The Colorado Lottery and the Nature & Wildlife Discovery Center’s Raptor Center have announced a partnership to support the Fly On initiative, a statewide effort to expand raptor recovery, rehabilitation and public education programs.
The partnership will strengthen the center’s capacity to care for injured birds of prey while connecting thousands of Coloradans to wildlife conservation stories that inspire action, according to an announcement issued by lottery officials.
Each year, hundreds of raptors across Colorado are injured, displaced or found in distress. Through Fly On, these birds will continue to receive expert medical care, specialized rehabilitation and a second chance at life in the wild, the announcement said. The partnership will also fund free public raptor tour days, construction of new final-stage flight cages to improve recovery outcomes and a full wrap of the Raptor Rescue Rig — a mobile outreach vehicle that travels statewide to assist rescues and raise awareness.
“Every ticket purchased helps protect Colorado’s outdoors, and this partnership is a perfect example of how Lottery proceeds take flight,” said Colorado Lottery senior director Tom Seaver in the announcement. “The Raptor Center’s work embodies the spirit of conservation that our players make possible every day.”
The Raptor Center serves more than 7,000 visitors annually through tours, school programs and community events. With long-term infrastructure upgrades and statewide visibility built into the Fly On initiative, the partnership ensures the message of recovery, access and wildlife protection will continue to soar for years to come.
“Every raptor rehabilitation story is one of resilience. Of a bird’s fight to survive and the people who care enough to help them get there,” Nature & Wildlife Discovery Center executive director Taylor Driver said in the announcement. “The Fly On initiative isn’t just about saving birds; it’s about helping people see what’s possible when we care for the wild things around us. With the Colorado Lottery’s support, we can expand our reach, improve recovery outcomes and inspire thousands of visitors to become stewards of Colorado’s wildlife.”
Since 1983, the Colorado Lottery has spent more than $4.5 billion on outdoor projects and schools through Great Outdoors Colorado, the Conservation Trust Fund, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, the Outdoor Equity Grant Program, Building Excellent Schools Today and the Colorado Outdoor Recreation Industry Office, lottery officials said.
For more information on the Nature and Wildlife Discovery Center, go to www.hikeandlearn.org. To learn more about the lottery’s recreation efforts, go to coloradolottery.com/givingback.
This story was created by Jessica Skropanic, jessica.skropanic@redding.com, with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct.