Report an Injured Bird
Donate
Volunteer
Shop
Cart

Frequently Asked Questions

Raptors

What do I do if I find an injured bird?

If you are in Alaska, call the Alaska Raptor Center, 907-747-8662.

If you are not in Alaska, call a wildlife rehabilitator in your area for help. You may need to search the internet for the closest one or use this link:
https://www.nwrawildlife.org/page/Found_Injured_Wildlife

Do not touch the bird until you contact someone for help.

Once you have contacted a rehabilitator, they can instruct you on the next steps to take. If you are calling ARC, depending on your location, we may be able to come and pick up the bird if necessary. If we need you to pick up the bird, we will instruct you on how to handle the bird over the phone.

If the bird needs to fly to Sitka for treatment, we will make flight arrangements and let you know when and where to drop off the bird.

Why are birds brought to the Alaska Raptor Center?

Birds come to the Alaska Raptor Center for many different reasons, but most are in need of medical care and a safe place to heal. Each year, we treat eagles, owls, hawks, falcons, and many other bird species that have been injured or displaced.

Birds can be injured in a variety of ways. Some of the most common injuries are caused by collisions, diseases, human conflicts, environmental hazards, falls from nests, and pet attacks. To find out more, visit our rehabilitation page.

Is the Alaska Raptor Center the only bird rehabilitation center in Alaska?

No, the Alaska Raptor Center is not the only facility that helps wild birds, but we are the largest and best-known center in the state.

Others include:

How do the birds get to Alaska Raptor Center for help?

If a bird is found injured in Sitka, our trained staff will go out and capture the bird and bring it back to the Center.

If a bird is found in another town, we rely on our network of helpers in other communities. These include U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Alaska State Troopers, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, local police departments in each town, and volunteers.

  • Sitka is located on an island, so injured birds must be flown to the Center on either Alaska Airlines or Alaska Seaplanes.
  • Occasionally birds are transported by boat to Sitka.

What happens to the birds that cannot be released back to the wild?

When a bird’s injuries prevent it from surviving in the wild, we carefully consider its long-term well-being. If the bird is healthy and adapting well to human care, we work to place it in another accredited wildlife center, nature center, or zoo where it can live out its life safely.

All placements must be approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the receiving organization must hold the proper permits to provide lifelong care.

Some non-releasable raptors remain at the Alaska Raptor Center as permanent residents, serving as ambassadors in our education programs and helping to inspire conservation through their stories

Our Site

Are you open to visitors?

Yes.   Click here to learn about our hours of operations.

Will our entire time at the Center be outdoors?

There is a portion of your visit that will be inside, but a majority of your visit will be outside. All our permanent residents are outside and there is a ¼ mile nature trail that runs along the Indian River and loops through forest and muskeg that is open to visitors. Be sure to dress for the weather! Sitka is in a temperate rainforest, so we get quite a bit of rain.

Do we need to purchase tickets before we get there?

No, you can purchase tickets at the Center when you arrive.

Programming

Do you do shows or programs with the birds?

During the summer, we offer informal talks and demonstrations featuring our education ambassador birds. These programs may include discussions about training, weighing, and enriching the birds, as well as information about their unique adaptations and natural behaviors.

Talks do not follow a fixed schedule, so visitors are encouraged to check in at the Center to see what’s happening during their visit.

Do you offer guided tours?

Most visits to the Alaska Raptor Center are self-guided, allowing you to explore at your own pace. Along the way, our knowledgeable staff are stationed throughout the grounds to answer questions, share stories about the birds, and explain the work we do in rehabilitation and conservation.

General Policies

Are photographs allowed?

Yes! Visitors are welcome to take photos throughout the center. We do recommend avoiding flash in the main flight training center viewing area, as it can create reflections off the glass and may startle the birds.

Can I hold or feed a bird on my visit?

For the safety of both visitors and birds, direct contact is not allowed. You are welcome to observe, learn about, and photograph the birds safely from their enclosures or during programs.