The Raptor Center

What The Raptor Center does

The Raptor Center, founded in 1974 within the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine, operates the only specialized raptor rehabilitation hospital of its kind in the world from a 21,000-square-foot facility on the UMN St. Paul campus. It treats approximately 1,000 injured birds of prey annually (with a record 1,285 admissions in 2025 and over 34,000 cumulative patients since inception) and reaches more than 150,000 people per year through educational programming. The Center maintains roughly 25 non-releasable ambassador raptors for public education, runs the world's only veterinary residency program in raptor medicine, and conducts research on environmental contaminants (lead, PFAS, HPAI, rodenticides, West Nile virus) using satellite telemetry and longitudinal clinical datasets dating to 1976.

The Center's product portfolio spans clinical services, educational programs, and professional training. Core offerings include on-site guided tours ($5-$10 per person), off-site "Raptors To You" programs ($350+), virtual encounters ($50-$175), summer camps in partnership with UMN Recreation and Wellness, scout badge programs ($150+), and birthday parties ($260+). Professional training includes a 7-week avian orthopedics online course ($550), 2-day hands-on workshops ($1,000), Raptor Academy on Demand subscription content, plus 1-year internships, 2-4 week externships, and a 3-year combined residency with graduate study. Outreach extends through the Partners for Wildlife (P4W) program across a seven-state region.

The Center operates as a non-profit with revenue derived from individual donations (over 60% of annual budget, with nearly 100% of hospital operations donor-supported), grants (LCCMR, Cargill Foundation), and earned program fees. It maintains approximately 3,000 donors, two named endowments totaling over $1.5 million (PUF Raptor Professorship and Raptor Rehabilitation Endowment), and is supported by 300+ volunteers supplementing a 43-person staff. Distribution occurs through the physical facility, off-site outreach, virtual delivery, and partner channels, with go-to-market organized around direct-to-consumer, event-driven, and community-led motions.

Name

The Raptor Center

Legal name

The Raptor Center

Website

https://raptor.umn.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Raptor Center, founded in 1974 at the University of Minnesota, operates the world's only dedicated raptor rehabilitation hospital, treating over 1,000 injured birds of prey annually and reaching 150,000+ people per year through on-site tours, virtual programs, off-site outreach, and the world's only raptor medicine veterinary residency.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation Education Services

NAICS

Zoos and Botanical Gardens (71213), Veterinary Services (54194)

akta.pro primary industry

Wildlife Rescue, Rehabilitation & Release (BPAGAIAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wildlife Rehabilitation & Release Centers (Public Viewing/Education) (THAAAFAC), Veterinary Rehabilitation, Sports Medicine & Physical Therapy Centers (HLAMACAK)

Keywords

• Wildlife rehabilitation
• Raptor medicine
• Veterinary education
• Wildlife conservation
• Avian veterinary services

Headquarters

HQ city

St. Paul

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Nearly 100% donor-supported hospital operations. Over 60% of annual budget comes from public donations. Individual donors, monthly sponsors, planned giving, and employer-matched gifts provide the majority of funding. Approximately 3,000 donors support the organization.
2. Educational Programs and Tours: Revenue from on-site tours, off-site outreach programs, virtual encounters, summer camps, scout programs, birthday parties, and corporate events. Programs range from $50 virtual Zoomies to $1,000+ workshops.
3. Professional Training and Workshops: Veterinary continuing education courses including 7-week online courses ($550), hands-on workshops ($1,000), and Raptor Academy membership subscriptions for raptor rehabilitation professionals.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Raptor Center rehabilitates injured and sick wild raptors (birds of prey) and works to conserve these species through medical care, public education, and applied research. It serves the general public with on-site learning opportunities and traveling raptor presentations, and serves veterinary professionals with specialized training in raptor medicine. As a unit within the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine, it combines clinical wildlife services with outreach and conservation work.

Product overview

The Raptor Center, part of the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine, offers a comprehensive suite of wildlife rehabilitation and education services. The organization operates a world-renowned raptor hospital treating approximately 1,000 birds annually, paired with extensive education programs including on-site tours, virtual encounters, summer camps, and free K-8 classroom programs. Professional training opportunities include veterinary internships, externships, residencies, and specialized workshops in raptor orthopedics and ambassador bird care through Raptor Academy. The Center also maintains approximately 25 ambassador birds for outreach programs and supports wildlife rehabilitators across seven states through its Partners for Wildlife (P4W) initiative.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Partners for Wildlife (P4W): A program dedicated to improving animal welfare across seven states (Alaska, Washington, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, and Wisconsin) by working with wildlife rehabilitators and veterinarians.
• Raptor Academy

Products and services

• Raptor Rehabilitation Program Clinical care, treatment, and rehabilitation services for injured, sick, and orphaned wild raptors (birds of prey); intended for the public and referring wildlife partners who need specialty veterinary care for these species.
• On-site Educational Tours and Visits Guided on-site visits and educational experiences at the St. Paul facility, where visitors see live raptors and learn about raptor biology, conservation, and veterinary care; intended for families, school groups, and general public visitors.
• Raptors To You (traveling/outreach presentations) Traveling raptor presentations delivered off-site at schools, community events, festivals, fairs, and corporate events, featuring live birds of prey and educational narration; intended for K-12 schools, community groups, and corporate/private event clients.
• Raptor Medicine Training for Veterinary Professionals Continuing education and specialty training courses in raptor medicine, handling, and rehabilitation techniques for veterinarians, veterinary students, and wildlife professionals, delivered through the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine.
• Raptor Conservation Research Applied research activities focused on raptor health, conservation, and wildlife medicine; supports academic, conservation, and veterinary knowledge development through the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 34,000 raptors treated and rehabilitated since 1974
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• University of Minnesota Recreation and WellnesscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Partnership for summer youth programs including Enraptured with Raptors, Soaring with Raptors, Raptor Biomimicry and Engineering, and Raptor Myth and Legends camps. Registration and payment handled through RECWELL.
• Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Partnership camps including Creatures from the Cretaceous to the Present (Paleoart) and Get Wild (Nature Inspired Art) for youth ages 6-12. Includes live raptor interaction sessions.
• Richardson Nature CenterminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Collaborative Raptors: Birds of Prey Camp with Three Rivers Park District. First day at Richardson Nature Center, second day includes field trip to TRC with bus transportation provided.
• Hawk Ridge Bird ObservatorycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Research partnership investigating PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) contamination in raptors. Collaborative effort to understand environmental contaminants affecting bird populations.
• Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of MinnesotacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Partners for Wildlife (P4W) internship rotation partner. Interns rotate between TRC and WRC, providing diverse wildlife rehabilitation experience. WRC is a nonprofit wildlife rehabilitation center serving the upper Midwest.
• Galapagos National Park and Charles Darwin FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2010TRC consulted on mitigation plan to protect Galapagos hawks during invasive rat eradication project on ten small islands in Galapagos.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCHe8qbXpgE5XAIY_cZENbMw
• Facebookfacebook.com/TheRaptorCenter
• Instagraminstagram.com/theraptorcenter
• TikToktiktok.com/@theraptorcenter
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-raptor-center

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 The Raptor Center