The Carolina Raptor Center is located in the Latta Plantation Nature Preserve in Huntersville North Carolina – about 30 minutes north of Charlotte. The facility gives you the opportunity to view the majestic birds up close. Throughout the center you’ll learn about the birds’ individual stories and unique characteristics. They provide a caring sanctuary for birds of prey that cannot survive in the wild.
Visit
November through February, the center is open Wednesday to Saturday from 10-5 and Sunday from 12-5. March through October they are open seven days a week from 10-5.
Follow the Raptor Trail to view over 35 species of raptors and other birds of prey. Owls, vultures, hawks, eagles, falcons, corvids, and other species make their home here.
Have you seen a Bald Eagle up close? The Raptor Trail features a nesting pair of Bald Eagles who live out back in the Eagle Aviary. The Spectacled Owl was one of our favorites from our visit.
Exhibits along the trail include:
- A Day in the Life of a Raptor Hospital
- The Eagle Aviary
- Family Corvidae
- The Owl Forest: A Nature Notebook
- Vulture Culture
Raptor Encounters
For an up close and personal experience, book a private Raptor Encounter. Learn about the adaptations of birds of prey and watch them showcase amazing natural behaviors. You can book a 30- or 60-minute encounter for four people and even specify your preference for one of the species you will see.
Before You Go
- The weekends might be more crowded, but they also give you the opportunity for Meet and Greets with different raptors, and there will be docents stationed along the trail to answer questions.
- Be sure to check their calendar for upcoming events. They offer various learning opportunities throughout the year.
Carolina Raptor Center
6000 Sample Road
Huntersville, NC 28078
