Lafeber is proud to support the California Raptor Center’s Veterinary Student Training Program for Raptor Medical and Rehabilitative Care at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine with a charitable gift of $14,000. This generous contribution reflects Lafeber’s ongoing commitment to advancing avian medicine and wildlife conservation. The donation directly benefits the student training program, which is led by Michelle G. Hawkins, VMD, DABVP (Avian Practice). Under her leadership, the program is equipping veterinary students with specialized skills and hands-on experience necessary to treat, rehabilitate, and care for injured raptors.
The California Raptor Center (CRC), affiliated with the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, plays a vital role in the rescue, medical care, rehabilitation, and release of native raptor species, including hawks, eagles, owls, and falcons. In addition to providing essential care to these majestic birds, the CRC serves as a unique and critical training ground for veterinary students passionate about wildlife medicine. Through their training at the CRC, students gain clinical knowledge and an understanding of the ecological importance of raptors and the challenges they face in the wild.
Few veterinary schools offer structured opportunities for students to develop skills specific to wildlife and avian medicine. CRC helps fill this gap by offering hands-on training, access to real-world clinical cases, faculty-led instruction, and exposure to the unique challenges of raptor rehabilitation. Through this immersive experience, students build the practical skills and confidence to contribute meaningfully to wildlife care and conservation.
Providing Essential Care For Raptors
Every year, the California Raptor Center cares for hundreds of injured and orphaned raptors, many of which are brought in by the public or wildlife agencies. The center works tirelessly to provide these birds with a second chance at life, aiming to release as many as possible back into their natural habitats. Those who cannot be released often serve as ambassadors for their species, helping to educate the public about raptor conservation and the threats they face, such as habitat loss, pollution, and human interference.
Lafeber’s gift helps ensure that the CRC can continue offering this vital program and expand its reach. By supporting the education of future wildlife veterinarians, donors like Lafeber are investing in both the immediate care of injured raptors and the long-term health of raptor populations across California and beyond. This partnership underscores the importance of collaboration between academia, conservation organizations, and the private sector in promoting animal health, environmental stewardship, and public awareness
More About the Center
- 1972: The California Raptor Center (CRC) is established under the direction of UC Davis’s Avian Science Department.
- 1980: Management of the CRC transitions to the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, where it remains as an active unit dedicated to the care, rehabilitation, and conservation of native raptor species.
- 1990s: The California Raptor Center opens its collection to the public, inviting visitors to learn more about these remarkable birds and the work being done to protect them. Visitors can enjoy self-guided tours as well as meet some of CRC’s non-releasable raptors.
- While the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine provides essential administrative support, CRC depends on public donations to fund critical needs such as aviary construction and maintenance, food, veterinary care, educational resources, and daily operations.
