Blackland Prairie Raptor Center

A nonprofit organization

$25,378 raised by 156 donors

100% complete

$25,000 Goal


Named after the tallgrass prairie that once covered more than 23,500 square miles of Texas from the Red River to San Antonio, Blackland Prairie Raptor Center’s mission is to promote and enhance populations of raptors through rehabilitation, conservation, and education initiatives.

Conservation & Restoration Efforts

Blackland Prairie Raptor Center’s campus sits on 66 acres of land along the coast of Lavone Lake. Before commercial and housing development and agriculture initiatives, the land was pristine Blackland Prairie – a temperate grassland ecoregion named after its dark, rich soil. The Blackland Prairie, in its prime, provides a rare native habitat for birds, butterflies, insects, reptiles, and other wildlife that live only in prairie environments. Additionally, the Prairie is a critical hunting ground for migratory birds. With less than 1% of the original Blackland Prairie vegetation remaining, scattered across Texas in parcels, our Center is committed to restoring our 66-acre campus to its original state, supporting local and migratory raptors and all other wildlife. The campus is a sanctuary for native plants and wildlife and serves as a teaching tool.

Rescue & Rehabilitation

Injured, sick and orphaned raptor are brought to the Blackland Prairie Raptor Center in a variety of ways and for a variety of reasons.  Most of the birds brought to the Center have experienced vehicle or window collisions, electrocution, gunshots, injuries from traps, lead and rodenticide poisoning, pet attacks, methane burns, and many more human-caused issues.

Our skilled and compassionate medical team – consisting of a veterinarian, rehabilitation manager, interns and volunteers – provides thorough treatment and care to more than 800 sick, injured, and orphaned raptors annually.  Of the treatable birds we receive, more than 75% are released back into the wild. 

Blackland Prairie Raptor Center has state and federal permits to receive injured birds of prey for rehabilitation. The facility is designed based on federal regulations to admit, treat and release raptors safely and as quickly as possible. Our small, but efficient Glotzbach Raptor Hospital includes an exam room, large and small bird intensive care units, an isolation room and nursery. Additionally, our medical facility includes flight cages to provide a spacious area for flight reconditioning, strength and stamina. Enclosures vary in size ranging from small, for small and baby raptors, to large, for hawks, owls and eagles.


Education & Raptor Training

Through education initiatives, the Blackland Prairie Raptor Center is creating tomorrow’s ambassadors by inspiring people of all ages and walks of life to connect with and advocate for the natural world. The Center serves as a sanctuary to thirteen education ambassadors, birds that have come to our Center with circumstances that make them non-releasable. Due to their injuries or conditions, they could not survive in the wild. Our ambassadors and education team travel across North and Central Texas into classrooms, libraries, and community centers to share their splendor and importance in nature. Additionally, the Center hosts student groups at our beautiful prairie-park for live raptor programs, Master Naturalist guided trail hikes, and conservation education. We believe there’s no better way to learn about the birds of prey in North Texas than to meet them in person!


Mission

Blackland Prairie Raptor Center is dedicated to environmental preservation through public education and the conservation of birds of prey and wildlife in their natural habitat.

Needs

On an annual basis, Blackland Prairie Raptor Center treats up to 800 raptor patients, educates more than 5,000 students and works to restore its 60-acre campus back to tall grass prairie. Our organization is in need of financial support to ensure our team has the resources necessary to execute these initiatives. Additionally, our Center is always on the hunt for volunteer to help move our mission forward. Learn more about volunteer opportunities at https://bpraptorcenter.org/new-volunteers/.

Equity Statement

The Blackland Prairie Raptor Center is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, and equitable environment where all staff, volunteers, partners, vendors, and board members are treated with respect and dignity.

We are an organization that celebrates the rich diversity of North Texas. We will not tolerate discrimination, biases, harassment, or bullying. Regardless of race, socio-economic status, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, nationality, gender, or marital status, we are an organization that celebrates the richness of our community.

Organization Data

Summary

Organization name

Blackland Prairie Raptor Center

Tax id (EIN)

20-1305421

Guidestar

Causes

Animals, Environment & Conservation

Operating Budget

$250,000 - $499,999

Counties Served

Hunt, Wise, Tarrant, Somervell, Rockwall, Parker, Palo Pinto, Navarro, Montague, Kaufman, Johnson, Hood, Grayson, Fannin, Erath, Ellis, Denton, Dallas, Cooke, Collin

BIPOC Leadership

Executive Director/CEO

Address

1625 Brockdale Park Road
Lucas, TX 75002

Phone

469-964-9696