About Us - Mission and Goals

Mission Statement
The Montana Raptor Center was founded in response to the rapid development of Montana and resulting conflicts between humans and birds of prey. Through the rehabilitation and release of injured birds of prey, public education, and research, our mission is to conserve and restore raptors.

Goals
Goal 1: To provide high quality rehabilitative care to injured raptors
Raptors are valuable environmental barometers as they inhabit most ecosystems, have large home ranges, and are sensitive to environmental contaminants. Each year a large number of injured raptors are admitted to MRCC, many of which are
released back into the wild. As a rehabilitation organization, MRCC has the unique opportunity to learn more about species and the habitats of the raptors of Montana.

Goal 2: To promote community responsibility for healthy wildlife populations through a variety of educational programs.
MRCC's educational outreach team has been active in Montana since 1992. We reach thousands of people annually from preschool through adult age groups with a variety of programs. Through the outreach program, MRCC educators and
ambassador raptors promote community stewardship for raptors and their habitat.

Goal 3: To study the effects of MRCC's rehabilitative efforts on rehabilitated and released raptors and research issues facing raptors.
By collecting data, including the history of injury, blood work, and testing for specific toxins (such as lead, mercury, and organophosphates), we expand our knowledge about changes in our environment. Occasionally, MRCC uses radio telemetry to track birds in order to gain knowledge about release survival rates. Valuable knowledge, not only of release survival, but also of individual species and their habitat is within our reach, however, lack of funding prevents most birds from being tracked.

Report an Injured Raptor Quickly!

MRCC:(406) 585-1211
All West Veterinary (Dr. Karyn Cook):
(406) 586-4919
MT Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks:
(406) 994-4042