The Raptor Center building

Join us for a tour to learn all about the incredible work of owls, hawks, falcons, and eagles! 

Tours are approximately 45 minutes and must be registered for in advance. Click the button below to explore all available tour times.

Click here to book your tour

Tour Pricing - Summer 2023
Adults $5.00

Kids (3-17) / Seniors (65+)

$3.00
Kids Under 3 Free

UMN Staff / Students

Free with UCard

 

Tour Hours:
Monday -           No Tours Offered
Tuesday -          10:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Wednesday -    10:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Thursday -        10:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Friday -             10:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Saturday -        10:15 AM to 3:15 PM
Sunday -          10:15 AM to 3:15 PM

We also come to you for an off-site programs.

We can bring the thrill of live raptors directly to you! Whether it's a classroom, a community center, a booth, or a special celebration right here in The Raptor Center - we can meet your needs. 

View our full list of programs and events

 

Prepare for Your Visit

Attention: Due to road construction around the University of Minnesota, St. Paul campus, please allow adequate travel time for your tour. To see current road closures or construction, visit this page and explore current road projects that may impact your trip.

During spring of 2022, our area saw a significant spike in cases of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI). Our rehabilitation clinic accepted many raptors who tested positive for the virus, and observed that HPAI is almost always fatal to birds of prey. 

After HPAI cases significantly reduced in volume, our veterinarians and clinic staff deemed it safe for us to resume our tours with some additional precautions in place. Out of an abundance of caution we are asking all visitors to adhere to the following procedure during their visit to ensure the health and safety of our ambassador birds:

  • All visitors are required to either disinfect their shoes using a disinfecting floor mat or wear shoe covers during their visit. Shoe covers are provided on arrival and may easily be slipped on over shoes.
  • All visitors are required to use hand sanitizer upon entering and after donning shoe covers.
  • Wheelchairs, scooters, and other mobility aids that have been in contact with the ground outdoors will need to enter across a disinfecting floor mat.

Please let us know before you arrive if you have any questions or concerns. We thank you for helping us to provide the best lives for all the birds who call The Raptor Center home!

In addition to HPAI precautions, we also recognize COVID is still a concern. We highly recommend guests wear a mask on site and have them for free for anyone who would like one. 


Click here to book your tour


Directions & parking

Location

The Raptor Center is located on the St. Paul campus of the University of Minnesota, just west of the Minnesota State Fairgrounds.

Attention: Due to road construction around the University of Minnesota, St. Paul campus, please allow adequate travel time for your tour. To see current road closures or construction, visit this page and explore current road projects that may impact your trip.

The Raptor Center
1920 Fitch Ave.
St. Paul, MN 55108


If you need to need help with an injured or orphaned bird of prey, or have any other questions about programs, call our main line at 612-624-4745.

Phones are monitored 8am-7pm central, and birds can be admitted 8am-5pm central each day. If we are unable to answer when you call or if outside of those hours, please leave us a message and we will return your call as soon as possible.

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Parking

The cost of parking is not included in any tour or program fee. 

Cars
  • Limited metered spaces are available on the north side of The Raptor Center on Fitch Avenue. ($2 per hour / accepts credit cards)
  • Gortner Parking Ramp is located across the street from The Raptor Center.
Bus Parking

Summer Months (June- August):  Meter parking on Carter Avenue

After dropping off at The Raptor Center, continue south on Gortner Ave. Turn right onto Commonwealth Ave, turn right onto Cleveland Ave and then the next right onto Carter Ave where there are parking meters (accepts credit cards).

School year (Sept.-May): State Fairgrounds

After dropping off at The Raptor Center, continue north on Gortner Ave. Turn right onto Buford and follow to first stop sign (you will cross Randall Ave) to the parking lot (fee is $6 for the day)

Public transportation

Details on public transit services to and from The Raptor Center can be found on the UMN Parking & Transportation Services website- https://pts.umn.edu/Transit/Transit

More information

All campus parking is managed by the University and not The Raptor Center. More information such as parking maps, additional options, and costs can be found on the University of Minnesota's Parking and Transportation Services website.