Carolina Raptor Center

What Carolina Raptor Center does

Carolina Raptor Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit wildlife rehabilitation and education organization operating from a single campus within the 1,480-acre Latta Nature Preserve in Huntersville, North Carolina. The organization operates two integrated facilities: the Raptor Trail, a 3/4-mile outdoor zoo housing more than 30 avian ambassadors representing over 30 species, and the Raptor Hospital, which admits 800-1,000 sick, injured, and orphaned wild raptors each year (over 26,000 patients since 1975, with 10,000+ successfully released). Patient records are managed through the proprietary RaptorMed database.

CRC generates revenue through a diversified nonprofit model spanning individual admissions ($12-$16), annual memberships across eight tiers from $40 (Single) to $10,000+ (Wingspan Society Condor), private education programs ($14-$16/person), ticketed special events, private experiences ranging from $150 raptor encounters to $1,000 photography sessions, corporate group volunteer projects from $500-$5,000, and a tiered hospital donation program ($15-$3,000). Visitor programs, group sales for 15+, outreach within 40 miles, and a multi-specialty volunteer program round out the commercial surface.

The organization serves general public visitors, K-12 schools and homeschool families, corporate groups, and major donors across the Charlotte metropolitan area and broader Southeast. Its strategic position rests on regulatory licensing (NC state and USFWS), proprietary data accumulated over decades, certified training staff, and the development of HPAI protocols now used by avian facilities nationwide. CRC is governed by an independent Board of Directors, with Gabor Zsuppan appointed Executive Director in December 2025 following Erin Katzner's January 2025 departure; a June 2026 lease modification with Mecklenburg County Parks and Recreation formally focuses the organization on its existing campus.

Name

Carolina Raptor Center

Legal name

Carolina Raptor Center, Inc.

Website

https://carolinaraptorcenter.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Carolina Raptor Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating a raptor zoo and wildlife hospital in Huntersville, NC, serving 30,000-40,000 annual visitors, treating 800-1,000 injured wild raptors per year, and funding operations through admissions, memberships, donations, and education programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wildlife Rehabilitation and Raptor Conservation Services

NAICS

Zoos and Botanical Gardens (71213), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190), Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Wildlife Interpretation & Education Centers (Visitor Centers, Museums) (THAAAFAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Wildlife Rehabilitation & Release Centers (Public Viewing/Education) (THAAAFAC)

Keywords

• Wildlife rehabilitation
• Raptor conservation
• Environmental education
• Bird of prey zoo
• Avian hospital

Headquarters

HQ city

Huntersville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Admission Fees: General admission to Raptor Trail for adults ($16), students ($14), children ($12), with free admission for infants under 3. Group pricing available for parties of 15+.
2. Memberships: Annual subscriptions ranging from Single ($40) to Family ($90) to advanced tiers up to Raptor Champion ($500). Wingspan Society major donor program from $1,000 to $10,000+. Membership includes unlimited admission and member discounts.
3. Donations and Annual Fund: One-time and recurring donations supporting rehabilitation, education, and conservation programs. Donor Flock monthly giving program. Planned giving through estate plans (Golden Eagle Society).
4. Educational Programs: Private education programs at $14/person on-site (40 person minimum) and $16/person off-site outreach (50 person minimum). Additional fees for Behind the Scenes Hospital Tours.
5. Special Events: Ticketed events including Fall for Raptors, Birdies for Birdies, Breakfast with the Birds, Owl Prowl, Birds & Brews, and Eagle Extravaganza with tiered pricing and member discounts.
6. Private Experiences: Private Meet & Greet ($175-200), Raptor Encounters ($150), Release a Raptor packages ($500-1,000), Private Photography experiences ($1,000), Birthday parties ($300).
7. Hospital Support Donations: Designated donations to support raptor rehabilitation with suggested amounts from $15 (daily hawk care) to $3,000 (enclosure repair materials).
8. Group Volunteer Projects: Fee-based team building projects ranging from $500 (Level 1) to $5,000 (Level 4) for corporate groups with varying perks including Raptor Trail access and private encounters.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

Carolina Raptor Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that runs an integrated raptor zoo (Raptor Trail with 30+ avian ambassadors), a wildlife rehabilitation hospital treating 800–1,000 wild raptors a year, and a curriculum-aligned education program for K–12 students and the general public. It also sells private encounters, photography experiences, birthday party rentals, group volunteer projects, professional development webinars, and annual memberships, supported by a donation program and the Wingspan Society major donor society.

Product overview

Carolina Raptor Center operates as a nonprofit wildlife rehabilitation and education center offering a integrated suite of visitor experiences and conservation programs. The core offerings include the Raptor Trail (a 3/4-mile outdoor zoo with 30+ avian ambassadors), the Raptor Hospital (rehabilitating 800+ raptors annually with patient tracking via RaptorMed), and educational programming including visitor programs, private education, and outreach. Additional offerings include paid experiences (Private Meet & Greets, Photography Sessions, Raptor Releases), membership subscriptions at multiple tiers, event rentals (Birthday Parties), group volunteer projects, and professional development resources for zoo professionals. The organization also provides nest box plans for raptor conservation and hospital donation programs to support medical care costs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Wingspan Society: A donor recognition society offering exclusive engagement opportunities including behind-the-scenes experiences and VIP events for major donors at the $1,000+ annual giving level.
• Donor Flock
• Golden Eagle Society
• Avian Adventures

Products and services

• Raptor Trail A 3/4-mile outdoor zoo trail highlighting birds of prey, home to more than 30 avian ambassadors representing species from around the world. Open 7 days a week, 10 AM – 4 PM, with daily educational programs included with admission. Open to the general public as a self-guided visitor experience with admission sold online or onsite.
• Raptor Hospital A wildlife rehabilitation facility providing medical care to 800–1,000 injured, ill, and orphaned wild raptors annually, with cumulative admissions of over 26,000 patients since 1975. Features the proprietary RaptorMed patient tracking database that allows community members to track rescued raptors using acquisition numbers, and is licensed by the State of NC and USFWS.
• Visitor Programs Daily educational programs included with Raptor Trail admission, featuring Meet a Raptor, Bird Shows, Fly Bys, Hospital Chats, and Keeper Chats led by expert staff. Targeted at general public visitors and families visiting the Raptor Trail.
• Private Education Programs On-site and outreach education programs for schools, homeschool co-ops, and community groups, with avian ambassadors on the glove, 40-minute presentations, Q&A, and biofact exploration. Onsite programs are $14/person with a 40-person minimum; offsite outreach within 40 miles is $16/person with a 50-person minimum. CMS Title I schools receive free programming.
• Private Meet & Greet A 30-minute private owl encounter guided by expert staff with photo opportunity for up to 4 individuals, including Raptor Trail admission. Priced at $200 for non-members and $175 for members.
• Private Photography Experience Private 1.5-hour photography session for all skill levels with opportunities to photograph 5 avian ambassadors including one free-flighted bird, concluding with an eagle feeding. Includes up to 15 attendees for $1,000, plus $60 per additional attendee up to 5 more.
• Release a Raptor Experience Donation-based experiences to witness rehabilitated birds return to the wild, available in Bronze ($500 self-guided), Silver ($750 facilitated by one team member), and Gold ($1,000 with two team members and optional tabling) packages.
• Birthday Party Package Birthday party rental including private picnic area use, free Raptor Trail admission for up to 25 attendees, raptor-themed goodie bags, and optional Raptor Encounter add-on ($150). Priced at $300 total ($200 deposit).
• Membership Program Annual membership tiers including Single ($40), Dual ($60), Family ($90), Grandparent ($80), and advanced tiers (Raptor Supporter $175, Guardian $250, Champion $500) with unlimited Raptor Trail access, member discounts, and free guest passes. Wingspan Society major donor levels extend from $1,000 (Kestrel) to $10,000+ (Condor).
• Raptor Hospital Donation Program Donation-based support for raptor medical care with tiered giving levels from $15 (daily hawk care) to $3,000 (enclosure materials), directly supporting rehabilitation of sick and injured wild raptors at the Raptor Hospital.
• Annual Fund and Donor Flock Recurring Giving One-time and recurring donations supporting rehabilitation, education, and conservation programs. Donor Flock offers monthly recurring giving with branded-item rewards. Planned giving is available through estate plans via the Golden Eagle Society.
• Group Volunteer Projects Paid corporate group volunteer projects at four levels — Level 1 ($500, 1–3 hours, invasive removal/trail work), Level 2 ($1,000, 2–3 hours, landscaping/facility cleanup), Level 3 ($2,500, enclosure maintenance and trail resurfacing), and Level 4 ($5,000, 1–3 days, enclosure builds) — with perks including free Raptor Trail access, social media recognition, private avian ambassador encounters, and a 45-minute private program at the highest tier.
• Professional Resources (Raptor Academy) Professional webinars and consulting services for zoo professionals and raptor facility staff, covering training, husbandry, and medical care practices.
• Nest Box Program Free nest box assembly plans and guides for Barn Owls, Barred Owls, and Eastern Screech Owls, distributed to support raptor populations experiencing habitat loss.
• Special Events Program Ticketed special events including Fall for Raptors (Adults $24, Children $18), Birdies for Birdies ($30 Adult / $20 Child Family Night), Breakfast with the Birds ($35 Adult / $25 Child), Owl Prowl, Birds & Brews, and Eagle Extravaganza, with member discounts on each event.

Quantifiable outcome

• 25,000th patient admitted in 2022
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• American Eagle Foundation: 501(c)(3) raptor conservation and education organization operating a similar eagle/avian ambassador zoo with daily programs, hospital care, and a focus on Bald Eagle recovery—directly comparable in mission, programming mix, and visitor model.
• World Center for Birds of Prey (The Peregrine Fund): Raptor-focused conservation nonprofit combining captive breeding, field research, education, and public visitation in Boise—closely mirrors CRC's integration of hospital, zoo, and conservation programming.
• Audubon Center for Birds of Prey: Audubon's raptor hospital and environmental education center in Maitland, FL offering rehabilitation, ambassador birds, and visitor programming—an operational near-twin to CRC's hospital-plus-trail model.
• Hawk Mountain Sanctuary: Pennsylvania-based raptor conservation nonprofit with a visible raptor trail, education programming, and raptor research focus—most comparable peer on visitor-facing raptor interpretation and conservation-driven mission.
• The Raptor Trust: New Jersey raptor rehabilitation and education center treating wild raptors with public visitation and trained ambassador birds—directly comparable hospital and trail operations to CRC.
• Raptor Education Group, Inc. Wisconsin nonprofit offering raptor rehabilitation, trained ambassador birds, and community education—smaller-scale direct peer with similar mission breadth.

Regional players

• Sylvan Heights Bird Park: Scotland Neck, NC waterfowl-focused bird park listed as a reciprocal admission partner for CRC members—comparable visitation-and-education business in the same state with overlapping visitor demographics.
• WNC Nature Center: Asheville, NC nature center offering wildlife trails and education programming listed as a CRC reciprocal partner—comparable North Carolina visitor experience with wildlife and education focus.

Broad incumbents

• ZooTampa (Florida): AZA-accredited zoo with an onsite wildlife hospital and school education programs—broader-scope operator of the same zoo-plus-rehab-plus-education model that CRC executes at a more specialized scale.
• Carolina Wildlife Resources / NC Zoo: State-run North Carolina zoo with veterinary and education programming that overlaps CRC's visitor and conservation footprint at significantly larger scale—useful broad-incumbent comp.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/carolinaraptorcenter
• Instagraminstagram.com/carolinaraptorcenter
• Facebookfacebook.com/carolinaraptorcenter
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/carolina-raptor-center

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Carolina Raptor Center