Alaska Raptor Center

The Alaska Raptor Center is one of Sitka's most popular attractions, and a visit to the center is included on most sightseeing tours of the area. Daily tours of the center, offered during the summer months, are included in the admission price.

Visitors can meet the resident birds and hear the stories of how they arrived at the center. It's also possible to view birds regaining their flight abilities at the Flight Training Center, and, if you’re lucky, attend a release event and watch the raptors fly back into their natural habitats.

• The Alaska Raptor Center is a must-see for nature and animal lovers.

• View eagles, falcons, hawks, and owls up close.

• An entry fee is required to visit the center, with free admission for children age 5 and under.

• The center is wheelchair accessible.

The Alaska Raptor Center is located just east of downtown Sitka, near the Sheldon Jackson Museum and the Sitka National Historical Park. Most Sitka city sights are centrally located and within walking distance from each other. You can also rent a bike or car, or take a taxi.

The Alaska Raptor Center is open throughout the year, and the best time to visit is May to September. During the off-season (October to April), it's open Tuesday to Friday, and guided tours are not available, but you can still take a self-guided tour.

Birds are brought to the center for a variety of reasons. They come from all over Alaska, and the center aims to return them to the wild once healed; those who are no longer able to live in the wild are given a new home in zoos or wildlife centers across the United States. One of the center’s longtime residents is Volta, a bald eagle permanently injured after flying into a power line along the Sitka waterfront in 1992.