As Bozeman awaits the first turns of Bridger’s lifts, the stars who grace the slopes in early October need not bother with clunky machines to reach the ridge. Hawks, falcons, eagles, and osprey sail overhead in an aerial armada, negotiating the invisible pathways of migration. Autumn closes and their journey begins. Naturally, a community-wide celebration is in order to send them off. This is the Bridger Raptor Festival.

At the center of this event is the Montana Raptor Conservation Center (MRCC), a small but mighty nonprofit where every day is an ode to the animals’ resilience. The MRCC campus is a hidden treasure, featuring flight barns where eagles rehabilitate their flying skills, and raptor mews that house 14 ambassador birds. Take a stroll through the grounds on any given morning, and you may be greeted by the distinctive vocalization of a Short-Eared Owl, the intimidating call of a Red-Tailed Hawk, or the familiar hooting of a Great Horned Owl.

MRCC operates as a hospital, and is not open to the general public. Injured raptors arrive from over 88,000 square miles of Montana, serving the Southwest, Central, and Eastern regions of the state. The animals here are evolutionary marvels: eyes that catch the faintest movement, talons built to strike, beaks perfected to rip and tear. Yet, even nature’s toughest beings can be pushed to their limits. Ninety-nine percent of the injuries treated at MRCC are inflicted by humans, including vehicle collisions, lead poisoning, and habitat destruction. MRCC seeks to rehabilitate these embattled birds. And healing goes hand-in-hand with teaching: raising awareness of how these creatures end up in need of help, and how we can prevent it in the first place.

The (Human) Faces of Raptor Fest
Behind each raptor release is the team at MRCC. Among them is Director of Rehabilitation, Becky Kean. “In 2003, I signed up as a rehab volunteer,” Becky remembers. “Four years later, I was hired as Assistant Director and I’ve never looked back.” With degrees in Environmental Science and Raptor Biology, and experience ranging from field research to wildlife rehabilitation, Becky is a force of nature that has given numerous injured raptors a fighting chance of returning to the wild. Her expertise and steady hand form the backbone of the center’s rehabilitation program, and her work constitutes an admirable mix of composure and compassion.

Keaton Thomas, MRCC’s Director of Education, has always existed at the intersection of animals and academia. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Wildlife Ecology and Management and a Master’s degree in Education. “My career began in 2015 at an eagle sanctuary and rehabilitation center in Central Oklahoma, where I discovered my passion for raptors,” she says. Since then, she’s worked with everything from penguins and flamingos to otters and bears. But the birds of prey kept calling her back.

She joined MRCC in 2023, and that fall marked her Raptor Fest debut. The event made quite a first impression. “It was incredible to see how the community rallies around raptor conservation,” Keaton recalls. She is now a leading conservation voice in the community. Her experience and action-based approach shines through at all MRCC events.

Carol O’Neil, a longtime volunteer turned raptor educator, personifies the joy of conservation. “I began volunteering at MRCC in 2014 with no prior experience—just a desire to give my time to a meaningful cause,” she explains. In the raptor world, Carol has seen it all. She started by filing papers and answering phones, but before long she began training in the rehabilitation department. Eventually, she transitioned to education, where she remains today.

It’s her zealous love for the birds that defines Carol as a life-long learner. “Without fail, someone in the crowd always asks a question I can’t answer,” she says. “Every day I discover something new about raptors, and that constant learning is what fuels my passion.”

Why Raptors Matter
MRCC brings incalculable value to the community with much-needed empathy and scientific acumen. Beyond the stalwart staff, a flock of volunteers support day-to-day operations. Still, there are those who struggle to comprehend the endless hours of care poured into a bunch of birds.

“Raptors are crucial to our ecosystems as they serve as top predators; without them, food webs would completely collapse,” Thomas explains. “They act as indicator species, with their presence revealing the health of an ecosystem. Additionally, these magnificent birds are a delight to observe, with their incredible beauty and strength!”

Protecting raptors means protecting the larger habitats they depend upon: the same water we drink, the wildlife and geology that support our tourism industry, the slopes that we ski. Raptors are part of the bigger picture, featuring everything Montanans know and love.

MRCC’s Executive Director, Vanessa Skelton sums up the birds’ importance well; “Every year, nearly 200 raptors come through our doors—injured, vulnerable, and in desperate need of help… by saving raptors, we’re protecting the web of life they help sustain.”

Stories from the Field
Emotional extremes are perhaps what render raptor encounters most memorable.

For Thomas, a story that stands out happened when she and Becky headed to Pray, Montana, to rescue a grounded bald eagle. “The ground was covered in about four feet of half-melted snow,” she recalls. “The eagle couldn’t fly, but it could still run—and it gave Becky and me a challenge! We kept collapsing through the snow and falling flat on our faces.”

“It was exhausting,” Becky adds, “almost slapstick at times—but two months later, that eagle was flying free. Moments like that keep you going.”

Becky’s most moving memory ups the emotional ante. “We coordinated a public release at Bridger Bowl. It took months of preparation—making sure the bird was ready, that the habitat was right. But when that raptor finally took flight in front of hundreds of people, it was unforgettable. A moment like that shows the heart of what wildlife rehabilitation is all about: second chances.”

Wildlife advocates often posture as a “voice for the voiceless.” While it is important to speak on behalf of embattled animals against reckless encroachment, their wellbeing ultimately hinges on humans’ capacity to listen and empathize with their plight. MRCC’s work demonstrates the delicate balance of life and death that human interference imparts on individual animals who struggle to make a living—much like ourselves. 

Or, in the words of Vanessa Skelton, “The instant a rehabilitated raptor spreads its wings and takes flight... that moment feels like magic—it’s a rush of hope, a reminder that even in the face of daunting challenges, healing is possible.”

Education… or Else
While Raptor Fest is the main event, MRCC holds educational programs year-round. Schools, community groups, and visitors touring the Center get the chance to meet raptor ambassadors—birds that can’t survive in the wild but help teach people about their species. The Center is not open to the public, but private groups can visit the center with a reservation made through the MRCC website or by using the QR code below.

“Many attendees are often surprised to learn just how harmful lead ammunition and fishing gear can be not only to raptors, but to countless other living creatures,” Carol says. Much like migration routes themselves, many of the biggest threats raptors face along the way are completely invisible to them. With our help, these lurking challenges could be mitigated.

MRCC’s programs demonstrate the importance of community: raptors can’t be protected without our collective attention and care. For Carol, Bozeman residents are critical to MRCC’s mission. “Protecting wildlife is to be aware of issues and take steps to make things better,” she says.

According to Skelton, when community members learn about and connect with raptors, “the abstract idea of conservation becomes deeply personal. You can almost see their mindset shift as they realize their role in protecting these creatures and the environment we all share.”

Healing goes hand-in hand-with teaching.

On the Horizon
For all at MRCC, the goal is clear: keep returning as many raptors as possible to the wild, and continue growing public awareness.

“The community plays a vital role in safeguarding wildlife,” stresses Keaton. “We learn about injured raptors thanks to community involvement. Every action impacts both animals and people; as the saying goes, ‘We all live downstream.’”

Most exciting for Carol is the way more and more people now share their own raptor stories. “It’s inspiring to see growing awareness and appreciation for these magnificent birds,” she says.

Bozeman is uniquely situated in close proximity to its wildlife. The animals of the Gallatin Valley are our neighbors, our teachers, and our token of life’s fragility. As we marvel at the eagles migrating overhead, we must not lose sight of our collective power to ensure they fly on.

Thanks to MRCC’s example, our raptor neighbors are being restored with the spirit to reclaim their wild home, one rescue at a time.

“We’ve come a long way since my first Raptor Fest,” Becky muses, “but the future of raptors depends on people caring enough to act.” 

Image credits: Montana Raptor Conservation Center & Matt Kortan