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 Sitka. Daily tours of the center are offered during the summer months and tours 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 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. Alternatively, bike rentals, car rentals, and taxi services are available in town.
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) guided tours are not available but you can still visit and go on a self-guided tour.
Birds end up at the center for a variety of reasons. The birds come from all over Alaska and the center aims to return them to the wild once healed. Birds no longer able to live in the wild find homes in zoos or wildlife centers across the United States. One of the center’s long-time residents is Volta, a bald eagle permanently injured after flying into a power line along the Sitka waterfront in 1992.
