Buffalo has a bit of a knack for nature. Between our beautiful parks and waterfalls, hiking trails, and several native animal species, the 716 is not lacking in sights to see. While many of our best natural attractions are well-known, there is one well-kept secret located south of the city in West Falls. Discover Hawk Creek Wildlife Center, where you can walk with bald eagles, feed porcupines, and get almost-uncomfortably-close with wild animals in their natural habitats.
Interested in learning more? Read on below to discover all that this exotic wildlife sanctuary has to offer. (Spoiler alert: it’s a lot!)
Hawk Creek is one of New York’s largest educational outreach and raptor centers, with over 25 years of experience.
The facility is located at 1963 Mill Road in West Falls, just a 30 minute drive from downtown Buffalo.
Does the name sound familiar? This wildlife sanctuary has been featured on Rachael Ray, Steve Harvey, The Today Show, PBS, and Nat Geo. Along with being popular on daytime TV, Hawk Creek has several award winning programs in both education and rehabilitation.
Hawk Creek is strictly volunteer driven and operates on private donations and program fees. The facility receives no state or federal funding, and thrives on the generosity of the public.
The volunteer team at Hawk Creek rehabilitates over 500 animal patients annually. The facility is also credited with breeding and releasing over 180 rare barn owls back to Western New York.
Animals who are deemed unable to thrive in nature are kept as permanent residents at the sanctuary.
Currently, over 70 animals call Hawk Creek home. The resident animals are cared for and used for educational outreach, leading to a mutually beneficial relationship for the animals, the sanctuary, and those who partake in the programs.
While the facility is regularly closed to the public, you can still experience animal sightings through educational initiatives.
Hawk Creek provides over 2,500 educational programs each year to students and organizations in New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.
Along with local wildlife, Hawk Creek also serves as a sanctuary to several exotic birds and reptiles.
Meet Sasha, the boa constrictor, for instance! The people at Hawk Creek claim that Sasha has a very mild temperament and helps to dispel the myths surrounding snakes. She has been living happily at Hawk Creek since 2012!
If you’ve ever wondered why there was a random hawk or eagle at the mall kiosk, we’ll clue you in: Hawk Creek exhibits live animals at the McKinley Mall and Galleria Mall most Saturdays. Because what shopping day would be complete without a wild animal sighting?
If you can’t attend an educational event or find them at the mall, be sure to mark your calendars for the facility’s four major annual events! First up: Celebrate Earth Day at Hawk Creek with their Wild Earth event on May 6th, where you can get up close and personal with many of the sanctuary’s residents.
See the sanctuary’s large collection of raptors and view demonstrations on June 10th at their RAPTOR! event.
Watch birds take flight and get a glimpse back in time to the Renaissance Era at the Wild Renn Fest July 15-16 and 22-23.
Boost your adrenaline and adjust your shutter speeds at Hawk Creek’s Wild Photo Day on September 9th, where you can capture the facility’s mammals, reptiles, and birds through your own lens!
Have you ever heard of Hawk Creek or attended one of their educational events? Which wild animal would you most like to get up close and personal with? Leave a comment below, and click here to visit the sanctuary’s official website.
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