Hawk Creek has over eighty permanent residents who cannot be returned to their natural habitat, and will spend the rest of their lives here.  The raptor center is an accredited wildlife sanctuary in the Association of Sanctuaries (TAOS).  We maintain extremely high standards, are inspected by the USDA, and are licensed by the US Department of Fish and Wildlife.

We are not a zoo, or a shelter.  Unlike most zoos the animals are not acquired for exhibit, since we are not open to the public.  Unlike a humane shelter, we cannot send these animals home with people.  There are many reasons these animals cannot be released—they are permanently injured or imprinted on human beings.  Most come to us from over-burdened sanctuaries.  Some have been in endangered animal breeding programs.  Others have been injured through contact with man and cannot be successful in the wild again.  A few have been illegally kept as pets.  Some legal but exotic animals, such as our African servals, have been placed with us by their owners.

The lives of every animal at our facility are invaluable. Though no animal that participates in our educational programs can ever be returned to the wild, the understanding and appreciation that each unique individual inspires cannot be understated. We consider ourselves privileged not only to work with these creatures, but to share them with the public in a way that fosters learning and growth in an age when the health of our wildlife and environment is more of a concern than ever.