300 injured birds. The types of raptors you might see at the center include many owls, like the barn owl and great horned owl. You can also see large birds like the bald eagle and golden eagle. Other birds include different kinds of hawks, such as the red-tailed hawk, and speedy falcons like the peregrine falcon. There are also a few birds not originally from Oregon, like the Eurasian eagle-owl.
Learning and Education
The Cascades Raptor Center offers many ways to learn about raptors. You can take guided tours with staff members. These tours are called "Walk on the Wild Side" or "Reading with Raptors." You can also explore the center on your own.
The center's staff and some of their birds also visit schools and other places. They give presentations called "Bring the Wild Alive." These programs teach people of all ages about the importance of raptors and how to protect them. All guided programs can be changed to fit what a group wants to learn.
