The Montana Raptor Conservation Center provides medical care to injured raptors with the hope to release them back into the wild, rehabilitated. MRCC also offers educational opportunities to teach people the vital role raptors play in ecosystems and how humans can better co-exist with them. Below, Executive Director Vanessa Skelton explains how their work in rehabilitating raptors, alongside education, contributes to larger environmental efforts.
She works with a team dedicated to the wellbeing and longevity of raptors, including Director of Raptor Rehabilitation, Becky Kean; Director of Raptor Rescue and Operation, Jordan Spyke; and Director of Raptor Education, Keaton Thomas. MRCC shows the power of pairing expertise with passion, and how humans can positively contribute to healthier, more resilient ecosystems.
Thank you, Montana Raptor Conservation Center, for all you do!
Q: What issue(s) are you seeking to solve, and in what ways are you working to solve them?
Every year, nearly 200 raptors come through our doors—injured, vulnerable, and in desperate need of help. These birds are more than majestic creatures; they are nature's sentinels, reflecting the health of our environment. When they thrive, it signals that our ecosystems are in balance.
But here’s the heartbreaking truth: 99% of the injuries we see are human-caused. Bailing twine carelessly discarded, a car speeding through an open road, or a shard of lead poisoning a bird of prey. These preventable actions ripple through the ecosystem, leaving scars on our natural world.
To counter this, we rescue, rehabilitate, and release these incredible creatures, giving them a second chance at life. Beyond that, we reach over 12,000 people every year through our educational programs, inspiring communities to protect raptors and their habitats. Each program is a chance to show people that small, thoughtful actions—like switching to lead-free ammunition or using traps instead of poison for rodents—can save lives and safeguard the delicate balance of our environment.
By saving raptors, we’re protecting the web of life they help sustain.
Q: What do you find most challenging in your work?
The hardest days are when we have to say goodbye to a bird we can’t save. Our staff works so hard to keep hoping, but there comes a time they have to make a very hard decision. Imagine a bald eagle on the exam table—strong, beautiful, and wild—and knowing that despite all your efforts, the injuries are too much. It’s a weight our team carries, and it never gets easier. Sometimes it’s all we can do by giving them medication so they do not have to suffer as much as they would in the wild.
What makes it harder is knowing that many of these injuries—lead poisoning, entanglements, or vehicle collisions—could have been prevented. Watching these wild animals suffer from our actions is an emotional burden we carry every day.
It’s a constant reminder of how intertwined our lives are with theirs, and it drives us to work even harder to protect them.
Q: What do you find most rewarding?
There’s a moment, a breathtaking moment, when all the hard work is worth it. It’s the instant a rehabilitated raptor spreads its wings and takes flight, defying the odds and soaring back into the wild.
That moment feels like magic—it’s a rush of hope, a reminder that even in the face of daunting challenges, healing is possible. Their resilience is so inspiring, and never ceases to amaze me.
Equally rewarding is seeing the spark of wonder in people’s eyes when they meet a raptor up close for the first time. The connection is immediate and transformative. Suddenly, 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. Those moments spark a connection that can inspire lifelong advocacy for the natural world.
Q: What do you wish people knew more about the issue(s) you seek to solve?
Raptors aren’t just awe-inspiring predators; they’re vital to the health of our ecosystems. As indicator species, they serve as our early warning system, revealing the state of our environment. When raptors struggle, it’s a sign that our natural world is out of balance.
I also wish more people realized how simple it can be to help them. Something as straightforward as switching to lead-free ammunition can prevent unnecessary deaths.
Small, thoughtful actions can have an enormous impact, creating a safer world for raptors and, by extension, for us all.
Q: How can people support your work?
There are so many ways to make a difference. Donations are critical—they directly fund the rescue, care, and education we provide. But support doesn’t stop there. Switch to lead-free ammo, attend one of our educational programs, or volunteer your time to help us in our mission.
You can also sponsor a program, spread the word about our work, or join us for events like our upcoming "Bowling for Birds" fundraiser on February 22. Every act, big or small, helps us give these incredible creatures a second chance and creates ripples of positive change in our community.
Q: How do you create joy and hope in your life during the ecological crisis?
For me, joy and hope are rooted in the wild. Living in a place as breathtaking as Montana, it’s impossible not to feel a deep connection to the natural world. I find solace in moments like fishing on the Yellowstone River, watching eagles soar overhead while casting for wild trout.
These experiences ground me and remind me why this work matters so much.
The beauty of our surroundings fuels my determination to protect it—to ensure future generations can feel the same awe and wonder I do.
Nature has a way of grounding us, even in the face of big challenges. It reminds us that beauty and resilience still exist and that we all have a role to play in preserving it.