North Sky Raptor Sanctuary announced a $100,000 donor match to fund architectural and civil engineering preparations for northern Michigan’s first public raptor rehabilitation, research, and community education center at Camp Greilick in Grand Traverse County.
In Plain English: The Clinical Takeaway
- Facility Scale: The planned 4,900-square-foot facility at 4754 Scout Camp Road will house an avian hospital and an immersive wildlife center on a two-acre parcel.
- Patient Volume and Economics: The nonprofit treated over 80 raptors in 2026, with single rescues costing an average of $230 and complex cases running up to $2,500.
- Regional Impact: The sanctuary served patients from 44 counties across Michigan, frequently facing capacity limits that require transferring or turning away animals.
Funding Milestones and Infrastructure Costs at Camp Greilick
The sanctuary has secured nearly $1 million in financial commitments toward the Camp Greilick project, located in East Bay Township. The total cost for site improvements, infrastructure, and equipment is estimated at $4.2 million. An additional $2.2 million is being sought for exhibits, educational installations, program development, launch efforts, and a sustainability endowment.
Treatment expenses create continuous financial demands for the organization. Individual bird of prey rescues cost an average of $230, while cases requiring multiple veterinary visits and extended rehabilitation can reach $2,500. Restricted surgical spaces and limited flight enclosures currently force rescue groups in the region to limit intake.
| Project Metric | Reported Figure |
|---|---|
| Donor Match Amount | $100,000 |
| Secured Commitments | Nearly $1 million |
| Estimated Site Costs | $4.2 million |
| Additional Endowment/Exhibits Goal | $2.2 million |
| 2026 Patient Volume | More than 80 raptors |
| Counties Served | 44 Michigan counties |
Educational Programming and Ambassador Raptor Care
Founded in 2018, North Sky Raptor Sanctuary currently serves northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula by rehabilitating sick, injured, and orphaned hawks, falcons, owls, vultures, and eagles. Its educational programming reaches 10,000 participants annually. The nearest zoo or wildlife center offering native species educational programming is nearly two hours away, leaving such experiences largely inaccessible for most local school districts and families.
The proposed outdoor interpretive trail will house 10 live, non-releasable ambassador raptors. Additionally, plans feature a 5,000-square-foot reconditioning flight enclosure to serve as a recovery space for patients prior to their release back to the wild.
Named Sponsorships and Public Access Expansion
To finalize the remaining capital, the sanctuary is offering named sponsorships for individual facility elements. Jeffrey Bohnet, Board President of North Sky Raptor Sanctuary, detailed the ongoing fundraising opportunities:
“In addition to raising funds for the final site preparation work, opportunities still exist for named sponsorships for features of the facility, including bird mews, a surgical suite, unique learning spaces, or to help the organization purchase equipment for future livestreaming capabilities, which will make the facility more accessible to locals, snowbirds and anyone in the world interested in learning more about and observing raptors,” Bohnet said.
Contraindications & When to Consult a Doctor
The new avian hospital aims to expand resources, hands-on training, and collaboration for current and prospective rehabilitators, veterinarians, and wildlife biologists across the region.
